After more than 35 years carrying out studies on the efficacy and safety of products using in vitro systems and models, the GAIKER technology centre is now a benchmark in this field for the pharmaceutical and dermocosmetic industry.
Zamudio, 11 January 2022. The strategic commitment of GAIKER, a member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA), to the application of in vitro alternatives and the investments made in recent years mean that, today, the centre has numerous resources and facilities such as laboratories with specialised material and equipment, GLP certification (Good Laboratory Practices) granted by the Spanish Medicines Agency for toxicology and safety tests, and highly qualified personnel for carrying out research in cell biology, molecular biology and microbiology.
Among the studies that can be carried out in these fields are the search for activities of interest in new active ingredients (such as the evaluation of the anti-inflammatory, healing, anticancer, etc. effect at cellular level), the investigation of the mechanism of action of products at molecular level or the analysis of the toxicity of a substance (such as tests to determine whether a product is irritant or corrosive, or whether it can cause genetic mutations).
The tests carried out not only provide information of high scientific value for the companies, but also contribute to the reduction of animal experimentation through the application of in vitro alternatives, in which GAIKER is a benchmark.
This privileged position allows GAIKER to support in the innovation process not only companies already established in the market, but also new companies. Proof of this are various collaborations established with start-ups in the Basque Country and other Autonomous Communities.
Good examples of the latter are the R&D projects in which GAIKER collaborates with the Galician company KeyBiological, an SME founded in 2016 that is dedicated to the production, distribution and marketing of ozonised oils, natural cosmetics and nutritional supplements, and which has won the 1st Galician Innovative Materials Competition organised by the Galician Innovation Agency. Within the framework of these projects, among other things, it is going to help validate the creation of a biocidal ingredient developed by the company from recycled oils.
GAIKER’s support is important for this and other SMEs to be able to continue innovating, especially in their early stages of development, when they usually have limited resources and equipment. The collaborations established in these cases help them to bring high quality innovative products to the market.
About Gaiker:
It is a technology centre located in the Bizkaia Technology Park, a private non-profit organisation, dedicated to research and providing technological and innovative services for companies. It is a member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA).
Its main task is to carry out R&D Projects. It also provides advanced technological services (technological advice and consultancy and innovation planning, among others), analyses and tests, and also offers technology dissemination services.
Its technicians and professionals are trained in different areas of biotechnology, sustainable and functional composites and polymers and the circular economy, enabling them to provide innovative and high quality solutions tailored to the technological needs of their customers.
