Researchers of tomorrow are found today

Today's final round of the Drug Hunter Competition, taking place at Lundbeck's headquarters in Valby, culminates nine weeks of intensive hunt for the researchers of the future. Since February, about 1000 students from upper secondary schools across Denmark have taken on the role of research scientists working to develop new drugs. H. Lundbeck A/S, the pharmaceutical company, has sponsored the competition that is designed to provide upper secondary students with insight into the world of research, and arouse their interest in science.

On the day of the final round, students will meet, among others Thomas Habekost, Ph.D., from Copenhagen University, who will focus on the importance of the brain for our memory and ability to pay attention.

To win the Drug Hunter Competition, students must utilize their knowledge of chemistry, biology and biotechnology in relation to the development of new and better drugs to treat brain disorders such as depression and Alzheimer's disease. The ambition is to place the students’ science proficiency in a broader societal context.

"We hope that the Drug Hunter Competition will show students how they, as scientists, can contribute to making a difference for patients and for society,” says Anders Gersel Pedersen, executive vice president of research and development at Lundbeck. “That is why the competition is not just about letting young people try their hand at scientific research, but also about emphasizing why it is so critical to continue the development of new and better drugs for the treatment of brain diseases.”

Scientific posters
The students have had nine weeks in which to prepare scientific posters where they have had to use their knowledge of brain disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases to find answers to questions and issues related to modern pharmaceutical research. 

A jury consisting of Lundbeck brain disease researchers will evaluate the many posters on the last day of the competition, and will select the winners of this year's Drug Hunter Competition.

With the sharpest scientific minds gathered from the country's upper secondary schools, the level is high – and it is not only the students who are getting smarter.

“The students push the limits of the challenges that we give them, and they demonstrate a good command of the subject matter as well as creativity in their solutions,” explains Anders Gersel Pedersen. “As researchers, this is something that really inspires us. We believe these young people are important for future research, and the sooner we can give them insight into the scientific world and awaken their interest in the role of the researcher, the better.”

See more facts about Drug Hunter Competition below and on the contest website, www.drughunters.dk.

For further information, please contact

Mads Kronborg, Media Relations Manager                     Simon Augustesen, Media Relations
Phone (direct): +45 36 43 28 51                                    Phone (direct): +45 36 43 49 80

About Lundbeck
H. Lundbeck A/S (LUN.CO, LUN DC, HLUKY) is an international pharmaceutical company highly committed to improving the quality of life for people suffering from brain disorders. For this purpose, Lundbeck is engaged in the research, development, production, marketing and sale of pharmaceuticals across the world. The company's products are targeted at disorders such as depression and anxiety, psychotic disorders, epilepsy and Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Lundbeck was founded in 1915 by Hans Lundbeck in Copenhagen, Denmark. Today Lundbeck employs approximately 6,000 people worldwide. Lundbeck is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies working with brain disorders. In 2011, the company's revenue was DKK 16.0 billion (approximately EUR 2.2 billion or USD 3.0 billion). For more information, please visit www.lundbeck.com.

Facts about the Drug Hunter Competition

The Project

• The Drug Hunter Competition is a science competition for upper secondary school students, primarily from Danish Science Gymnasiums. Lundbeck has organized the competition, which began on February 1, 2012.


• The competition takes its starting point in drug development as it is practiced today. Students have the opportunity to work with projects related to the central nervous system, and to choose between projects that have a chemical, biological or biotechnical approach.


• The Drug Hunter Competition combines classroom learning within biology, chemistry and biotechnology (at the Danish A and B levels) with practical insight into research and development at Lundbeck. During the competition, students have the opportunity to meet Lundbeck researchers through lectures at participating secondary schools; they gain insight into the working methods of a researcher; and they gain insight into how academic subjects can be applied to solve real issues related to the development of new drugs.


• The competition tasks are designed to target curriculum competency goals, and are thus suitable for use as part of the biology, chemistry and biotechnology curricula. Lundbeck has developed classroom materials for the competition for upper secondary schools in collaboration with the BioTech Academy, a student organization at The Technical University of Denmark.

Timeline

• February 1, 2012: Students are given their tasks and then have nine weeks to prepare a scientific poster. Along the way, upper secondary schools have the opportunity to receive visits and presentations from Lundbeck researchers.


• April 20, 2012 – Danish Festival of Research:
  • Posters entered by the students progress to the final round, held at Lundbeck headquarters in Valby.
  • Students present their scientific posters on the final day. At the end of the day, the winners of this year’s Drug Hunter Competition are announced.
  • Former Member of Parliament and spokesperson for psychiatry for Denmark’s Social-Liberal Party, Anne Marie Geisler Andersen, participates in the final round, at which Thomas Habekost, Ph.D., from Copenhagen University, makes a presentation about the importance of the brain for our memory and ability to pay attention.