Engineering success with the right chemistry

6 December 2006 Dr Karen Hapgood from the Department of Chemical Engineering has won the 2006 award from the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists for 'New Investigator in Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical technology'. Recognising ground-breaking researchers for their contributions to pharmaceutical sciences, the awards include a $25,000 grant to support further study and actively engage graduate students. Dr Hapgood won the award for her research into pharmaceutical granulation where there is a growing need to understand the underlying science and physics behind pharmaceutical powder processes and the production of 'designer particles' for drug delivery. "I'm really pleased to win this award as it gives international recognition to my research and enables me to build an expansive research program around pharmaceutical powder technologies," Dr Hapgood said.

Dr Jay Sisco, AAPS president, presents the award for pharmaceutical science to Dr Karen Hapgood.

Dr Hapgood had to describe the significance of her past research achievements in pharmaceutical manufacturing technology research, demonstrate her commitment to outstanding teaching and research and also prove to the judges that she could be a future leader in pharmaceutical education and research.

One example that she provided to help illustrate her commitment to the future growth of pharmaceutical technology is her work to help establish a new dual BE/BPharmSc degree, with the Victorian College of Pharmacy (VCP) and Department of Chemical Engineering, starting in 2007.

"You just need to think of all the drugs in your local pharmacy that have been developed and manufactured by people skilled in pharmaceutical science or chemical engineering," she said.

"There is a huge drive to refine and improve these products and I'm very excited about this new degree which will help meet the need for new pharmaceutical technologists