OUR SPEAKERS

Abhay Pandit, PhD, Established Professor of Biomaterials at the National University of Ireland, Galway, is Director of the Science Foundation Ireland funded Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM), a multi-disciplinary academic-industry-clinician translational research centre. Through CÚRAM he develops affordable, innovative and transformative device-based solutions to treat global chronic diseases. His research supports industry from basic scientific research, through translational preclinical and clinical development, into regulatory and commercialisation readiness. These projects focus on the design, testing, validation and adoption of new medical device technologies through clinician-led innovation. During his career in the medical device sector he secured regulatory clearance for a hydrophilic wound dressing, and secured IDE approval for a family of collagen vascular sealants for FDA submissions. In his academic career to date, he has licensed biomaterial scaffolds for staple line reinforcement, peripheral nerve and spinal cord repair to Irish medical device companies.

His research interests’ focus on the development of next generation targeted controlled-drug-release reservoir delivery vehicles which facilitate spatiotemporal localised sustained delivery of multiple biomolecules to target injury mechanisms at the molecular and cellular levels. These macromolecular complexes form functional interfaces between implanted devices and biological systems to endow the former with bio-responsiveness and/or biological function. He is a Fellow of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative International Society and an International Fellow in Biomaterials Science and Engineering – the first Irish academic to receive these honours. He serves as a Senior Associate Editor for the Biomaterials journal and an Executive Editorial Board member for the Tissue Engineering journal. Professor Pandit has published 230 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals and 24 international patents (6 granted).

Pilar Calvo, is Head of Pharmaceutical and Analytical Development of PharmaMar, Madrid from 2001. She completed her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1995 at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain under the supervision of Prof MJ Alonso. Between 1997 and 2001 completed its postdoctoral formation as Marie Curie fellowship at  Prof Couvreur’s group in the Faculty of Pharmacy, Chatenay-Malabry. UNIVERSITE PARIS XI. During 1998 joined BEAUFOUR-IPSEN in Barcelona as Project Manager of the Innovation group. Her research was mainly focussed to the design and development of nanoparticulate systems to delivery of active molecules of different origin and nature to be administered  by  different administration routes. In Julio 2005 completed her MBA EXECUTIVE in the IE of Madrid. She participates annually in different Masters and Degrees as associated teacher. She has contributed 5 patents, 40 scientific articles and coordinated and participated in more than 10 collaborative projects at Spanish and European level.

Covadonga Pañeda has over fifteen years of industrial and academic experience; she is currently Sylentis’ R&D Manager. She received her M.Sc. in Biochemistry in 1998 and her Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 2001 both from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.  During her first post-doctoral fellowship at Hospital Niño Jesús, Spain she focused on the development of animal models of human disease and gene expression in the diseased state, she subsequently held a second post-doctoral fellowship at Scripps Research Institute, CA, USA where she extended her studies on gene expression in different disease models and was co-founder of the Mouse Behavioral Assessment Core. She thereafter shifted her career towards industry where she’s held the positions of Study Director and Head of Efficacy and Multidisciplinary Development at Vivotecnia, a non-clinical CRO. Her areas of expertise include ophthalmology, neuroscience, diabetes, aging, metabolic diseases, liver biology, rare diseases, RNA interference and biotechnology derived products. She is author of 32 scientific publications, 5 patents and she is ad hoc reviewer for Medicinal Research Reviews, Behavioral Neuroscience, Ophthalmology, International Journal of Molecular Studies and British Journal of Pharmacology.  She is also an external expert evaluator for the H2020 program on Topics PHC 14 – 2015 and H2020-SC1-2017: “New therapies for rare diseases”.

