Breaking Down Silos with a Science-First Platform

As industry gets ready for the 2026 AAPS PharmSci 360, The Pharma Navigator offers insights into the key themes for the event, highlighting a selection of the scientific sessions awaiting attendees.

The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists’ (AAPS’) flagship annual meeting, PharmSci 360, was created eight years ago to provide its members and event attendees with a comprehensive, science-first platform that covers both chemical entities and biomolecular drugs (1). The 2026 edition of the event will take place from Oct. 25–28 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA, and will follow the ‘360’ structure aimed at breaking down traditional silos found within industry.

Five Core Scientific Tracks

AAPS PharmSci 360’s agenda comprises five core tracks that are each split into three themes. The core tracks are Preclinical and Translational Sciences, Bioanalytics, Manufacturing and Analytical Characterization, Formulation and Delivery, and Career Development (2).

1. Preclinical and Translational Sciences

The first theme for this track will seek to cover how integrating in vitro data with in silico  and quantitative modeling approaches can help to drive the translation of programs from preclinical into human development stages. For the second theme under this track, attendees will be able to learn about innovative preclinical, animal model-based, and translational strategies, as well as regulatory approaches to improve predictability and success in drug development. The third theme is set to explore how clinical trials, real-world data, model-informed drug development, and AI/ML can be integrated to transform clinical development and evaluation (2).

Track Session Selections

Monday Oct. 26

• ‘Innovative AI-Guided Preclinical and Translational Strategies to Support Drug Development’ — symposium session, taking place between 9–9.30 am (CT) presented by Amit K. Mitra, PhD, Associate Professor at Auburn University. 
• ‘Optimizing Bispecific Antibody Design and Dosing for Receptor Occupancy Selectivity’ — rapid-fire session, taking place between 3.30–3.45 pm (CT), presented by Jeff Granados, PhD, Senior Scientist Translational PK/PD at Genentech.

Tuesday Oct. 27

• ‘Nanomedicine in Translation: From Design to Therapeutic Outcome’ — keynote session, taking place between 1.30–2.30 pm (CT), presented by Annette Bak, PhD, MBA, FAAPS, Executive Director at AstraZeneca, and moderated by Seeparani P. Rath, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
• ‘Understanding and Predicting Drug–Drug Interactions for a GLP-2 Receptor Agonist’ — rapid-fire session, taking place between 3–3.15 pm (CT), presented by Ricardo Diaz De Leon Ortega, PhD, Senior Modelling and Simulation Research Fellow, Quotient Sciences.
• ‘PBPK Modeling of GLP-1 Agonist DDIs: An Industry Approach’ — hot-topic session, taking place between 3.10–3.30 pm (CT), presented by Jessica Rehmel, MS, Advisor, Eli Lilly and Company.

Wednesday Oct. 28

• ‘The Formulation Bottleneck: Where Pediatric Drug Development Still Falls Short’ — hot-topic session, taking place between 10–10.20 am (CT), presented by Smita Salunke, PhD, Senior Research Fellow/EuPFI CSO, University College London/European Paediatric Formulation Initiative.
• ‘Beyond Disease Labels: Bridging Autoimmune and ML-Enabled Precision Medicine’ — rapid-fire session, taking place between 3.45–4 pm (CT), presented by Noah Brostoff, MS, Senior Scientist, Simulations Plus.

2. Bioanalytics

Moving onto the Bioanalytics core track, the first theme here will examine assay development, qualification, and validation under uncertainty for regulatory-facing decisions. The track’s second theme will highlight bioanalytical advances that enable the development of emerging therapeutic modalities. In the third theme, there will be an overview of the evolving role of bioanalysis in the expanding value chain (2).

Track Session Selections

Monday Oct. 26

• ‘New Approach Methodologies in AAV Research Development: From MAPPs Assays to 3D Culture Systems’ — symposium session, taking place between 9.30–10 am (CT) presented by Susana Najera, MS, Research Fellow, U.S. FDA. 
• ‘Unlocking Biomarkers: Lipidomics of Human Biofluids’ — symposium session, taking place between 10.30–11 am (CT), presented by Christian Klose, CTO, Lipotype.

Tuesday Oct. 27

• ‘FDA Perspective on Immunogenicity Risk Assessment and Tiered Assays’ — hot-topic session, taking place between 9.15–9.30 am (CT), presented by Susan Kirschner, PhD, Consultant, ThinkCMC4FDA.
• ‘Bioanalytical Strategies for Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates’ — symposium session, taking place between 9–9.30 am (CT), presented by Padmanabhan Eangoor, PhD, Senior Principal Scientist, Sanofi.
• ‘Comparing Applicability of Microsampling Devices for Generating Pharmacokinetic Drug Profiles’ — rapid-fire session, taking place between 3.45–4 pm (CT), presented by Luis Cruz, MS, Scientist, BioAgilytix.

Wednesday Oct. 28

• ‘Digitized Bioanalysis: From Operational Readiness and Automation to AI’ — symposium session, taking place between 9–9.30 am (CT), presented by Stephen Lowes, PhD, Sr. Director, Scientific Affairs, IQVIA Laboratories.
• ‘Unlocking Next-Gen Clinical Trials & the Promise of AI Through Transformation of Specimen Management’ — symposium session, taking place between 10.30–11 am (CT), presented by Brenda Yanak, MA, Founder, Clinical Transformation Partners.

3. Manufacturing and Analytical Characterization

Theme one for the Manufacturing and Analytical Characterization track explores the cutting-edge approaches that are improving manufacturing for traditional and novel modalities. The second theme focuses on characterization science across small molecules, biologics, and complex delivery systems for traditional and novel therapies. The third theme provides insights into predictive and digital technologies that connect development to GMP execution across various drug modalities (2).

