(456b) A Cyber-Infrastructure for Research Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing in the Pharmaceutical Domain: The pharmaHUB

Nowadays, the way of doing research and understanding education is being transformed in consequence of the rapid growing hardware and software capabilities. Computing power, data volumes, network capacities, and software developments are all on exponential growth paths, scientific collaborations are growing dramatically as well, and all forms of cyber-infrastructure often must be brought to bear to tackle a single complex problem. In order to sustain and exploit this movement, the establishment of long-term community-wide hubs has been envisaged1. Here, a Hub deployed to support knowledge sharing and scientific collaboration for pharmaceutical science and engineering, the pharmaHUB.org, is presented. The pharmaHUB was launched in 2008 and implemented on the HUBzero2 platform. The HUBzero is an open source package that builds a web-based infrastructure to create a collaboration environment in which researchers, educators, and students can access tools and share information. One of the main features of this platform is the capability of performing interactive simulation and modeling tools via your web browser Currently, the pharmaHUB encompasses a range of models and simulations, including particle-surface adhesion, DEM modeling of rotating drums, hopper discharge and high shear mixing, compartment modeling of particle blending, roller compaction, cake filtration, tablet dissolution, visualization of molecular crystals and multipurpose plant production planning. In addition, the suite of lecture materials and presentations available now includes complete lecture sequences on subjects such as statistical model building and design of experiments. Ongoing materials include the application of statistical analysis to the better determination of customized pharmacometric parameters and dosage regimens. The objective of pharmaHUB is to contribute and facilitate innovations in product and process development and manufacturing methodology for pharmaceutical products as well as to promote the joint creation and sharing of educational materials for use in the education and training of engineers and pharmaceutical scientists in academia, industry, and regulatory agencies3. The achievement of these goals relies on its use by the community as a vehicle to publish research and educational materials. Over the past twelve months the hub has seen over 4000 users from 550 organizations.

References

1. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10050/nsf10050.jsp?org=NSF

2. http://hubzero.org/home

3. K. Kuriyan, A. C. Catlin, G. V. Reklaitis, pharmaHUB: Building a Virtual Organization for Pharmaceutical Engineering and Science, Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation, 4:81?89 (2009).