Partner & Associated Universities

• Drug Transport and Delivery research group
• Department of Pharmacy

Visit online https://en.uit.no/startsida

Contact
Gøril Eide Flaten, Professor
Goril.Flaten@uit.no

UiT The Arctic University of Norway, with its main campus located in Tromsø, is the northernmost university in the world. The university is structured into six faculties, comprising multiple departments and associated research centers, and plays a key role in higher education and research in the High North.

The Department of Pharmacy is a relatively young academic and research unit, marking its 25th anniversary in 2019. It offers a vibrant and international research environment, with academic staff and researchers from across the globe contributing to education and innovation in pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, analytical chemistry, pharmaceutical technology, biopharmacy, microbiology, as well as epidemiology and clinical pharmacy. The department oversees both Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in Pharmacy, providing comprehensive pharmaceutical education. Its location directly adjacent to the University Hospital of Northern Norway enables strong integration of clinical training, particularly in clinical pharmacy education. This collaboration emphasizes cross-professional teamwork and enhances understanding of patient–pharmacist interactions within hospital settings.

At the forefront of research, the Drug Transport and Delivery (DTD) research group represents the core of the university’s contribution to the collaboration. DTD focuses on understanding drug transport mechanisms within the body and their relationship to drug delivery systems. The group aims to optimize various drug dosage forms and advanced delivery systems for oral, vaginal, parenteral, and topical routes of administration. Research within the group centers on pharmaceutical technology, with particular attention to drug transport across biological membranes and the development of formulations that enhance bioavailability. The goal is to design advanced drug delivery systems that increase therapeutic efficacy while minimizing toxicity—by improving drug concentration and retention at target sites and reducing exposure to non-target cells.

• Department of Pharmacy

Visit online https://pharmacy.ku.dk/

Contact
Jukka Rantanen, Professor
Jukka.Rantanen@sund.ku.dk
+45 35 33 65 85
+45 28 43 77 17

Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen ranks among the top 1 percent of the World's universities, and was 5th best university in Europe according to the CWTS Leiden Ranking 2024. The University of Copenhagen houses a wide range of academic environments divided into six faculties where the Department of Pharmacy is part of the Faculty for Health and Medical Sciences.

The mission of the Department of Pharmacy is to advance the pharmaceutical sciences by performing drug-related research and research-based teaching. This achieved by exploring range of topics including pharmaceutical technology and formulation, drug delivery, advanced drug analysis, clinical and social pharmacy.

The Department of Pharmacy is involved in different educational programmes provided by the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, which offers educational programmes including a bachelor's degree in Pharmacy (Bachelor i farmaci), as well as two international master's programmes in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicinal Chemistry. In addition, we offer continuous education programmes (Master of Industrial Drug Development and Master of Medicines Regulatory Affairs), as well as courses at Copenhagen Summer University.

The research groups at the Department of Pharmacy represent a unique combination of academic competences and plays a key role in the development of the pharmaceutical sciences in Denmark. National and international collaborations with academia and industry is also a focus at the Department. Currently, the research is being conducted under the following main themes: CNS Drug delivery and Barrier Modelling, Manufacturing and Material, Pharmaceutical and Analytical Chemistry, Protein Analysis, Solid State Pharmaceutics, Toxicology and Metabolism, Drug Delivery and Biophysics of Biopharmaceuticals, Microscale Analytical Systems, Physiological Pharmaceutics, Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Vaccine Design and Delivery.

• School of Pharmacy
• Faculty of Health Sciences

Visit online www.uef.fi/en/unit/school-of-pharmacy

Contact
Jarkko Ketolainen, Professor
Jarkko.Ketolainen@uef.fi

University of Eastern Finland is a multidisciplinary university with a range of international master’s programs. The university has four faculties where The School of Pharmacy belongs to the Faculty of Health Sciences. The School is located in an interdisciplinary and compact campus area, right next to the University Hospital and Technology Park. We have Bachelor's and Master's programmes in pharmacy and an International Master's program in toxicology. All in all, we have nearly 900 active undergraduate students in the School. We offer also post graduate training which is divided according to our research themes. Research promotes all our teaching. Our academics are actively carrying on research. They bring their expertise and knowledge from the recent research outcomes to their teaching. Our academics are also committed to professional development of teaching skills.

Our research theme ‘Smart Solutions’ aims to develop new smart solutions for drug delivery and challenges of lifecycle management of drugs. Research projects include design of novel drugs targeted into various diseases and the development of targeted drug delivery technologies, appraising the safety of drugs and their metabolomics. Our research projects also aim to develop technologies and analytical methods for drug research and improve the manufacturing processes of medicines.

