Eufeps

Exciting moments from the EUFEPS–SITELF Joint Annual Meeting as we celebrated the outstanding winners of the PhD Competition 🎉

Congratulations to all the outstanding participants, and in particular to the three exceptional early-career researchers whose innovative work is helping shape the future of pharmaceutical sciences and drug discovery:

🥇 Monika Prašnikar
🇸🇮 Slovenia
“Overcoming high viscosity in concentrated monoclonal antibody formulations using novel excipients”

🥈 Nico Boback
🇩🇪Germany
“Quantifying protein assembly and inhibition – label-free drug discovery by mass photometry”

🥉 Marloes Pennings
🇳🇱The Netherlands
“Molecular glues of the regulatory ChREBP/14-3-3 complex protect beta cells from glucolipotoxicity”

These presentations showcased the remarkable scientific talent emerging across Europe — from biologics formulation and analytical innovation to novel therapeutic strategies for metabolic disease.
A big thank you to all participants, mentors, organizers, and judges who contributed to an inspiring and highly competitive session. The future of pharmaceutical research is in very capable hands.

Introducing the Candidates | EUFEPS PhD Student Competition

We are pleased to continue introducing the talented PhD students participating in the PhD Student Competition at the joint EUFEPS- SITELF Meeting.
Meet the next candidates and their inspiring research topics:

🔹 Paula Gil Cabrerizo (Spain)
Topic: A multifunctional injectable alginate-collagen hydrogel for combined vascular and microRNA-based therapy in myocardial infarction
🔹 Johanna Fredriksson (Sweden)
Topic: Characterisation of lipid composition in EV-mimicking asymmetric large unilamellar vesicle delivery vectors
🔹 Mariana Coelho (Portugal)
Topic: Liposomes as a tool to improve the therapeutic effect of active agents against bacterial and tumor malignancies
🔹 Stela Muçaj (Turkey)
Topic: Design, characterization, and in vitro/in vivo/ex vivo evaluation of microneedle formulations containing surface-modified nanoparticles to enhance blood–brain barrier permeability in Alzheimer’s disease
🔹 Carmela Mazzacano (Italy)
Topic: Beyond PEGylation: Inulin-Based Stealth Nanocarriers for Efficient and Selective siRNA Delivery to Colorectal Cancer

We wish all participants the best of luck in the competition!

Introducing the Candidates | EUFEPS PhD Student Competition

Over the next days, we are pleased to introduce the talented PhD students participating in the EUFEPS PhD Student Competition at the joint EUFEPS - SITELF Annual Meeting.
Meet the first group of candidates and their exciting research topics:
🔹 Marloes Pennings (The Netherlands)
Topic: Molecular glues of the regulatory ChREBP/14-3-3 complex protect beta cells from glucolipotoxicity
🔹 Nico Boback (Germany)
Topic: Quantifying protein assembly and inhibition – label-free drug discovery by mass photometry
🔹 Barbara Nóra Balogh (Hungary)
Topic: Formulation and Investigation of Tapinarof-loaded Nanogels for the Treatment of Psoriasis
🔹 Monika Prašnikar (Slovenia)
Topic: Overcoming high viscosity in concentrated monoclonal antibody formulations using novel excipients
🔹 Meixin Ran (Finland)
Topic: Rapid and Sensitive Gene Detection in Double Strand DNA

These young researchers represent innovative work across pharmaceutical sciences, from drug discovery and formulation development to biotechnology and advanced therapeutic approaches.
Stay tuned for the introduction of the next group of candidates!

Meet the Jury | EUFEPS PhD Student Competition

We are pleased to introduce the distinguished jury members of the EUFEPS PhD Student Competition, who will evaluate and support the next generation of pharmaceutical scientists during the upcoming joint EUFEPS-SITELF Meeting 2026.
Jury Members:
🔹 Prof. Dr. Martin Brandl – University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
🔹 Prof. Dr. Doina Draganescu – Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Romania
🔹 Dr. Christoph Saal – Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany
🔹 Dr. Lu Turković – University of Zagreb, Croatia, EUFEPS Young Section

Their expertise across academia, industry, and the EUFEPS community brings valuable perspectives to this year’s competition.

Stay tuned — over the next days, we will introduce the talented PhD candidates participating in the competition!

In the next few days, we will be introducing the selected speakers for the first EUFEPS Young Talk (11 May 2026, 16:00 CEST) so that the scientific community can get to know these outstanding young researchers. You can register for the event via the link below.

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZGXMOq8CSCy88hEC8ORE3g?fbclid=IwY2xjawRkctFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBrcUd0Y0JzTHQ5R1ZZbEV6c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHk5drfgvMdEv4XZZPpybqsWtKQ7xnosptW0Y8dzBqsXlN0eR_juojpRIzHc6_aem_HhejZ9AhsgrsBn6rK37Qdw #/registration

Ileana Theofili is a PhD candidate at the Pharmacy Department of the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, focusing on the application of artificial intelligence in pharmacotherapy. Her research explores how machine learning and deep learning models can be integrated with real-world clinical data to optimize treatment strategies, particularly in oncology. She holds an MSc in Clinical Pharmacy, a Bachelor degree in Pharmacy, and has gained clinical experience through hospital rotations in oncology, cardiology, and other medical fields. She has expertise in Python for data analysis and machine learning applications. Her current work investigates variability in drug exposure and its impact on treatment response, with an emphasis on precision medicine approaches. She aims to shape more precise and evidence-driven therapeutic strategies. In parallel, she contributes to educational initiatives that connect medicine with data science and clinical practice, while actively presenting her research at international conferences through poster and oral presentations.

