Dear AAPS members–
As busy as we are in the here and now, we must regularly step back and consider what we see in AAPS' distant future: goals, potential pitfalls, and the growth opportunities that could pass us by if we fail to spot them. With that in mind, AAPS President-elect @Annette Bak launched the AAPS Horizon Planning Committee yesterday and drew together a handful of members who will help the Board of Directors keep the long-term in mind, even as the day-to-day rushes us along. We are excited to add this strengthening pillar to our volunteer governance: this committee will assure that AAPS stays on track with the execution of our 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, and that we recognize, understand, and react to important external trends that may impact the future of our organization. The committee will help us make sure that good strategic thinking and planning become an organizational habit, rather than a start-and-stop exercise undertaken every few years, allowing us to align and refine our operational planning, so we can best support you with a wealth of relevant member programs. The engaging first conversations of this new committee were a pleasant reminder of how energizing it is to work with volunteer leaders who are passionate about the future of our organization and its mission – definitely one of the most rewarding aspects of my job!
If you are interested in volunteering for an AAPS committee, we are recruiting for two new opportunities right now. @Joseph Polli is chairing the Nominations Committee and is looking for volunteers to help him recruit and nominate the best candidates for the Board, including the next treasurer and members-at-large, and the incoming president who will lead the organization in 2023. Apply by July 26 if you are interested in serving.
If you are more inclined to help with our scientific conference programming and biotech is your beat, consider joining Chair @Lauren Stevenson and Vice Chair @Heather Myler in planning next year's National Biotechnology Conference, taking place in Anaheim, CA, in May. Both leaders are already buzzing with ideas for the conference, so if you would like to be part of this high energy team, apply by August 13.
Speaking of the NBC, if you missed this year's virtual NBC and you are a member, you can now access the recordings from the conference. Catch up on the latest in biotechnology and the sessions that had everyone talking and get inspired by our great speakers.
If you are looking for live science interaction, plan to attend the August Land O'Lakes Pharmaceutical Analysis Conference. The Programming Committee led by Madhavi Srikoti has put together an excellent slate of sessions that explores the many aspects of patient-centric drug development: from discovery, to licensure, to manufacturing. As with past workshops, there will be a lively regulatory conversation on Day 3, to which I am particularly looking forward. The entire meeting is built around interactive conversation, and of course several of the topics initiated at the August meeting will carry forward into PharmSci 360 in October.
Excitement for PharmSci 360 is building! All of us at AAPS (especially our own indefatigable @Teresa Homrich, who manages our posters) were thrilled to see a bumper crop of late-breaking poster abstract submissions roll in our digital door at deadline yesterday! We look forward to exciting and vibrant conversations with poster authors this October. The abstracts for the early-submission posters are already available on the PharmSci 360 website. We will add the late-breaking abstracts in the coming weeks.
If you are looking for a great, theme-based reading list to enhance your preparation for PharmSci 360, look no further than The AAPS Journal: I am currently diving into the excellent topical Collection Rising Stars in Drug Delivery and Novel Carriers. I hope all this fresh science on our horizon at AAPS continues to inspire you to look up and ahead!
Tina
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