Established in 2019 at Al‑Ahliyya Amman University, the Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Center (PDRC) transformed Jordan’s R&D landscape as the country’s only full‑spectrum preclinical drug development facility. Created to bridge a critical infrastructure gap, PDRC unites academic rigor with industry‑grade workflows to deliver end‑to‑end services—from molecular design and compound synthesis to in vitro and in vivo evaluation. This pioneering model elevated AAU’s global stature and positioned Jordan as a regional hub for pharmaceutical innovation, backed by world‑class facilities and catalyzing national health‑science collaborations.
Housed within the Department of Pharmaceutical and Chemical Analysis, the center features specialized laboratories for formulation, analytical instrumentation, and pharmaceutical chemistry. The Biotechnology Division advances cell and tissue culture, molecular biology, and microbiology research, while a dedicated Pharmacokinetics Lab performs ADME and toxicology analyses on state‑of‑the‑art HPLC and mass‑spectrometry platforms and offers custom assay development services. Complementing these capabilities, PDRC operates Jordan’s only institute‑based, GLP‑compliant Animal House Facility outfitted for nude‑mouse oncology and immunology studies. Establishing these multidisciplinary platforms required rigorous project management, extensive training, and substantial investment to satisfy biosafety, ethical, and accreditation standards.
Operationally, PDRC supports more than 120 postgraduate students across master’s and doctoral programs and has delivered 37 major R&D projects. It sustains dynamic partnerships with 319 external entities—including academic institutions, industry partners, and government agencies—to foster joint grant applications, technology transfer, and workforce development. These collaborations have produced over 200 peer‑reviewed publications and secured competitive funding from both national and international sources. To date, PDRC has secured over USD 5 million in competitive grant funding and investments. Concurrently, the center is advancing toward ISO 17025 and GLP certification to formalize its quality management and reinforce its international credibility.
By internalizing preclinical studies, PDRC has eliminated expensive outsourcing, accelerated project timelines, and delivered multimillion-dollar savings to stakeholders. Its infrastructure supports pioneering projects—nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems, antibody‑drug conjugates, comprehensive pharmacological screenings, and disease‑model development for diabetes and cancer. Training local scientists in advanced methodologies has fortified national research capacity and underscored the power of academia–industry synergy in achieving scientific self-sufficiency. These outcomes have positioned Jordanian institutions to move swiftly into clinical development phases.
Leveraging its entrepreneurial ethos, PDRC delivers customized formulation development and analytical services to local pharmaceutical manufacturers, solving real-world production challenges and streamlining regulatory compliance. Through service contracts and co-development agreements, the center has accelerated product pipelines, reduced time to market, and spurred sustainable economic growth, demonstrating how university-driven research can enhance regional competitiveness.
Looking ahead, PDRC will finalize ISO 17025 and GLP accreditations and expand BSL‑3 research capacity. Planned initiatives include integrating AI-driven predictive analytics for lead optimization, deploying a Laboratory Information Management System, and launching a biotechnology incubator to nurture start-ups. The center aims to double its training capacity to 200 students annually and establish a regional training node in Amman with partner universities. Strategic alliances with global pharmaceutical firms will support early-phase clinical trials. Ultimately, PDRC aspires to become the Middle East’s premier integrated academic–industry preclinical research hub, driving sustainable health‑innovation and regional resilience for decades.
