”Nicolae Testemitanu” University inaugurated the FORCE-Farm laboratories

”Nicolae Testemitanu” University inaugurated the laboratories created and consolidated thanks to the subproject "Modernization and strengthening of education through research in pharmacy and medicine at Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Republic of Moldova" (”FORCE_Farm”). The FORCE_Farm subproject is part of the Moldova Higher Education Project, implemented by the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova during the period 2020-2025, with the support of the World Bank. The inauguration event took place on December 23 this year.

Thus, the Laboratory of Plant and Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies for studies in the field of fundamental and specialized pharmaceutical sciences, the Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnologies and Drug Design, which will ensure the experimental and research approach to pharmaceutical and clinical disciplines, were created; the laboratories of the Scientific Center for Medicine were endowed with modern equipment; a study and research room was created, equipped with specialized educational systems, where students will be able to simulate drug development experiments. The new infrastructure will contribute to the education of students in the field of biotechnology, by cultivating advanced practical skills in the field of physico-chemical analysis and bioanalysis, as well as to the application of various modern methods for conducting research concerning the properties of drugs.

In the opening, First Vice-Rector Olga Cernetchi, Vice-Rector for Teaching and Academic Management, highlighted that "The FORCE_Farm project is part of a broader strategic vision of our university - to develop a modern, competitive higher education, anchored in research and in solving the real requirements of the healthcare system and the labor market. At the same time, FORCE_Farm represents a continuation of the efforts made within the first round of projects, by implementing the FORCE_Med sub-project, and extends the concept of education through research to the entire field of healthcare. The specialists who will be trained in these modern spaces will work for the benefit of patients and society, and the quality of their training is a shared responsibility."

Adriana Cazacu, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, Executive Director of the Moldova Higher Education Project, appreciated the community of Nicolae Testemitanu University for the constant tendency to create academic and research environments according to the standards in ensuring the quality of the educational process. "The modernization of higher education requires much involvement and significant contribution from the institutions, but also from the partners. We hope that these equipment items, some unique in our country, will strengthen the research and innovation capacities in the field of medicine", Adriana Cazacu emphasized.

In turn, Ion Gonta, responsible for the Education Portfolio at the World Bank Office in the Republic of Moldova, noted that "this initiative is an important step in strengthening university education and research in medicine and pharmacy. These investments, made with the support of the World Bank, represent not only support for the University, but also a commitment to the future of public health in the Republic of Moldova. I am convinced that these modern laboratories will fully contribute to the training of highly qualified personnel, vital for the Republic of Moldova."

Project manager Livia Uncu, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, mentioned that "The FORCE_Farm project is a vision project on how education and research in pharmacy and medicine should develop today. At the same time, the project reflects the trust in the Faculty of Pharmacy and our university to manage a complex project with real impact, assuming a major responsibility towards students, teaching staff, young researchers and the healthcare system. An essential element of the project was the investment in people. Training, academic mobility, direct collaboration with international experts and curricular remodeling work contributed to the consolidation of an institutional culture oriented towards quality, innovation and openness. My colleagues demonstrated not only professional competence, but also the willingness to learn, adapt and build together".

According to Daniela Munteanu, a fourth-year student at the Pharmacy program, thanks to the FORCE_Farm project, the dream of learning in new laboratories with modern technologies has become a reality. "These laboratories offer us the chance to practically study the fields of biotechnology and nanotechnology - modern and attractive for young people. For students of the Faculty of Pharmacy, these spaces mean not only equipment, but also confidence, real skills and the courage to say that we are prepared to excel in our chosen field."

The subproject "Modernization and strengthening of education through research in pharmacy and medicine at Nicolae Testemitanu University of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences ("FORCE_Farm") was implemented between November 27, 2023 - November 30, 2025. The value of the grant awarded is 2 million euros.

Among the most important equipment items purchased is a high-performance liquid chromatography system with diode array detector and mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-MS), used for the analysis, identification and quantification of active substances in drugs, herbal products and complex pharmaceutical systems. A differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) system was also purchased, to be used for characterizing thermal properties and for stability studies of pharmaceutical substances.

For research in the field of instrumental analysis, the infrastructure was completed with UV-VIS and NIR spectrophotometers, an FTIR spectrometer, as well as an optical emission spectrometer (MP-AES), which allow the determination of the chemical and structural composition of pharmaceutical and biological substances.

In the field of pharmacotechnics and pharmaceutical nanotechnologies, the following items were purchased: a system for analyzing nanoparticles based on dynamic light scattering (DLS), a high-pressure nano-homogenizer, an ultrasonic disperser, a dissolution test device, a disintegration tester, an electronic viscometer and a device for determining the flow angle, which are used in the development and evaluation of modern pharmaceutical forms and controlled drug release systems.

To support research in plant biotechnology, a bioreactor for plant cultures, a growth and thermotherapy chamber for plants, a rack with shelves with controlled light and temperature, as well as a laboratory lyophilizer, rotary evaporator and Soxhlet system were purchased, intended for the extraction, processing and stabilization of bioactive compounds of plant origin.

In the field of pharmaceutical biotechnology, the equipment includes a bioreactor, a system for purifying proteins, peptides and nucleic acids, a shaking incubator, an ultra-freezer and a vacuum pump filtration system, which provide modern conditions for the study of biomolecules and biological processes.

For teaching and microscopic and analytical research activities, a stereomicroscope and an optical microscope with a digital camera, an optical microscope, as well as a photometer for reading microplates and a UV/VIS nano spectrophotometer were purchased, to be used in student training and in applied research.

The project also included the provision of laminar flow hoods, autoclaves, ultra-purified water purification systems, as well as essential auxiliary equipment - centrifuges, electronic analytical balances, pH meters, refrigerators, ultrasonic baths and magnetic stirrers.

At the same time, the infrastructure was completed with a system for preclinical research on laboratory animals, to contribute to the development of interdisciplinary research in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields.

Through this complex equipment, the laboratories created under "FORCE_Farm" project become modern training and research platforms, used both in the educational process and in applied research, contributing to the training of competitive specialists and the sustainable development of education and research in the fields of pharmacy and medicine in the Republic of Moldova.

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