DEPARTMENT OF DRUG TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL PHARMACY

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At present, three doctoral students study at the Department. In the last five years, five doctoral students have successfully completed their doctoral studies. At least 50 students choose to write their Master’s theses at the Department each year.  The Department carries out research on the technological functionalisation of various pharmaceutical forms using innovative technologies and modern equipment. The expected outcome of the activities: the development of high-quality marketable and environmentally friendly pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. The teaching staff of the Department are involved in the implementation of health policy guidelines in the pharmaceutical sector and participates in the activities of the Parliament (Seimas), Ministry of Health, and the State Medicines Control Agency (SMCA) of the Republic of Lithuania in the implementation of new aspects of the professional activity of pharmacists. The latest educational, scientific and practical knowledge is transferred to students during lectures, laboratory work, and seminars.

The teaching and research staff of the Department consists of 3.5 FTEs of professors, 9.25 – associate professors, 0.5 – lecturers, and 1.25 – assistants.

OUR ACTIVITIES

Mandatory subjects
  • Module: Basics of Health Care (year 2, semesters 3-4)
  • Pharmaceutical Technologies (year 2/semester 4; year 3/semester 5)
  • History of Pharmacy (year 3, semesters 5-6)
  • Pharmaceutical Marketing (year 3, semester 5)
  • Scientific Research Practice (year 3, semester 6)
  • Social Pharmacy (year 4, semesters 7-8)
  • Pharmaceutical Industry Technologies (year 4, semesters 7-8)
  • Pharmaceutical Care (year 5, semester 9)
  • Pharmaceutical Economy (year 5, semester 9)
  • Module “Pharmaceutical Professional Practice” (year 5, semesters 9-10)
  • Final Master’s Thesis (year 3/semester 7-8; year 4/semester 9-10) 
Elective subjects
  • Basics of Marketing (year 2, semester 3)
  • Leadership in Pharmacy (year 2, semester 3)
  • Medicine and Pharmacy in Art (year 3, semester 5)
  • Development of Safe Cosmetic Products (year 4, semester 8)
  • Communication and Conflict Management at Social Pharmacies (year 5, semester 9)
Postgraduate studies
The Centre for Postgraduate Studies of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) cooperates with the structural and functional units of the University and the Lithuanian and foreign legal entities. The Department of Drug Technology and Social Pharmacy is a unit of the Centre for Postgraduate Studies.

Programme “News in Social Pharmacy and Pharmacology”, code KMU383 in the LSMU PSC system “Medas”.

Programme “Short course in social pharmacy and pharmacology developments”, code KMU388, in the “Medas” system of the LSMU Centre for Postgraduate Studies.

Organisation of scientific conferences and other scientific events 

1. “Contemporary Pharmacy: Expectations, Challenges, and Ideas. Spring 2019” (International Scientific-Practical Conference)
2. “Contemporary Pharmacy: ISSUES, Challenges, and Expectations”
3. 10th International Pharmaceutical Conference “Science and Practice 2019”
4. “Contemporary Pharmacy: Expectations, Challenges, and Ideas. Spring 2019” (International Scientific-Practical Conference)
5. “Contemporary Pharmacy: Expectations, Challenges, and Ideas. Autumn 2019” (International Scientific-Practical Conference)
6. “Pharmaceutical Product Safety: Food Supplements, Medicinal Products, Skin Products”. Autumn 2019 (Virtual Scientific-Practical Conference)
7. “Pharmacy Science and Practice 2019” (International Scientific-Practical Conference)
8. “Integrated Support to Cancer Patients: Tips by the Pharmacist and Doctor” (Virtual International Scientific and Practical Conference );
9.  Scientific -Practical Conferences for Pharmacy Specialists “Developments in Pharmacy”
10. International Pharmaceutical Conference “Science and Practice 2019”

Research fields and development

The research fields focus on the development of new pharmaceuticals and skincare products and the exploration of new formulations and technologies. The research and experimental development consist of three areas of activity: fundamental research, applied research, and experimental development.

The research is developed with a view towards the formulation of marketable and environmentally friendly quality pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. The research aims to determine the influence of medicinal, plant-derived substances, and excipients used in the production of solid, liquid and semi-solid drug forms and cosmetic products on the technological functionalisation, properties and structure of the resulting systems, with a view towards justification of the formulation and technology of an innovative pharmaceutical product. Non-invasive microscopic methods are explored for the purpose of assessment of the innovativeness of the developed pharmaceutical products. The implementation of advanced technologies is aimed at the greening of production and increasing of productivity, which is also important for the pharmaceutical industry. One of the main ways to promote greening of production is through the use of organic raw materials and the implementation of an eco-label in production facilities.

Application of the elements of pharmaceutical care in pharmacy practice, research into the issues of medicine consumption, analysis of ethnopharmaceuticals and old drug formulations and their adaptation to modern practice are the main areas of research in social pharmacy. Research in pharmaceutical care provides recommendations on how to improve the pharmaceutical service and its delivery to patients while ensuring safe and rational use of medicines. Research in ethnopharmaceuticals and the analysis of old formulations provide insights for the design and development of new medicines.

The main research topic (research field) of the division is the research of the development, improvement and adaptation of pharmaceutical technologies in view of the contemporary changes related to quality.
Subtopics:
1. Influence of technological factors on the quality of solid, liquid and semi-solid pharmaceutical forms. Head: Prof. J. Bernatonienė  
2. Exploration of active pharmaceutical ingredients with antioxidant/prooxidant activity and prognostic studies on the demand for new products. Head: Prof. D. Majienė 

3. Research in social pharmacy and the functionalisation and production of solid pharmaceutical forms. Head: Prof. S.Savickas
4. Research in pharmaceutical care and organisational factors. Head: Prof. L.Kubilienė

Ongoing research projects (since 2019)

  • Project by UAB “Birštono mineraliniai vandenys ir Ko”
  • Promotion of investment in R&D activities for the development of innovative products (No. J05-LVPA-K-03-0117); Identification and parameterisation of changes in the ocular microcirculation relevant for the diagnosis and treatment of critical human conditions
  • Promotion of investment in R&D activities of UAB AKVAVITA for the development of innovative products in the beverage industry (No. J05-LVPA-K-03-0117)
  • Development of eubiotically multifunctional nutraceuticals (Eunutritech) No. 01.2.2-LMT-K-718-01-0062

Lithuanian-foreign partnerships initiated at the Department

USEFUL INFORMATION
Department of Drug Technology and Social Pharmacy
Prof. Jurga Bernatonienė
Head of the Department of Drug Technology and Social Pharmacy
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