Dr. V. Grazú has more than 20 years of experience in the biofunctionalization of micro/nanostructured materials for their use in biotechnological and biomedical applications. She has worked in the development of oriented methodologies for the mono/multi-functionalization of different materials (organic and inorganic microbeads, gold and magnetic nanoparticles, quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, cantilevers, etc) with different biomolecules (sugars, peptides, nucleic acids, enzymes, antibodies). Their oriented functionalization improved their biological application in different biotechnological and biomedical applications (industrial processes, biosensing, active vectorization, magnetic hyperthermia, etc). Besides, she also has experience in studying the interaction between nanomaterials and cells (nanoparticles sterilization, cytotoxicity, internalization mechanisms, cell specificity, therapeutic mechanism of action, etc). She has also successful technology transfer experience not only in academic entrepreneurship (Nanoimmunotech SL creation) but also in effective translation of nanomaterial-based solutions into market services or products (www.nitbioconjugation.com, www. nitparticles.com, www.heatsens.com) as co-founder and ex RD Director of Nanoimmunotech SL.

Present research activities of René van Nostrum include the design, synthesis and characterisation of polymers for hydrogels, micelles, microspheres and nanoparticles, and their application as drug delivery devices and as absorbants for toxins. Dr. van Nostrum obtained his M.Sc. in Chemistry in 1990 and the Ph.D. degree in 1995 in the group of Prof. Dr. R.J.M. Nolte, both at the University of Nijmegen. Starting in August 1995 he worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Philips Research Laboratories in Eindhoven. In 1997 he accepted an employment as assistant professor at the department of Polymer Chemistry and Coating Technology of the Eindhoven University of Technology, where he was involved in polymer synthesis for coating applications. In October 1999 he joined the department of Pharmaceutics of the Utrecht University as assistant professor, and was promoted to associate professor in October 2004. Dr. van Nostrum received the Dutch Innovative research Vidi grant and a personal grant from Utrecht University in the framework of the High Potentials program. In 2014 he was awarded the Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher award, in recognition of ranking among the top 1% of researchers for most cited documents in his field.

Dr Damien Dupin obtained his MChem degree at the Université of Bordeaux I in 2003 and completed a PhD degree in 2008 at the University of Sheffield (UK), sponsored by Rohm and Haas, under the supervision of Prof. Steven P. Armes on smart colloids. After an industrial Post-doctoral position sponsored by ICI Paints (now AkzoNobel) at the University of Sheffield, Damien has been working for CYTEC specialty Chemicals in Drogenbos (Belgium). During his industrially-driven career, Damien has incorporated smartness into common materials to achieve material with controlled properties. In July 2011, he joined the Biomaterials Unit at CIDETEC as senior researcher. Since 2016, he has been promoted Head of the Biomaterials unit. His research interests are focused in the design of smart (nano)materials for drug delivery, tissue engineering and encapsulation of actives that target health and cosmetic applications. Damien has been part of many private and public funded research projects with the main objective to transfer technology from bench-side to patients. He has published more than 40 publications in high impact journals (h-index: 21) and is inventor of one patent on encapsulation of hydrophilic compound using liquid marbles and dry water.

Academic education: Study of Chemistry at Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-University, Frankfurt, GermanyPhD: "Thin Film Deposition of Amorphous Silicon for Solar Cells" 1991

Head of the "Photolithography and Etching Processes" group at the Institute of Microtechnology, Mainz (IMM), 1991-1996

Founder and CEO of mikroglas (since June 1996)

Since 2001 Vice-Chairman and since 2005 Chairman of DECHEMA Industry-Plattform "MicroChemTec"; since 2012 - 2017 Chairman of the ProcessNet subject Division “Microreaction engineering”

Since 2003 Dr. Dietrich gives lectures about "Microchemical Engineering" at the University of Applied Science in Kaiserslautern and in 2009/2010 in Bingen, Germany

Since 2002 Dr. Dietrich gives regular lectures within the Dechema "Weiterbildungskurs Mikroverfahrenstechnik" (Micro Process Engineering)

Since 2005 Dr. Dietrich acts as a project leader for several research projects funded by the German government, the European Commission and other organizations on microreaction technology

In 2006 Dr. Dietrich worked as an expert and valuator for the French Nanoscience program PNANO funded by the French Ministry of Research

Since 2007 - 2016 Dr. Dietrich is Chairman of the German Standardization Group (DIN) "Microchemical Engineering". He started the standardization process on the international level (ISO).

