UT ANNOUNCES PLANS TO SET UP INTERNATIONAL-CALIBER RESEARCH CENTRE

„Launching the project of the Drug Development Centre marks an important stage in Estonia’s transition to the status of a developed country. The output of the Centre will contribute to orientating the Estonian economy towards high value-added production and establish the preconditions for creating a new industry,” says Dr Mart Ustav, one of the proponents of the idea.

The Drug Development Centre will be a place for internationally competitive research into the molecular and physiological factors causing human and animal diseases, the identification and validation of drug targets, the design and construction of new compounds having drug potential, the elaboration of production technology for these compounds and their testing in preclinical and clinical trials. R&D work in drug development will initially take place under various drug development programmes, with a view to subsequently attracting the interest of the pharmaceutical industry for continuing development and commercial use projects.

Dr Ustav estimates that in 6-7 years the Centre will reach a turnover of at least 100m euros and employ 400 research staff. The Centre should develop into a sustainable organisation that wields considerable intellectual capital and participates in internationally significant projects as part of a wide cooperation network including the world’s leading pharmaceuticals and biotechnology companies as well as research institutions and universities.

Dr Ustav hopes other Estonian universities, research institutions, Estonian hospitals, government departments and agencies as well as businesses will also back the project. “We can only succeed in significantly modernising the Estonian economy and making it more competitive if we join forces. We must realise this and act together now,” he said.

Additional information: Dr Mart Ustav, Director of UT Institute of Technology, tel. +372 737 4800, +372 509 8600

Liina Jürgen
Senior Specialist for Public Relations,
UT Public Relations and Information Unit