To deepen undergraduate students' understanding of the pharmaceutical industry chain and integrate theoretical knowledge with practice, the School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (SPST) at Tianjin University recently organized a comprehensive two-week internship program for its Class of 2023. As a pivotal component of the School's practical teaching framework, the activity guided students through six distinct pharmaceutical-related organizations, encompassing drug R&D institutions, manufacturing enterprises, hospitals, and retail pharmacies. This provided exposure to the entire drug lifecycle from discovery and production to quality control and clinical use. Through on-site visits, expert lectures, and interactive sessions, students gained insights into the multifaceted nature of the pharmacy profession within real-world contexts. The experience enhanced their understanding of critical areas like drug regulation, production quality, clinical pharmacy, and R&D, effectively reinforcing classroom learning, broadening their industry perspective, and laying a solid foundation for future career planning.
Commencing at the Source: The Journey of New Drug Innovation
Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research was founded in 1959 and formerly under the former State Pharmaceutical Administration, the Institute is a key player in China's pharmaceutical research system. Having undergone restructuring and mixed-ownership reform, it now operates as a modern pharmaceutical enterprise under China Merchants Group, integrating R&D with industrial production.
Students visited its GLP laboratory, modernized Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) platform, and small-molecule drug research laboratories, systematically observing the comprehensive process from drug discovery to non-clinical evaluation. Experts delved into topics like TCM secondary development and drug mechanisms of action, broadening the students' scientific horizons and allowing them to appreciate the dedication of generations of researchers working to serve public health.
Bridging TCM Modernization with Intelligent Manufacturing
At Tasly Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., which upholds the philosophy of "Innovation-driven, becoming a leading enterprise in China's pharmaceutical market," students explored a large biopharmaceutical cluster covering modern TCM, chemical drugs, and biologics. The visit to its TCM dripping pill production line and intelligent manufacturing workshop showcased a fully automated, intelligent system from herbal extraction to smart warehousing. This provided a tangible understanding of how technological innovation revitalizes traditional medicine.
Focus on Essential Medicines: Understanding Quality System Control
Tianjin Pharmaceutical Holdings Co., Ltd., with origins dating back to Tianjin Pharmaceutical Factory established in 1939, carries the legacy of the "Shuang Yan" brand, a time-honored name in Tianjin. Guided by the strategy of "Building Momentum for Innovation, Forging New Ground Together" and the core values of "Quality, Care, and Strength," the company embodies a profound pharmaceutical culture. Its core facility in the Binhai New Area specializes in producing shortage drugs and care medications.
Students observed fully automated production lines in the lyophilized powder injection and tablet workshops, alongside the practical application of SCADA/MES systems in quality control. Learning about intelligent warehousing and logistics management highlighted how automation and informatization are crucial not only for efficiency but also for ensuring drug accessibility and safety.
Upholding Quality and Regulatory Responsibility
The Tianjin Institute for Drug Control, founded in 1953, is the statutory technical authority for quality testing of drugs, biologics, and cosmetics within Tianjin. It is also one of China's first three national port drug control institutes, responsible for quality supervision and technical services across the entire drug spectrum.
The institute faculties detailed the complete workflow from drug sampling and analytical testing to report issuance, and compared domestic and international regulatory frameworks. Tours of specialized laboratories deepened students' comprehension of quality standards and regulations, reinforcing the profound responsibility behind every medication.
Clinical Pharmacy Frontline: The Value of Rational Drug Use
Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, a comprehensive Grade A, Class III hospital and medical center founded in 1946, is a "Double-First Class" clinical medicine construction site and a national clinical drug trial institution.
Students visited the Poison and Drug Monitoring Center, learning about advanced equipment like LC-MS/MS and GC-MS used in therapeutic drug monitoring and clinical toxicology. In the Intravenous Admixture Service, they observed sterile preparation procedures and intelligent management systems. Witnessing the modern dispensing process in the tablet pharmacy underscored the scientific management of clinical drugs. This visit vividly demonstrated the pivotal role of hospital pharmacy departments in promoting rational drug use, medication safety, and precision medicine.
Modern Pharmacy Services in Community Health
Tianjin Jinnan Hospital, whose predecessor was established in 1956, is a Grade III comprehensive hospital serving as the medical service hub for Jinnan District. Physicians elaborated on the rational use of narcotic/psychotropic drugs and TCM.
Students then rotated through various pharmacy posts—outpatient/emergency, TCM, inpatient, and clinical pharmacy—gaining insight into the diversity and challenges of pharmacy work at the primary hospital level and appreciating its indispensable role in community health.
The Drug Retail Terminal: Understanding Pharmacy Service Mission
Laobaixing Drug Store was founded on the principle of "making healthcare and medicines affordable for everyone". Faculty was invited to the campus and presented a systematic overview of drug classification, prescription review, medication consultation, and quality control systems to the students. The talk demonstrated the pharmacy's vital role in ensuring drug accessibility, safety, and rational use. Students recognized pharmacies not merely as retail endpoints, but as essential health service gateways connecting the healthcare system with the public, fulfilling social responsibilities in health education and safeguarding family medication safety.
This study tour was meticulously organized by teachers Su Yanfang, Jin Xinghua, Wei Ying, and Zhang Yunhui (retired). Students gained a systematic understanding of the complete pharmaceutical industry chain from R&D to application, learned about the history and culture of various organizations, and appreciated their collaborative role in protecting public health. From researcher dedication and production line excellence to the rigor of quality control and clinical pharmacy, each stop deepened students' comprehension of the pharmaceutical profession, fostering a sense of mission and responsibility for contributing to the health industry and helping them build a clear cognitive map of the field.
SPST remains committed to its integrated "Industry-Academia-Research-Clinical" training model, encouraging students to define their career paths and refine their skills through practical experience, nurturing them into a new generation of pharmaceutical talents possessing innovative spirit, practical capability, and social responsibility. This practical training is an essential component of the undergraduate program. Looking ahead, SPST will continue to strengthen collaboration with peer institutions, enterprises, research institutes, and hospitals, consistently creating opportunities for students to broaden their horizons and engage with industry and academic frontiers, thereby contributing to the cultivation of top-tier pharmaceutical talent in China.
