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Abstract submission website Academic Pharmacy FIPSUB-1169 BASIC EQUIPMENT FOR LABORATORY TRAINING OF PHARMACY STUDENTS IN RESOURCE-LIMITED COUNTRIES: THE LAB-BOX PILOT PROJECT IN MALAWI Jennifer L. Marriott1, Lutz Heide* 2, Nette Dzabala2, Raymond Joso2, Joana Carrasqueira3, Ralph Altiere4 1Monash University, Parkville, Australia, 2Department of Pharmacy, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi, 3International Pharmaceutical Federation, The Hague, Netherlands, 4Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado , Denver, United States My preferred method of presentation is:: Oral presentation Backgrounds: Many schools of pharmacy in developing countries lack adequate facilities to provide all aspects of the pharmacy curriculum. One of the most common deficiencies is the lack of basic laboratory equipment. The ‘lab box’ concept envisaged a box of equipment suitable for one student to be able to conduct laboratory exercises as part of the pharmacy educational curriculum. The envisaged outcome was to improve education in science-related aspects of the curriculum in resource-limited schools of pharmacy in developing countries. Purpose: At the beginning of the piloting stage, there were a number of associated unknowns:         - What equipment should be provided?         - Could a supplier be identified?         - Costs involved?         - Time frame involved in ordering, preparing and shipping?         - Could funding be provided?         - Would they arrive in a suitable condition? Methods: The Pharmacy Department in the College of Medicine, Malawi was chosen for the pilot based on a number of factors –identified need, availability of laboratory space and a laboratory supervisor, ability to provide a list of equipment, willingness to provide educational outcome data and being associated with the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). Results: A suitable supplier was found, boxes cost $US99 plus freight. Fifty ‘Lab-Boxes’, funded by the FIP Academic Pharmacy Section and private donation, were shipped to Malawi in September, finally arriving in November in good condition. Delays were experienced due to lack of necessary documentation and notification from the supplier to allow expedited customs clearance.  Conclusions: The content of the kit is appropriate for a number of chemistry-related lab classes for pharmacy students. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared