About this programme
The DPDR is a multidisciplinary doctoral programme that welcomes motivated researchers. The programme conducts both fundamental and applied research that addresses societal challenges. We span the whole life cycle of drug development from discovering novel drug targets all the way to pharmacovigilance. Our fields include, for example, brain diseases, fundamental neuroscience, cancer medicine, and antibiotic resistance. Pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical research specifically includes small molecule drug design, medicinal chemistry, biological drugs (antibodies, proteins, peptides, viral vectors), bioactivity screening, mode and mechanism of action, pharmaceutical microbiology, drug formulation, nanomedicines, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug preclinical efficacy and safety, development and implementation of novel analytics. We also conduct industrial pharmacy and manufacturing research, including the development of novel process analytical technologies. From the human (patient/consumer citizen) perspective, important research involves drug interactions, pharmacogenetics, clinical pharmacology, clinical drug research, pharmacoepidemiology, clinical pharmacy, social pharmacy, drug effectiveness and safety, pharmacoeconomics, toxicology and clinical toxicology, as well as veterinary drug research. The main component of doctoral education is research performed in research groups under the guidance of supervisor(s). At the same time, discipline-specific expertise and transferable skills are also systematically developed through participation in local national and international academic courses as well as other activities, such as conferences and research visits to other research groups and institutions. The acquisition of transferable skills is specifically supported by training activities offered by the Doctoral school. Research progress, transferable skills and career planning of every doctoral researcher are monitored and supported with annual thesis committee meetings involving external scientific experts. Our highly multidisciplinary research community is based at the Faculty of Pharmacy on the Viikki campus. Learn more about the doctoral programme on the University of Helsinki website.
Course details verified 29 Oct 2026 — intakes, entry requirements and course facts · official source