UConn has launched a pharmaceutical manufacturing center and is working with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation on a study of whether a drug-making facility on tribal land would be feasible.
The university announced the Center for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Modernization on Oct. 21. Xiuling Lu, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences, is directing the center.
Its initial work will focus on injectable medicines and oral drug products. UConn says the center will connect pharmacy researchers with engineering, chemistry, computer science and business expertise, along with industry and regulatory collaborators.
The tribal partnership is part of Project REMIND, a feasibility study led by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and funded through a U.S. Economic Development Administration grant. The Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis at UConn's business school is also involved.
Setu Vora, the tribal nation's chief medical officer, said in UConn's announcement that the partners are exploring production of essential medicines, including generic drugs that can be in short supply. Generic medicines contain the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts.
A feasibility study tests whether a proposed project can work. UConn's announcement does not commit the tribal nation to building a plant, identify a construction budget or set a production date.
The center also plans workshops, consulting and workforce education for manufacturing partners.