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Pharmacy centre launched

10 May 2017

A new partnership between UCL and UCLH could transform patient care around the world by making medicines safer and easier to take.

pharmacy centre launch-rm.jpg

UCL School of Pharmacy and UCLH's Pharmacy Department have established a Centre for Medicines Optimisation Research and Education (CMORE). 

The collaboration will combine the two partners' experience and expertise in effective use of medicines, medication safety and pharmaceutical science and build on education and training initiatives.

Medicines are fundamental to effective modern healthcare and new medicines have transformed the treatment of many conditions. 

However, medicines can sometimes lead to patient harm as a result of adverse effects, error, inappropriate use or failure to take as prescribed.

With this in mind, CMORE won't search for new medicines but focus on making the best use of those we already have. 

For example, by looking for ways of making medicines easier for children and the elderly to take, and by identifying and understanding the reasons why medication error and harm may occur and then finding ways to improve.

The Centre, which was launched on May 3, will also offer placements to students from UCL School of Pharmacy and opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate research and quality improvement projects.

Research findings will be shared via presentations at international conferences and through publications in peer-reviewed journals.

These objectives mirror UCLH's vision to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education and world-class research.

Dr Yogini Jani, CMORE's director and a consultant pharmacist at UCLH, said: "CMORE will bring together academic and clinical pharmacy leaders to research and improve our understanding and use of medicines for greater patient benefit."

Professor Marcel Levi, UCLH's Chief Executive, said: "Medicines have a central role in modern healthcare but their efficacy and safety depend on meticulous knowledge regarding their properties, potential interactions and right dosing.

"Optimisation of prescribing systems, methods for safe administration and teaching and training healthcare professionals how to work with medicines are of utmost importance.

"It is essential we do everything we can to ensure medicines are used safely and optimally.

"I wholeheartedly welcome this collaboration and look forward to the benefits it will bring, not only to our patients, but to patients around the world."

Professor David Lomas, UCL's Vice-Provost (Health), said: "Strong collaboration between practitioners and academics is at the heart of UCL research philosophy and central to this exciting and important project."

(Pictured (L to r) Professor David Lomas, UCL's Vice-Provost (Health); Professor Ian Wong, CMORE's co-director; Dr Yogini Jani, CMORE's director and Professor Marcel Levi, UCLH's Chief Executive)

Links

UCL School of Pharmacy

UCLH Pharmacy