Track Session Selections

Monday Oct. 26

• ‘Can Next Generation Manufacturing Platforms Deliver mAbs at $10/gm?’ — symposium session, taking place between 9–9.30 am (CT) presented by Anurag S. Rathore, PhD, Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. 
• ‘Engineering Olfactory-Targeted Soft Mist Inhaler Systems for CNS Peptides Delivery: Opportunities and Translational Challenges’ — symposium session, taking place between 10.30–11 am (CT), presented by Anjaneyulu Vinukonda, PhD, Scientist, Strides Pharma.

Tuesday Oct. 27

• ‘Structural Insights into mRNA/LNPs: Cryo-EM for Advanced Vaccine Platforms’ — symposium session, taking place between 9–9.30 am (CT), presented by Pushkar A. Saralkar, PhD, Senior Scientist, Pfizer.
• ‘Bridging Biopharmaceutics Gap: A Multimodal Approach Transforming Long-Acting Injectable Development’ — rapid-fire session, taking place between 3–3.15 pm (CT), presented by Siddharth S. Keshawwani, MS, PhD, Principal Scientist-Project Lead, AbbVie.

Wednesday Oct. 28

• ‘Machine Learning for Particle Characterization Workflows of Novel Medicines’ — symposium session, taking place between 9.30–10 am (CT), presented by Amber Raines, PhD, Sr. Director, Client Program Management, Coriolis Pharma US.
• ‘Seeing Inside the Dose: Predictive Drug Development with Microstructure Intelligence’ — keynote session, taking place between 1.30–2.30 pm (CT), presented by Shawn Zhang, PhD, CEO, digiM Solution, and moderated by Ravi Kiran Kaja, PhD FRC CChem, Senior Principal Scientist, USP.

4. Formulation and Delivery

Theme one for this track examines the predictive and comulation approaches for formulation-decision making. For the second theme, material- and technology-driven innovations that allow the formulation and delivery of robust and high-performing drug products without restriction are investigated. The third theme for this track emphasizes the importance of patient-centric considerations in formulation and drug delivery (2).

Track Session Selections

Monday Oct. 26

• ‘From Formulation to Inspection: AI-Centric Pharmaceutical Development’ — symposium session, taking place between 9–9.30 am (CT) presented by Metin Celik, PhD, Retired, PTI. 
• ‘Breaking the Oral Delivery Barrier for Complex Molecules’ — partner presentation session, taking place between 9.30–10.15 am (CT), presented by Karunakar Sukuru, RPh, PhD, Segment VP, Global Product Development & Innovation, Catalent.

Tuesday Oct. 27

• ‘High-Drug Load ASDs: Linking Microstructure to Dissolution’ — symposium session, taking place between 9–9.30 am (CT), presented by Nitin K. Swarnakar, PhD, Global Application Lab Manager NA, BASF.
• ‘Enavling Robust GLP-1 Peptide Formulations: Hydroxypropyl-ß-Cyclodextrin Enhances Solubility and Stress Stability’ — partner presentation session, taking place between 2–3 pm (CT), presented by Wen Chin Foo, PhD, RPh, Senior Biopharma Scientist, Roquette.
• ‘Role of Implant Microstructure in Drug Release of Long-Acting Implants’ — rapid-fire session, taking place between 3.15–3.30 pm (CT), presented by Ziyue Zhong, MS, PhD Candidate, University of Texas At Austin.

Wednesday Oct. 28

• ‘Patient-Centered Oral Drug Delivery Systems’ — symposium session, taking place between 9.30–10 am (CT), presented by Ameya R. Kirtane, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota.

5. Career Development

The first theme within the professional advancement track is centered around practical job-seeking skills for early-to-mid career scientists. Sessions for the second theme emphasize business skills and strategies for scientists at all career stages. The third theme provides enterprise-level insights into the U.S. pharmaceutical labor market and skills for pursuing mid-career goals (2).

Track Session Selections

Monday Oct. 26

• ‘Strategic Career Mapping in a Dynamic Pharmaceutical Labor Market’ — workshop, taking place between 1.30–2.30 pm (CT), presented by Diana Ji, MS, Founder & CEO of Bongene Search & Academy, and Zentago Wang, PhD, Advisor-Pharmacometrician, Eli Lilly and Company, and moderated by Karunya Kumar Kandimalla, PhD, Professor of Pharmaceutics & Associate Dean for Graduate Education, University of Minnesota.

Tuesday Oct. 27

• ‘Owning Your Science — Intellectual Property, Contracts, and Career Leverage’ — panel session, taking place between1.30–2.30 pm (CT), presented by Aliasger Karimjee Salem, PhD, Professor, University of Iowa, Matyas Kolsofszki, RTTP, CPVA, Head of Technology Transfer, St. John’s University, and Michelle Lavrichenki, PharmD, JD, IP Litigation & FDA Regulatory Attorney, Venable, and moderated by Vivek Gupta, PhD, FAAPS, Associate Professor, Duquesne University.

Wednesday Oct. 28

• ‘Future-Ready Pharma Careers: AI Fluency, Cross-Disciplinary Skills, Market Awareness’ — career session, taking place between 9–10 am (CT), presented by Snehal Shukla, PhD, Principal Scientist, Pfizer, and moderated by Jayshil Bhatt, PhD, Senior Scientist, Amgen.

References

1. Polli, J.W.; McCurdy, C.R.; Wurster, D.E.; et al. The Journey to AAPS 2020: A Reflection from Strategic Planning to PharmSci 360. AAPS Open, 2018, 4 (8).
2. AAPS. AAPS 2026 PharmSci 360. AAPS.org/pharmsci/annual-meeting, accessed Oct. 20, 2026. 

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