MEMBERS' HIGHLIGHTS

The next edition of the Summer School on Medicines (SSM3, www.ssm3.org) will take place on July 11^th – 22^nd, 2011 in Barcelona and Toulouse. This third edition will include a new partner city: Montréal. The SSM3 will be organized by Parc Científic Barcelona (www.pcb.ub.edu), Biocat (www.biocat.cat), Université de Montréal (www.umontreal.ca), Montréal InVivo (www.montreal-invivo.com), Université Paul Sabatier (www.ups-tlse.fr) and Oncopôle Toulouse (www.oncopole-toulouse.com).

Interbio has supported the two previous editions of the School. Several students have been granted to participate in SSM1 and SSM2 and new grants are foreseen for SSM3 (if you are interested, please contact your local coordinator).

The program is addressed to graduate, master and doctoral students in Life Sciences, postdocs, members of the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory agencies, researchers, science journalists and other professionals working in these fields, and to all those who want to gain insight into the drug development chain and all the activities and aspects involved in the process.

Since its start in 2009, this two-week school has been focused in the drug production process, looking at basic science, technology transfer and clinical development, including conferences and visits to pharmaceutical companies and research facilities.

The success of the two previous editions has led to a consolidated and strengthened offer. In SSM3, the organizers present a unique 90 hour-program covering all the value chain, from idea to market. The 2011 edition will offer scientific sessions, visits to companies and laboratories, case studies, industrial sessions, discussion and networking and poster exhibition. This multidisciplinary and transversal approach has been strategically defined by the organizers to facilitate and encourage the participations of both academic and industry students.

With the inclusion of a third partner from Quebec and a Faculty composed by major industry leaders from 45 companies and institutions of up to 7 countries, SSM3 is one of the most innovative and result-oriented programs currently available in this subject. The next SSM edition will be held in summer 2012 in Montréal.

Among the Scientific Committee members for this 2011 edition are Dr. Jordi Quintana, from Parc Científic Barcelona; Dr. Marta Príncep, Biocat; Dr. Christophe Cazaux, Université de Toulouse III, Oncopôle; Dr. Roland Bugat, Institut Claudius Regaud; and Dr. Denis de Blois et Dr. Brian White-Guay, Université de Montréal. Quintana, chairman of the SSM3 Scientific Committee is also member of Interbio Scientific Committee for Work Package III and Biocat, member of SSM3 Scientific and Organizing Committee, is also Interbio’s regional partner for Catalonia.

Montse Daban

May, 2011