By Joseph W. Polli, Ph.D., FAAPS, President
In this issue, you can browse the PharmSci 360 program and read about AAPS members involved in HIV/AIDS research over the past forty years.
This month’s issue of the AAPS Newsmagazine is full of scientific content for you to dive into. I am especially proud to highlight our special feature on HIV/AIDS research. This year marks forty years since the first patient was seen in San Francisco in 1981. Throughout this time, numerous AAPS members have contributed to the basic research, drug discovery and launch of novel drug therapies to treat HIV. Our special feature article chronicles the landmark moments in HIV/AIDS progress and highlights just a few AAPS members who have made an impact in this field.
This past year has brought many challenges for AAPS. I am proud that PharmSci 360 remains a full, robust and premier scientific event that now spans two weeks: October 26–November 5. Since announcing PharmSci 360 as a virtual event, we devoted ourselves to providing the best possible experience for our attendees. As you browse this year’s program, you will find an extensive series of workshops, presentations, keynote speakers, and much more. Register now for PharmSci 360!
Details for each of the PharmSci 360 sessions are included in this issue. There are dozens of topics that are sure to spark your interest. Best of all, you do not have to worry about missing any of the scientific content as all attendees will have access to the sessions through December 31st.
The sessions are balanced among 6 tracks:
- Discovery and Basic Research
- Preclinical development
- Bioanalytics
- Clinical pharmacology
- Manufacturing and analytical characterization
- Formulation and delivery
Each track will contain scientific symposia in various themes with specialized keynote speakers. We are also hosting six workshops and short courses taking place the week of November 9th. Each of these events will consist of four
90-min sessions over a two-day period:
- Drug Transporters 2020: Old Challenges and New Opportunities
- Excipients Complexities That Are Relevant to Analytical and Manufacturing
- Introduction to Vaccine Clinical Development
- Biomarker Assay Validation in Context
- Gene Therapy: Inserting Old Genes into a New Modality
- Strategic Approaches to Develop Phase-Appropriate Organic Impurity Control Strategies
On Monday, October 26, PharmSci 360 will open with our plenary speaker, Dr. Jennifer Doudna, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry and Molecular Biology from U.C. Berkeley. Dr. Doudna and her colleagues changed the research world in 2012 by describing a simple way of editing the DNA of any organism using an RNA-guided protein found in bacteria; this has become known as CRISPR.
On Thursday, November 5 during our closing plenary session, we will hear from Dr. Gregory A. Poland, the Director of the Mayo Vaccine Research Group—a state-of-the-art research group and laboratory that seeks to understand genetic drivers of viral vaccine response and the application of systems biology approaches to the generation of immunity.
To make the most of the virtual experience, be sure to use Connect360—an AI-driven, matchmaking tool that identifies new contacts based on shared interests. You can message other attendees and meet with them by video chat. You can also manage your calendar in the app so that other registrants know when you are available to meet.
On behalf of the AAPS Board of Directors, thank you for participating in AAPS programs, events, and activities. I look forward to learning and connecting at this year’s PharmSci 360!
With gratitude,
Joe Polli