SSPC, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Pharmaceuticals is widely regarded as world-leading in pharma research and talent development. SSPC has established a globally unique academic-industry partnership, where industry are confident and comfortable to work with collaboratively.

This month SSPC are celebrating 15 years of impact. To mark this anniversary, SSPC will run a year-long campaign reflecting on past successes, support, and envision our future. Read our story ……..

In 2008, The Synthesis and Solid State Pharmaceutical Centre cluster started at the University of Limerick, serving as a hub for innovation and providing access to world-class resources and expertise. SSPC provided an ideal platform for sharing knowledge, ideas and resources that support breakthroughs in drug formulation and solid-state pharmaceutical research.

The original cluster was a collaboration between five universities (University of Limerick, National University of Ireland, Galway, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin and University College Cork) and nine multinational pharmaceutical companies (Janssen, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Sharpe & Dohme, Roche, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Clarochem, Hovione and Bristol Myers Squibb.

The focus of the original SSPC was exclusively on the crystallisation stage of the manufacturing process which in the industry is the most challenge aspects of manufacturing as there is a significant lack of fundamental understanding of the science and engineering challenges of this stage of the process.

Supported by successive rounds of SFI Centres funding matched by income from industry and European research platforms, SSPC has grown into an internationally recognised centre for cutting-edge fundamental research that drives innovation. SSPC develops new molecular materials, technologies and processes that enable rapid development of more effective, safer drug formulations accelerating their commercialisation. All this has been made possible by the deep expertise and passion, commitment and leadership of our researchers.

Today, SSPC plays a key role in training future generations of scientists through its postgraduate programmes and research collaborations with universities around the world. 80% of our PhD graduates remain in Ireland to work at the interface of small molecule drugs and biologics, illustrating the significant value SSPC brings to the Irish economy, with our highly skilled graduates creating impact in industry. The graduates from SSPC have a 100% employment rate and high transition rate of 69% into industry, which is significantly higher than EU counterparts. SSPC currently works with over 50 industry partners.

While SSPC started its journey in the small molecule API space. The programme of work in the large molecule-biologics space has increased with 38% projects within this area. Ensuring both the small molecule and biologics sectors are served in building research capacity and capability across Ireland.

Today, SSPC works with nine higher-education institutes (HEIs) including Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, Dublin City University, University College Cork, University of Galway, Maynooth University, RCSI University of Medicine of Health Sciences, SETU and its host University of Limerick.

Through our vision, hard work, commitment, we look forward to continuing work with all our partners and highly skilled researchers across the globe.