The research theme of ‘Effectiveness of Treatment’ aims to evaluate effectiveness of treatment and the impact of political decisions concerning medicines. Research projects appraise the effectiveness of treatments (medications and procedures) by using large register-based data and the cost-effectiveness of medications with diverse models. Furthermore, the research project monitors the impact of political decisions concerning the medicine and pharmaceutical players into the usage of medicine and the pharmacological services.

• Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology
• Faculty of Pharmacy

Visit online www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-pharmacy

Contact
Leena Peltonen, University lecturer, Docent (adjunct professor)
Leena.Peltonen@helsinki.fi

The University of Helsinki a leading public research university and the oldest and largest university in Finland. It consistently ranking among the top 1% of universities internationally. Approximately 32,000 students are enrolled across 11 faculties including the Faculty of Pharmacy.

The Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Helsinki is a nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary center for research and education. It serves both human and animal health by advancing pharmaceutical science and training highly qualified professionals. The faculty maintains a broad network of research partners and receives significant external funding, supporting its commitment to high-impact, collaborative research.

Educational programmes at the faculty are designed to prepare specialists, researchers, and managers for diverse roles across the drug development pipeline and the broader healthcare sector. The pharmacy degree programs offered by the faculty aim to produce highly competent experts capable of meeting pharmaceutical challenges across all sectors of healthcare. These programs equip students with the knowledge and skills required for lifelong professional development and innovation in the pharmaceutical field.

The faculty’s research is internationally oriented and spans a wide range of pharmaceutical sciences. At the core of its research efforts is the Drug Research Program (DRP), a multidisciplinary platform that brings together leading research groups working on the discovery, development, delivery, and commercialization of pharmaceuticals, as well as research in social and industrial pharmacy. This program represents a unique integration of expertise that addresses the entire life cycle of pharmaceutical products. The research focuses on a comprehensive range of topics related to drug science. Key objectives include the identification of new drug targets, the design and development of new drug molecules, the advancement of drug administration technologies, and the study of pharmacokinetics and pharmacological properties. In addition, research extends to the development of novel technologies and the exploration of social and economic dimensions of drug use and therapy.

• Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• School of Health Sciences

Visit online https://english.hi.is/about-ui/schools-and-faculties/school-health-sciences

Contact
Hákon Hrafn Sigurðsson, Professor
hhs@hi.is

The University of Iceland is the country's oldest and largest university with approximately 14,000 students currently enrolled. It holds a high international standard and has over 2,000 international students.

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences is a vibrant and culturally diverse academic environment, dedicated to excellence in both teaching and research across the broad field of pharmaceutical sciences. Research is conducted in close collaboration with national and international partners, including universities, research institutes, and industry stakeholders. Our faculty members are active participants in Nordic and European teaching and research networks, fostering strong international connections and creating opportunities for students to complete parts of their studies abroad.

All lecturers at the Faculty are actively engaged in research within their respective fields, contributing to a dynamic academic atmosphere. Their involvement in the global scientific community has expanded significantly in recent years and faculty members have hosted and organized a range of international conferences in Iceland, focusing on topics such as cyclodextrin chemistry, clinical pharmaceutical research, mucosal immunity, chemometrics, and chemical engineering in pharmaceutical development.

• Section for Pharmaceutics and Social Pharmacy
• Department of Pharmacy

Visit online www.mn.uio.no/farmasi/english

Contact
Ingunn Tho, Professor
Ingunn.Tho@farmasi.uio.no

The University of Oslo (UiO) is a leading European public research university and the oldest institution of higher education in Norway. With approximately 26,500 students and eight faculties, UiO plays a central role in advancing academic excellence and interdisciplinary research. The university is committed to contributing to a more sustainable society through innovative and collaborative initiatives across disciplines.

The Department of Pharmacy, located within the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, conducts high-level research in pharmaceutical sciences, with a strong focus on the development of advanced drug delivery systems and formulation technologies. Within the Section for Pharmaceutics and Social Pharmacy, the Pharmaceutics group explores nano- and microstructured formulations and novel technologies to enhance the performance and functionality of drug delivery systems.

Three primary research areas are at the core of this work: personalized dosage form design, photoreactive drugs and biopharmaceuticals, and site-specific drug delivery. Research in personalized dosage form design focuses on developing innovative dosage forms and technologies that enable personalized medicine, offering tailored therapeutic solutions for individuals or defined patient groups. In the field of photoreactive drugs and biopharmaceuticals, the formulation of active pharmaceutical ingredients with challenging properties—such as low solubility, poor stability, high aggregation potential, and protein-based drug substances—is a key area of investigation. Research on site-specific drug delivery aims to develop new systems that ensure precise localization and controlled release of pharmaceutical agents. This work involves fundamental studies in formulation science, pharmaceutical technology, and polymer chemistry. Key target areas for drug release include the oral cavity, the upper small intestine, and the colon, offering promising strategies for improving the efficacy and safety of therapeutic interventions.

• Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy
• Faculty of Science

Visit online www.sdu.dk/en/om-sdu/institutter-centre/fysik_kemi_og_farmaci

Contact
Martin Brandl, Professor
mmb@sdu.dk

The University of Southern Denmark (SDU) is the third-largest university in Denmark, with approximately 27,000 students. As a nationally recognized institution, SDU comprises five faculties, which include a total of 32 departments and 11 research centers. Among these is the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, home to cutting-edge research in natural and pharmaceutical sciences.

Within the Section for Chemistry and Pharmacy, research focuses on a wide range of topics including analytical, medicinal, and organic chemistry, drug transport and delivery, and pharmaceutical technology. A strong emphasis is placed on developing sustainable approaches to pharmaceutical science.The research in Drug Transport and Delivery addresses critical biopharmaceutical challenges aimed at optimizing drug formulations and developing new predictive in vitro test systems. Work in this field explores the interplay between the physicochemical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), drug formulations, physiological barriers at the site of administration, and resulting bioavailability.

Efforts include the optimization of API solubility, as well as the development of advanced drug delivery strategies such as enabling formulations, microparticles, nanoparticles, and liposomes. The research particularly focuses on the oral (e.g., tablets) and cutaneous (e.g., topical creams) routes of administration, and how to overcome their respective absorption barriers. To support the development of more effective and ethical testing strategies, new biopharmaceutical in vitro test and screening methods are also being developed. These models aim to closely mimic physiological conditions, thereby improving in vitro/in vivo correlation. This approach also contributes to the reduction of animal testing by providing more accurate and reliable alternatives during early-stage drug development.

• Department of Pharmacy
• Faculty of Pharmacy

Visit online www.uu.se/institution/lakemedelskemi/farmaceutiska-fakulteten/om-fakulteten

Contact
Christel Bergström, Professor
Christel.Bergstrom@uu.se

Founded in 1477, Uppsala University (UU) is the oldest university in the Nordic region and one of Sweden’s leading academic institutions, with more than 50,000 registered students. The university’s is known for high quality education and in the QS World University Ranking 2024, it was ranked 24 in the field of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. It hosts the country’s only Faculty of Pharmacy, which is divided into three departments: Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Medicinal Chemistry, and Pharmacy.

Apart from the Bachelor’s/Master’s degrees in Pharmacy (Receptarie and Apotekare), the Faculty offers a several programs and coursed on advanced level. These include one Master's programme in Clinical Pharmacy (one year), and three international Master's programmes in; Biopharmaceuticals, Drug Discovery and Development, and Pharmaceutical Modelling.

The core of the NordicPharmaTrain collaboration at Uppsala University is the Department of Pharmacy and in particular the Molecular Pharmaceuticals group. Apart from exploring sophisticated dosage form to transform problematic drugs into well-functioning oral medicines, the research focuses on pharmaceutical nanotechnology, computational pharmaceutics, and cellular drug delivery. The overall goal is to make use of innovative formulation strategies and to enhance our understanding of drug absorption mechanisms through detailed in vitro and in silico models, ultimately resulting in better, well informed treatments regimes for patients.

• Faculty of Science and Engineering
• Pharmacy Solutions for Health

Visit online https://research.abo.fi/en/organisations/pharmacy

Contact
Jessica Rosenholm, Professor
Jessica.Rosenholm@abo.fi

Åbo Akademi University is an international university, with over 5000 students currently enrolled. The university is divided into four faculties including the Faculty of Science and Engineering. The Faculty offers five programs ranging from quantum physics and cellular functions to high-performance computing and designing factories.

Research is conducted in extensive co-operation with industries, research institutes and other universities both nationally and internationally. Especially the following subjects partake in NordicPharmaTrain activities: Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry (Structural Bioinformatics Laboratory), Physical Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry

The Faculty further partakes in three of Åbo Akademi University four research-profiling areas, two of which are of particular interest for members of NordicPharmaTrain: Molecular Process and Material Technology and Drug Development and Diagnostics (DDD) aiming to develop new advanced materials and technologies for health. The DDD Platform is a joint research profiling area between the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, since drug discovery, development and diagnostics have a long history and a broad knowledge-base in Turku. The university has internationally high-level expertise in research areas relevant to the DDD profiling area: pharmaceutical sciences, molecular cell biology, biochemistry, computer-aided drug discovery and drug design, chemistry, physics and material sciences.