In April 2008 Dr. Dietrich was elected into the Advisory Board of the "Centro Microprocesos Quimicos" at the Tec de Monterrey (ITESM), Mexico

In June 2008 Dr. Dietrich was elected to be the Activity Chairman within the American Institute for Chemical Engineering (AIChE), Process Development Division, Area12e "Micro Process Engineering" and its chairman in 2010-11

Editor of the book "Microchemical Engineering in Practice", ISBN-13: 978-0-470-23956-8 - John Wiley & Sons, 2009

Since 2012 Dr. Dietrich gives lectures on Microreaction Technology at the Institute for Separation and Process Technology, TU Clausthal

Since January 2014 Dr. Dietrich is the Managing Director of IVAM Microtechnology Network in Dortmund, Germany. IVAM is the biggest international network on micro- and nanotechnology, photonics and new materials in Germany

Experience:
 
Process Engineer at Micronit GmbH
März 2016 - Present  

Process Engineer at iX-factory GmbH
September 2014 - März 2016  

Master Thesis at iX-factory GmbH
März 2014 - August 2014
Thesis: “Design, Fabrication and Characterization of Micro-valves for Microfluidic Application”  

Bachelor Thesis at Hochschule Kaiserslautern, University of Applied Sciences
November 2012 - February 2013
Thesis: “Establishment of the Magnetic Force Microscope for Characterization of Magnetic Nanoparticles”    



Education:

Hochschule Kaiserslautern, University of Applied Sciences
Master of Engineering (M.Eng.), Micro Systems and Nano Technologies, 2013 - 2014  

Hochschule Kaiserslautern, University of Applied Sciences
Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.), Mikrosystem- und Nanotechnologie, 2009 - 2013

Dr Charlotte Wiles PhD, is the CEO at Chemtrix BV and is a Synthetic Organic Chemist by trainingwith over 13 years’ experience in the development of continuous flow processes and 6 years in thedevelopment of flow processing equipment. She has > 50 peer-reviewed publications in the field andhas authored a book entitled ‘Micro Reaction Technology in Organic Synthesis’ and has 5 patent applications to her name.

Graham Worrall (CPI Principal Scientist – Colloids): Is responsible for developing the Coatings and Colloid capability within Formulation platform and providing support and delivering technical input for collaborative and commercial projects.  He is currently the technical lead overseeing development of the Horizon 2020 Nanofacturing Pilot Line to produce glycan coated gold nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery.  Before joining CPI, Graham worked as Technical Lead with responsibility for Colloids at AkzoNobel.   Graham has 25 years practical experience in the coatings, inks and formulation areas which includes metal/metal oxide particle synthesis and investigating and optimising particle dispersion and stability.  He is familiar with classical colloidal characterisation techniques as well the use of rheological measurements to investigate structure property relationships in coating and ink formulations.

BSc degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Barcelona and PDD, Management Development Program from IESE Business School, University of Navarra. Her career has been linked to research and development. From in IQAC / CSIC, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Modeling to the industry, primarily in ​​polymers in Industrias de Optica SA and later in pharmaceutical development with functions in different areas of pharmaceutical development and scale-up of injectable, liquid and lyophilized drug products, with small molecules and biological actives in Grupo Ferrer and Reig Jofre. Currently she is Parenteral Development Director at Reig Jofre.

Dr. José Crecente is a research scientist at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC).He holds several degrees in Industrial Engineering, Science Food and Chemistry apart from amaster degree in Drug Discovery and Development and a PhD in Organic Chemistry. He hasalso worked as a visiting scientist at Cambridge University in the group of Prof. Steven Ley.Since 2013 Dr. Crecente has been associated to the laboratory of Prof. Alonso, at the USC,where he has been involved in the formulation of peptides, proteins and polynucleotides.Currently, he is involved in 4 vaccine-related projects, among them a NIH project and aEU (NANOPILOT) project, both oriented to the preclinical development and scaling-up ofnanovaccines.

