The environmental load of pharmaceuticals has not been considered enough, neither in drug development or end use. Our environment is so full of drug residues, that our bacteria is becoming resistant and current antibiotic treatment might not be effective for long. Instead of quick fixes for the current situation, team Generation Green wants to revolutionize pharmacy education to fully integrate environmental aspects in the curricula.
The whole team has been busy preparing for the PitchNight in September. Before the PitchNight they still have a webinar and a breakfast event where Sirpa Pietikäinen is speaking at.
The team met Pietikäinen at Helsinki Challenge's Impact Camp last May. Pietikäinen supported the team on their mission for lasting impact through change in legislation.
“We imagined that changing laws is overly strenuous and merely a dream but Pietikäinen gave us very positive feedback and practical information on what we have to produce as researchers to make it possible”, team leader Tiina Sikanen says.
The summer has brought good attention to the team’s competition idea. Sikanen was happy that Ville Niinistö, chairperson of the Green party, commented their article in the apothecaries magazine Apteekkari on Twitter. Although the Challenge process has been hectic at times, the team is happy that people have been excited about their competition idea.
The best thing about Helsinki Challenge is that it has given structure for their work.
“We noticed how important it is to communicate your goals and define your impact”, Sikanen says.
“It’s enough for me to be joyed by research itself but it’s in fact very important to show the practical advantage of research.”
The upcoming autumn is both frightening and exciting.
“It would be amazing to make it to the finals. However the best thing is that we have already opened the discussion with politicians.”
Come hear Generation Green pitch their competition idea on stage at PitchNight on Thursday, September 3rd. The announcement of the winner of Helsinki Challenge (and 375000€) is announced on Friday, November 13th.
TEAM: Team leader Tiina Sikanen (researcher, Faculty of Pharmacy, UH, Jouni Hirvonen (Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, UH), Pia Vuorela (Vice-dean (education), Faculty of Pharmacy, UH), Jari Yli-Kauhaluoma (Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, UH), Reijo Kärkkäinen (university instructor, LL.M, UH), Eeva Teräsalmi (MSc, EMBA, FIP-vice president), Jaakko Teppo (PhD student, Faculty of Pharmacy, UH), Suvi Sivula, (student, Faculty of Pharmacy, UH).