Purdue Emerging as Drug Discovery Leader

Purdue University plans to mark the opening of two cancer research facilities Friday. The $28.7 million Drug Discovery Facility and $15.9 million Bindley Multidisciplinary Cancer Research Facility are housed at the school's Discovery Park. Purdue Center For Drug Discovery Director Philip Low says the openings come as Indiana is bucking a trend of “dramatic layoffs in the pharmaceutical industry.” Nearly 200 faculty, students and staff will work in the centers. Low says, “There's a tremendous opportunity to fill the growing need in big pharma for development of new drugs by just building on the growing strength in Indiana.”

He says, recognizing Purdue's strength in drug discovery is what led to construction of the new cancer research facilities and will help brand and advertise it.

The two new research facilities join Discovery Park, the university's hub for interdisciplinary research. But while the buildings are new, Purdue's work to find meaningful drugs has grown into a promising portfolio.

Low says, “Most academic institutions and universities would be proud to boost one or two drugs in clinical trials.” But not Purdue; it has 13 drugs in human clinical trials. Low says it that commitment shows the university's strength in drug discovery.

Low says, “We hope with the enthusiasm and support of the administration to become one of the predominant institutions in the country in drug discovery.”

The dedication celebration for Purdue's new cancer research facilities is scheduled to take place at 3:30 p.m. Friday on the lawn south of Martin C. Jischke Hall of Biomedical Engineering.

Source: Purdue University