Montclair State University

The Margaret and Herman Sokol Institute for Pharmaceutical Life Sciences was established by Montclair State University’s College of Science and Mathematics in 2007 to rapidly advance the new skills, approaches and research that are critical to the development of tomorrow’s solutions to global health issues.

The Sokol Institute is uniquely positioned to expand and extend the University’s traditional role in preparing scientists, researchers and technicians for the state’s $20 billion pharmaceutical industry.  In fact, the importance of the state's pharmaceutical sector extends far beyond its borders with fully 53 percent of the new medicines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) developed by New Jersey's pharmaceutical companies. In addition, nearly half the nation's investment in R&D for new medicines — about $15 billion — is committed to New Jersey facilities and researchers.

With significant increases in the number of Montclair State students majoring in key drug development and research fields such as chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology; recruitment of new faculty from top academic and industry institutions around the world; and the launch of significant research into such areas as bacteria-resistant antibiotics and diabetes, The Sokol Institute is well poised to provide the skilled, highly educated workforce that helps make New Jersey the pre-eminent location for the global pharmaceutical and medical technology industry.