LUMC en CHDR strengthen collaboration with opening clinical research unit

The Centre for Human Drug Research (CHDR) and Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) are intensifying their existing collaboration. With this collaboration, they hope to get new medicines tested and available to patients faster.

On September 18, the CHDR festively opened their new clinical research unit at the LUMC. This makes it easier to conduct studies with patient volunteers for medication use, such as research into complex pain syndromes and skin conditions.
The LUMC and the CHDR have been working closely together for years to research new treatments and newly discovered and developed medicines. Until now, this was mainly research with healthy volunteers outside the walls of the LUMC. The opening of the new research unit will change that. From now on, it is even easier to conduct research with patients. And that is important, because it will probably make new medicines available to patients more quickly.

Pancras Hogendoorn, dean and director of LUMC: “The search for new medicines and their actual approval is often a process that takes years. A lot of drug research takes place in Leiden due to the special ecosystem of the LUMC, Leiden University and the Leiden Bioscience Park. By opening this unit and collaborating with the CHDR, we hope to be able to accelerate the process even further.”
Koos Burggraaf, director of the CHDR: “We research medicines for the pharmaceutical and biotech industry and academia. We are very pleased that the LUMC is offering space for this research unit as an extension of our existing clinical research unit, because it offers us even better opportunities to conduct research in patient volunteers in addition to research in healthy volunteers.

With this new unit in the LUMC, we can achieve that the determination of effectiveness and safety in both healthy people and patients who need the drug is efficient. Being able to do this ‘in-house’ results in a speed gain and is more comfortable for patients. For them, it is pleasant to be able to go directly from an outpatient clinic to the research department, within the familiar walls of the LUMC.’
The LUMC and the CHDR have been working together for years in patient studies. The new research unit will initially focus primarily on research into skin diseases and research into pain medication in patient volunteers.

The Centre for Human Drug Research (CHDR) in the Leiden Bio Science Park is an innovative institute in the field of clinical drug development. In addition to our own research, aimed at improving drug research and medicines, we also work on behalf of pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies. For this purpose, we conduct research into new medicines, new research methods or new applications of existing medicines.

As an innovator, the LUMC stands for improving healthcare and people’s health. That is our mission. We do this through leading research and innovative education. Collaboration within and outside the LUMC is important for successful innovation. The LUMC therefore collaborates at national and international level. We want to connect the LUMC more strongly with our environment and pass it on better to future generations. We want to become better by pushing boundaries.