Researchers from four countries gathered in Chișinău to discuss medicinal plant biotechnology

Researchers and specialists from the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Italy, and Poland gathered in Chișinău to discuss innovative techniques in medicinal plant biotechnology. The national scientific-practical workshop with international participation, Innovative Techniques in Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, was held at Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

The event brought together representatives of the academic community and pharmaceutical industry, researchers, students, and resident pharmacists. Participants discussed the use of modern technologies in medicinal plant research, the development of pharmaceutical products, and harnessing plant resources.

Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Head of the Department of Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Chemistry Livia Uncu noted that the workshop marked an important stage in the development of applied research in plant biotechnology in the Republic of Moldova.


“Medicinal plants and plant-based products are now viewed from new and innovative technological perspectives, moving beyond the traditional approaches of 10–20 years ago. The exchange of experience between educational institutions, research centers, laboratories, and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry and drug manufacturing sector is essential for the transfer of knowledge, the development of practical skills, and the identification of new directions for research and innovation,” Livia Uncu said.


According to Professor Mihail Toderaș, Head of the Health and Biomedical Research Center within the National Research Institute in Medicine and Health of the State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, the university has an integrated value chain, from fundamental research to the experimental production of biopharmaceutical medicines.

USMF has 30 laboratories, and over the past two years, three laboratories focused on plant biotechnology, nanotechnology and drug development have been established.


“We already have several biopharmaceutical medicines that have been produced experimentally. We are open to any collaboration with industry and with other academic research institutions in order to bring new perspectives to this field,” Mihail Toderaș said.


Vladimir Valica, Head of the Scientific-Practical Center for Medicinal Plants emphasized that medicinal plants represent not only a source of biologically active substances, but also a field offering significant opportunities for modern pharmaceutical and biotechnological research.

According to him, plant biotechnology provides modern tools for identifying, obtaining, standardizing and using natural products while meeting safety and sustainability requirements.

An important moment of the event was the launch of the volume “Applied Plant Biotechnology,” by university professor Tatiana Calalb and senior scientific researcher Mariana Lozinschii. The work is intended for students, resident physicians, researchers, and professionals interested in plant biotechnology and its applications.

The textbook will be donated to the Scientific Medical Library of Nicolae Testemițanu USMF and will also be available in electronic format in the institutional repository.

During the event, Tatiana Calalb received the Gold Medal awarded for presenting the textbook at the fourth edition of the International Exhibition of Inventions and Innovative Entrepreneurship, held in Chișinău on June 19–20, 2026.


“This work creates a genuine bridge between academic theory and everyday practice, having been designed not only as rigorous theoretical material, but also as a resource dedicated to practical work. (...) The future specialist in the field of medicines must go far beyond the basic fundamental disciplines,” Tatiana Calalb said.


Associate Professor Nicolae Ciobanu, Head of the Department of Drug Technology, noted that the launch of the textbook was the result of the implementation of the World Bank project Higher Education in the Republic of Moldova. As part of the project, the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory was established, while the Plant Biotechnology course has been included for the second consecutive year in the study program for fourth-year Pharmacy students and in the postgraduate cycle.

The forum program included scientific presentations and three modules of practical activities held in the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory. Participants also had the opportunity to view an exhibition of biotechnological samples presented by the participating institutions.

Specialists and researchers from Italy, Poland, and Romania, as well as representatives of research and educational institutions from the Republic of Moldova attended the event.

The event was organized by the Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, the National Research Institute in Medicine and Health, the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, and the Drug Development Center of Nicolae Testemițanu USMF, in cooperation with the Association of Pharmacists of the Republic of Moldova.

The Plant Biotechnology Laboratory was established with the support of FORCE_FARM subproject, Modernizing and Strengthening Education through Research in Pharmacy and Medicine, part of the Higher Education in Moldova project, coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Research with financial support from the World Bank.