Olivia Blackledge

My final year project ‘Pharma-Tree’ is the pharmacy of the future. At present, doctors use a ‘one size fits all’ approach to prescribe medication. Patients are prescribed medication at an average dose, then doctors adjust the course of treatment according to the response of the patient’s body. Imagine receiving a treatment carefully selected just for you, one that would minimise side effects, and provide the best possible outcome. This can all be made possible with Pharma-Tree

Pharma-Tree seeks to challenge, question and re-imagine the traditional pharmacy space. The design centres around creating a built environment that enables pharmacists to provide the right medicine, for the right person, at the right time. Creating a hybrid between traditional pharmacies and natural medical remedies, Pharma-Tree uses individual genetics, transforming this information into a plant that can grow personalised medicine based on each individual’s genes. Pharma-Tree is an entirely controlled environment that is a fusion between natural and artificial elements.

In order for the Pharma-Tree technology to begin producing personalised medicine, the patient must first provide their genetic input. This process begins at the control panel. The control panel is a system used to store and analyse patients’ genetic information, as well as actively monitor and track patients undergoing treatment. This technology consists of a built-in I.V machine which is used to draw blood from patients to analyse their genetic information. The role of the pharmacist is crucial in this stage. The pharmacist is the only person able to program, control and touch the control panel technology.

From these genetic medical inputs, the PharmaTree technology is able to transform this information into a medical output personalised for each individual. These medical outputs are grown through plants that are stored in controlled, isolated capsules. Once the control panel has analysed patients’ genetic information, this information is transformed and dispersed through a mist to plants in the isolated capsules. This mist is absorbed by the plants which begin to produce personalised medicines. Patients have an option between 3 medical outputs, either air, solid or liquid.

Diagram to explain the process of Pharma-Tree