The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology and Education consortium, which includes the University of Iowa and nine other institutions, has been awarded a five-year grant worth up to $35 million.

The grant comes from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; it aims to improve drug manufacturing standards, according to a press release.

The release said improvement of such drug-manufacturing standards could cut health-care costs, improve drug safety and create jobs.

"The University of Iowa’s historical strength in this area, particularly in its clinical drug manufacturing program, has contributed greatly to the success of [National Institute] initiatives with the FDA," said Jordan Cohen, the UI vice president for Research and a member of the institute’s Board of Directors.

— by Hayley Bruce