GHP Q2 2019

18 GHP / Q2 2019 , paying attention to both scientific and business trends in the field: the Executive Track. This track provides tailored experiences for executives to meet, discuss, and solve problems specific to their businesses. Further, AAPS launched a new member interaction model in 2018: AAPS Communities. Groups of members with similar interests can easily communicate via online discussion boards, and they can use the discussion boards to jump-start additional conversations and collaborations within specific areas. We encourage everyone in the pharmaceutical science community to take advantage of this valuable member benefit by interacting with colleagues in AAPS Communities.” The conversation soon turns to the challenges that the association is facing as it moves through 2019 and beyond. Chief among them are the complications that arise on the back of globalisation, as AAPS looks to establish a larger presence on the world stage. “Pharmaceutical sciences are globalizing more each day, and AAPS wants to help build connections and facilitate interactions that can improve global health. While globalization opens many positive opportunities, it also causes many challenges. Outsourcing and mergers are frequent, leading to hurdles in education and communication to ultimately ensure that scientists are all working under the same guidelines. Additionally, pharmaceutical scientists may be challenged by cross- country business agreements, including intellectual property, legal, and even ethical hurdles. Pharmaceutical scientists are also working together to create more harmonized global regulations and to evaluate different global needs and regulatory adherence. “AAPS can help with these challenges by providing many different opportunities for pharmaceutical scientists to connect and collaborate. AAPS membership spans the breadth developments and react to them in turn. As such, they ensure that they are always at the cutting edge, always at the forefront of an industry which is notoriously swift moving. Paradigm shifts, though not particularly frequent, tend to be far reaching and disruptive. AAPS make sure that their members can capitalise on these shifts to propel themselves forward to greater heights. Of course, as Walt emphasises, this proactivity doesn’t merely extend to the organisation’s members but also to its staff. “We wholeheartedly encourage a culture of staff learning, so that we can provide the best learning experience for the pharmaceutical science community.” This culture of constant improvement also extends to the association as a whole, as it works to strengthen their network in the pharmaceutical field and beyond. “For instance, we are deepening our reach into timely scientific topics by providing more one-to-two-day workshops on specific topics, and we are strengthening our partnerships with other organizations, such as AAPS’ new co-sponsorship with the University of Wisconsin’s Land O’ Lakes conference series.” In 2018, AAPS launched a new conference: the AAPS PharmSci 360, which focuses on five ‘tracks’ that cover the entirety of pharmaceutical sciences. These tracks; Preclinical Development; Bioanalytics; Clinical Pharmacology; Manufacturing and Bioprocessing; Formulation and Quality, are equally divided between biomolecular and chemical drug development to meet the dynamic and ever-evolving needs of the pharmaceutical science community. “This new meeting provides the experience of a big conference— receptions, networking, and career development—while offering more niche scientific programming per track.” “AAPS has also created a program within PharmSci 360 to meet the needs of those who are of the pharmaceutical sciences, which is beneficial when making connections, sharing knowledge, and asking questions in a changing or new environment.” Like many industries, pharmaceuticals are being influenced by the constant forward march of technological development. Indeed, this development is utterly fundamental to the work currently being conducted in the sector, as they look to utilise machine learning and artificial intelligence to evaluate large-scale data sets. “Within biotechnology and across most of the pharmaceutical sciences, we are seeing a surge in machine learning and artificial intelligence, which will affect most of AAPS’ members. Machine learning may provide the ability to more accurately and efficiently evaluate large data sets. This could affect how jobs are performed and who performs them. AAPS ultimately wants to ensure that our members are aware of trends and provide a platform where the community can discuss the related advancements and issues.” When it comes to the future of the association, Walt is keen to emphasise that AAPS is continually growing, seeking out new partnerships with global industry bodies. “AAPS looks forward to meeting the needs of our international members by expanding our global presence. We are actively pursuing a partnership with a bioanalysis group in the United Kingdom focusing on gene therapy, and we are exploring an upcoming program in India with another international partner.” “AAPS is a member-centric association that adds value to a pharmaceutical scientist’s career by listening and providing needed content and facilitation of collaboration in the areas of science, careers, and community.” - Walter T. Marlowe on the merits of the AAPS