In the next few days, we will be introducing the selected speakers for the first EUFEPS Young Talk (11 May 2026, 16:00 CEST) so that the scientific community can get to know these outstanding young researchers. You can register for the event via the link below.

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZGXMOq8CSCy88hEC8ORE3g?fbclid=IwY2xjawRkctFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBrcUd0Y0JzTHQ5R1ZZbEV6c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHk5drfgvMdEv4XZZPpybqsWtKQ7xnosptW0Y8dzBqsXlN0eR_juojpRIzHc6_aem_HhejZ9AhsgrsBn6rK37Qdw #/registration

Francesc Xavier Mulet i Piera holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences from the University of Valencia, and a Master’s Degree in Research, Development and Innovation of Drugs from the University of Navarra. He is currently pursuing his PhD at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Navarra, where his research focuses on the development and characterization of RNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles (RNA-LNPs) for intranasal brain delivery. His work aims to evaluate their therapeutic potential in Parkinson’s disease. In parallel, he is developing a novel neuromelanin-based mouse model of Parkinson’s disease that closely reproduces key histological features observed in human patients. By combining innovative drug delivery approaches with more physiologically relevant disease models, his research aims to bring experimental therapies closer to clinical application.

In the next few days, we will be introducing the selected speakers for the first EUFEPS Young Talk (11 May 2026, 16:00 CEST) so that the scientific community can get to know these outstanding young researchers. You can register for the event via the link below.

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZGXMOq8CSCy88hEC8ORE3g?fbclid=IwY2xjawRkctFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBrcUd0Y0JzTHQ5R1ZZbEV6c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHk5drfgvMdEv4XZZPpybqsWtKQ7xnosptW0Y8dzBqsXlN0eR_juojpRIzHc6_aem_HhejZ9AhsgrsBn6rK37Qdw #/registration

Nadja Haas completed her studies in Pharmacy at the University of Bonn and joined the research group of Prof. Ulrich Jaehde in 2021 to pursue her Master’s degree in Clinical Pharmacy. As a PhD candidate within the same working group, she focuses on the prediction of adverse drug reactions during anti-cancer therapy. By applying Markov models, her work aims to account for adverse reactions in model-informed precision dosing, thereby improving therapeutic outcomes and patient safety. In the ongoing ON-TARGET study, she was able to demonstrate the influence of drug exposure of patient-reported hand-foot syndrome. She attended the Uppsala Pharmacometric Summer School, where she showcased her work and engaged in scientific discussions. Her research has been presented at several scientific conferences, including an oral presentation at the annual meeting of the Deutsche Pharmazeutische Gesellschaft and a poster presentation at the Population Approach Group Europe meeting in 2025.

In the next few days, we will be introducing the selected speakers for the first EUFEPS Young Talk (11 May 2026, 16:00 CEST) so that the scientific community can get to know these outstanding young researchers. You can register for the event via the link below.

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZGXMOq8CSCy88hEC8ORE3g #/registration

"My name is Ana Rodríguez-Báez, and I am a Postdoctoral Researcher in Pharmacometrics working on a collaborative project between the The University of Bonn and the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). My research focuses on the application of modelling and simulation approaches to optimize pharmacokinetic parameter estimation in first-in-children studies, as well as to support study design in the youngest paediatric patients. I have a background in pharmacy, and throughout my career, I have developed expertise in population pharmacokinetics and physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling in special populations, including critically ill adults and paediatric patients. What I find most interesting in pharmacometrics is how models can bridge the gap between preclinical and clinical applications, ultimately contributing to more efficient and evidence-based therapeutic strategies. I am very curious about how this works, and I enjoy learning from others in the field and sharing ideas about current challenges and new approaches."

We are happy to announce the 1st Young EUFEPS Talks, which will be organized by the EUFEPS Young Section Committee.
The first edition of the Young EUFEPS Talks is taking shape, with four outstanding candidates now selected to present their work. This inaugural event will take place on May 11, starting at 4:00 pm CEST, and marks an exciting new platform dedicated to highlighting the achievements and perspectives of early-career scientists.
The selected speakers represent a diverse range of research areas across pharmaceutical sciences, reflecting both scientific excellence and innovation. Each candidate will have the opportunity to share their work with an international audience, fostering discussion, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas within the community.
The Young EUFEPS Talks aim to support and promote the next generation of researchers by giving them visibility and a space to engage with peers and established experts alike. Attendees can look forward to a dynamic and inspiring session that not only showcases cutting-edge research but also encourages networking and future collaborations.

The selected presenters are:

Ana Rodríguez-Báez
Nadja Haas
Ileana Theofili
Xavier Mulet i Piera

In the next few days, we will introduce all four speakers so the scientific community can get to know them and their research.

You could register for the meeting with the following link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZGXMOq8CSCy88hEC8ORE3g #/registration

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We are looking forward to welcoming you to the EUFEPS Young Talks and to interesting lectures.

Wishing all our members a pleasant Easter period and a refreshing start to spring.
May this season bring renewed energy, fresh ideas, and continued collaboration across our scientific community.
Thank you for being part of EUFEPS and for your ongoing contributions to advancing pharmaceutical sciences across Europe.