SweDeliver is all set for the next five years

In early October, SweDeliver arranged the Summit 2024 conference at Tammsvik in Bro. A meeting characterized by Vinnova's announcement that the national research center in drug delivery is granted continued funding for the next five years.

“Vinnova also awarded us top grades for our first four years of operation, and it is obvious that SweDeliver's research platform today offers methods, models and technologies of high international level, in turn providing powers to our interdisciplinary projects. Thus, last week's Summit was an important opportunity to finalize and shape SweDeliver's operations for the next five year period,” says Christel Bergström, Center Director and Professor at Uppsala University.

Bertil Abrahamsson, chair of the SweDeliver Center Board, notes that the meeting added an energy boost to the center and its partners. He further states that SweDeliver's future work will largely build on the knowledge generated so far, also embedding new opportunities – for example provided by the on-going AI revolution.

“We also expect to see even more examples of translation of research findings into tangible outcome for patients as a consequence of the generated knowledge base and well established collaborations. In addition, we will further strengthen the connectivity between industry and academia through enhanced exchange and train programs.”

On location in Tammsvik were several researchers from Uppsala University's Faculty of Pharmacy, representatives of the center's industrial partners and the members of SweDeliver's Scientific Advisory Board: Debora Berti (University of Florence), David Brayden (University College Dublin), Clare Strachan (University of Helsinki) and Mark McAllister (Biowaived).

“This year's Summit facilitated many meaningful discussions, not least with the SweDeliver’s Center and Scientific Advisory Boards, where I shared my thoughts on the importance of – as a junior researcher – being able to work in twinning projects with industrial partners. This is a major added value in my PhD journey, fostering both scientific and professional development,” says Benyamin Naranjani, PhD student representative in SweDeliver's Training and Career Development Work package.

The program also offered presentations by industrial partners and lectures by organizations in SweDeliver's vicinity, but also well-sized opportunities for poster sessions and research presentations by the competence center's junior researchers.

“Presenting and receiving direct feedback on my work from leading scientists in both academia and industry has provided new perspectives and will undoubtedly strengthen my future research. Another highlight at this year's Summit was UU Innovation's lecture highlighting the path from idea to patent, which has really increased my understanding of what it takes to translate research into real-world impact,” states Benyamin Naranjani.

Next on SweDeliver agenda is a study visit in November by industrial partner Apotek Produktion & Laboratories (APL) at BMC and the Faculty of Pharmacy. In December, another study visit is in the works at Clinical Trial Consultants AB, a Swedish full-service CRO with three research clinics in Sweden, one of which – specialised in first time in human studies – is located at the Uppsala University Hospital.

“In parallel, we continue to arrange our Thursday-webinar series with our junior researchers presenting their projects. The next opportunity is Thursday 17 October when PhD student Xiguo He presents her work to, in close collaboration with the Uppsala Antibiotic Center, develop a generic, nano-sized drug delivery platform,” says Alexandra Teleki, Center co-Director at SweDeliver.

text: Magnus Alsne, photo: SweDeliver, Mikael Wallerstedt