Prof. J. Preece (Chemistry, University of Birmingham)

Prof. Z. Zhang (Chem Eng, University of Birmingham)

Lexon UK (Redditch)

Tax free bursary of £20,500 p.a. plus fees paid

Lexon UK is a small pharmaceutical company based in Redditch Worcestershire that specialises in the manufacture of formulations for oral  delivery. The objectives of the project are;

1. to use a commercial oral formulation, which the company already use for making up GP ‘special prescriptions’ for oral delivery of pharmaceutical drugs, and carry out stability tests on these ‘specials’, and devise strategies for extending the shelf-life of the specials.
2. to formulate a new oral dispersion in which pharmaceutical drugs (solids and liquids) can be dispersed to make up prescription ‘specials’, which will be more cost effective than buying the commercial oral formulation, and also open up a potential route for selling this formulation in competition with current commercial suppliers.
3. to use the new formulation for stability testing of specials and extending shelf-life.

To achieve this we will look to use various approaches to stabilising the active component, such as coating particulates with biocompatible polymers to microencapsulation of solids powders or liquids.

To be eligible for EPSRC funding candidates must have at least a 2(1) in an Engineering or Scientific discipline or a 2(2) plus MSc. Due to funding restrictions applications from EU students who have studied in the UK are welcome as well as those from candidates with relevant industrial experience. Please email your c.v. to r.w.greenwood@bham.ac.uk. For more details on the Engineering Doctorate scheme please visit www.eng.bham.ac.uk/chemical/pg/engd.