Vicent J. Nebot Carda graduated in Chemistry at the University Jaume I, Castelló in 2008. He finished his PhD in 2012 working on the design, study, and applications of supramolecular hydrogels based on amino acids, under the supervision of Dr Juan F. Miravet and Dr Beatriu Escuder. He obtained the "Extraordinary PhD Prize" from Universitat Jaume I on 2015. In 2012, he joined the Polymer Therapeutics lab. as a post-doctoral research fellow to work on the development of new therapeutic polymers for the treatment of spinal cord injury and the development of novel self-assembling drug delivery systems.In 2014, he obtained a Spanish Torres Quevedo grant (MINECO) to work on the research group´s Spin-Off, Polypeptide Therapeutic Solutions where he is currently developing translational research in collaboration with the Polymer Therapeutics lab as R&D deputy director. His research is focused on the design, synthesis, and physico-chemical characterization of novel architectures to bypass biological barriers with potential applications in diverse pathologies.

Bio: Vijay is working as a postdoc with Prof. Abhay Pandit at CURAM, NUI Galway. He received his Ph.D in Bio-organic chemistry from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. His thesis was focused on the Self-assembly and physiochemical properties of small biomolecules. Currently, he is working to develop cross-linked hyaluronic acid particles for GMP production as a part of the Nanopilot Consortium of the Horizon 2020 Program. His research interests include: chemical modifications of ECM polymers, surface coating of polymers and self-assembly of biomaterials. Tentative Title: Synthesis and characterization of functional hyaluronic acid conjugates for biomedical applications

Patrick Boisseau is graduated in biological engineering from the French Elite Schools Institut National Agronomique (1983) and Ecole Nationale du Génie Rural, des Eaux et des Forêts (1985). His career is fully dedicated to academic research, research and development and research management. He started his career in 1987 at CEA, a French public research organisation where he occupied several functions in biological research and later in medical technologies. Patrick Boisseau’s current position is VP Healthcare responsible for the Strategic Planning in Life Sciences and Healthcare Technologies, at CEATech, a public non-for-profit Research & Technology Organisation, based in Grenoble, France. He has acquired a large expertise of coordination of EU projects like the Network of Excellence Nano2Life (2004-2008), EuroNanoBio, BIBA, TARGET-PDT, and recently the EU-NCL infrastructure on nanocharacterisation. His field of technical expertise is nanomedicine, drug delivery, medical imaging and innovative medical technologies.Patrick Boisseau is solicited for the numerous expertise for the European Commission and other European and national funding agencies.He is elected Chairman of the European Technology Platform on Nanomedicine since December 2012.He is chairing the ESTHER Task Force designing and implementing this European Industry Driven Initiative on Emerging and Strategic Technologies for Healthcare since May 2015.

Mathieu Menta obtained his PhD in analytical chemistry and environment in 2011. The topi cwas focused on the develpment of analytical approaches to monitor industrial degreasing baths in aeronautical industry and the elaboration of alternative detergent Reach compliant formulations. Since 2011, he is Process Engineer in the technological center Ultra Traces Analyses Aquitaine (UT2A). He is responsible of the development of analytical approaches for the physicochemical characterization of nanomaterials in different fields of activity : foods, cosmetics, pharmacopeia, materials, environment, etc. He participates to severall national and international projects (NanoPilot, SCL, JRC, etc.) fot the method development, validation and harmonization to characterize nanomaterials with various tools such as DLS, A4F-MALLS, SEC-MALLS, HPLC-UV, ICPMS and SP-ICPMS.

Since 2013 working for Malvern, first as Sales and Application specialist Innovation Products for Europe, since 2016 as Field Application Scientist Biosciences Europe, before my job at Malvern I had positions in Sales (Senior Level) and Applications for Affymetrix and Procter&Gamble. My educational background is: diploma (Master quivalent) in Zoology and Microbiology and a PhD in Molecular Biology about a group of new genes involved in Malaria infections in mice

Jordi Llop Roig got his degree in (Analytical) Chemistry at the Ramon Llull University (Barcelona) in 1996 and his degree in Chemical Engineering at Institut Químic de Sarrià (Barcelona) in 1997. Between 1998 and 2002 he worked on his PhD Thesis at Barcelona Material Sciences Institute (ICMAB-CSIC) under the supervision of Prof. Francesc Teixidor Bombardó and Prof. Lluís Victori Companys. In 2002, he worked as postdoctoral researcher at Navarra University Hospital under the supervision of Prof. Iván Peñuelas, and in 2003 at Uppsala University PET Centre under the supervision of Prof. Bengt Langstrom. In 2004 he moved back to Spain to work as Production Manager of the Radiopharmaceutical Laboratory at Institut d’Alta Tecnologia (IAT-PRBB, Barcelona). Since October 2007, he is group leader at CIC biomaGUNE, where in collaboration with national and international researchers and industrial partners, he focuses his research on (i) developing strategies to radiolabel small molecules, macromolecules (peptides, proteins, polymers) and nanoparticles, characterise their pharmacokinetic  properties, and evaluate their suitability as therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents; and (ii) investigate biological processes underlying disease (e.g. ischemia, Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, multiple sclerosis) using combined imaging modalities.In the last 5 years, Dr. Llop has published >50 scientific papers in international peer-reviewed scientific journals, several book chapters and he has co-edited one book. He has h-index of 16 with 95 scientific contributions (since 2001) cited 931 times. He has been involved as Principal Investigator in projects funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, has been involved as senior researcher in different EU-funded projects both in the context of FP7 and H2020 frameworks, and has an active participation in national and international networks

Dr. Calzolai obtained his M.Sc. in chemistry and his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Florence and the University of Siena in 1991 and 1996, respectively. After a Postgraduate Research at the University of California, Davis, he joined, in 1998, the Swiss Institute of Technology in Zurich, in the laboratory of the Nobel laureate Kurth Wuthrich, where he solved the three dimensional structure of proteins responsible of neurological disorders, such as Mad Cow Disease and Creutzfeld-Jacob disease. In 2007 he moved to the School of Pharmacy of the University of Kent (UK) as Senior Lecturer in biochemistry. In 2009 he joined the Joint Research Center of the European Commission where his research focuses on the development of methods for the characterization of nanoparticles in complex matrices and nanomedicines.

Maria Beatriz Silva Lima is PharmD and PhD in Pharmacology and is full professor of Pharmacology and Regulatory Science at the Universidade de Lisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, and head of the Department of Pharmacological Sciences.   She is the Coordinator of the research Group of Pharmacological Sciences of the iMed.UL - RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR MEDICINES AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, where she heads also the research Group in Nonclinical Safety and Regulatory Science.   Beatriz Silva Lima has more than 20 years of experience as an expert in nonclinical and regulatory science at the medicines agency in Portugal, Infarmed, and at the EMA, UK. She has been up to July 2012 member of the Committee of Human Medicines (CHMP), Committee of Advanced Therapies (CAT) and Scientific Advice Working Party (SAWP). She has been Chair of the Safety Working Party (SWP) and has been involved as Co-Deputy in ICH discussions on ICH M3R2, S6R1 and S1 guidelines on behalf of the European Commission. Since October 2012 she consults on nonclinical drug development strategies and has founded a consultancy Company, Silva Lima Preklinika Limited. She acts also a nonclinical expert and member of the NDA Advisory Board, Sweden. Since January 2014 she Chairs the Scientific Committee of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI).   Areas of research: Regulatory Science Nonclinical Safety; Pharmacology of metabolic diseases;   Furthermore, Beatriz Silva Lima is highly involved in international education in the area of regulatory science. I) She Coordinates a second cycle Master Course  on Regulatory Science in the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Universidade de Lisboa (RAMPS), ii) she Co-coordinates with Prof Per Spindler (University of Copenhagen) and Dr Kirstin Meyer (Bayer Healthcare) a Nonclinical Module on Regulatory Guidelines of the European Master Course (IMI sponsored) SafeSciMet, iii) and of a similar master also IMI sponsored ECMDC, led by the Semelweiss University, Hungary, iv)  she integrates the PharmaTrain Course EUDIPHARM lead by the University of Lyon, and she contributes as faculty to the Medicademy Regulatory course on Regulatory as well as to the MIND course (University of Copenhagen). Beatriz Silva Lima integrates the EUPATI (European Patient Academy, IMI-funded project) Portugues/National Platform, and she is a member of the Steering Committee of the European National Platform of EUPATI (European Patient Academy for Therapeutic innovation), thus Co-Chairing the Executive Committee.   Beatriz Silva Lima also integrates several working groups/ projects within the EPAA (European Partnership for Animal Alternatives), NC3Rs UK, and ILSI – HESI, US and is Editor in Chief of the Regulatory Science  Section of the Journal Frontiers.

Dr. Francisco Arenal, LIMS Consultant and Quality Lead at Mejoran Lab Automation. Obtained his Microbiology-Molecular Biology PhD at Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD-CIBE)-University Autónoma of Madrid in 2001. He has been working in the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Karls Eberhard University of Tübingen, Germany) in different projects concerning molecular biology, biotechnology and microbiology, and applied projects with several new biotech companies, producing more than 40 scientific papers and congresses. He was working also, as Head of Microbiology Fungal Lab at PharmaMar S.A.U. (Zeltia Group), on drug discovery of antitumor natural products. At the present time, as Quality LIMS Consultant in Mejoran Lab Automation (MGM Group) implementing lab automation processes and LIMS systems, operating under GLP (Good Laboratory Practices) and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards.

I hold a Bachelor´s degree in Science in Biotechnology and PhD in Pharmacology and Physiology from University of Madrid. Currently I am working in “Fundación Teófilo Hernando” as Quality Assurance Manager. I am responsible for ensuring clinical trials are conducted in accordance with guidelines, regulation and good clinical practices. I develop, perform and manage quality assurance activities. I have good communication and relationship skills. I consider myself a good teamworker and project coordinator.

Cesar Hernandez (1963). Md, PhD, Complutense University (Madrid). Rheumatologist. Most of my career was as practitioner in the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (Madrid). Principal and associate research in different projects funded by public and private funds in basic research, clinical research and health services research. Deputy Medical Director (2002-2005) at the  Hospital Clínico San Carlos. From 2009, Head of department of Medicines for Human Use in the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices.

Iraida Loinaz is the Nanomedicine Business Developer Manager of CIDETEC. She was specialized in Organic Chemistry and her PhD thesis was focused on peptidic synthesis and synthesis in perfluorocarbon media. In 2004 she moved to Fundación CIDETEC. In 2005 she became the Head of Biomaterials Unit in CIDETEC. The main research activities of the Unit have been focused from the beginning in the synthesis and characterization of biomaterials and bioactive surfaces. She is co-inventor of 5 patents and published more than 30 scientific papers. She has strong background in the synthesis of polymer nanoparticles, nanogels and hydrogels, with special attention in the synthesis of single-chain polymer nanoparticles with application in drug-delivery and imaging. In the field of bioactive surfaces, they actively work in the generation of highly hydrophilic coatings to reduce the wear and friction in prosthesis, or controlling the biofouling. In the last years the group has been specialized in translational research and they are establishing a pilot plant operating under GMP for the production of nanopharmaceuticals.

Director of CIBBIM-Nanomedicine and Team leader of the “drug delivery and targeting group” focused on new biomedical nanotechnology-based applications. Member of the Science Advisory Board of the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and Science Advisor of the European Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (EU-NCL). He was also Science Advisor of SOM BIOTECH and CELGENE, member of the Advisory Board of NANOCAN, Southern Denmark University, and has been recently appointed as President of the European Society of Nanomedicine and Executive Board member of the International Society of Nanomedicine. He helds 13 patents, most transfered to leading companies of the biotech and pharma sectors and coauthors more than 80 papers in high impact factor journals. Dr Schwartz Jr was also appointed as Deputy Director and technology transfer coordinator of “CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina” (CIBER-BBN) of the Spanish Health Institute CarlosIII (ISCIII) which gathers a total of 45 research groups of national excellence in the field of nanotechnology and nanomedicine. Dr Schwartz was also Co-founder and Science Advisor of ARGON Pharma SL and is also member of the editorial Board of the journals Nanomedicine-NBM and the Eur. J. Nanomedicine.