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CESPE Conference 2026 sessions

30/09 AM: EuPAT 3rd Session

Theme:
Artificial Intelligence across the Pharmaceutical Lifecycle

09:05 – 09:45 Talk by Daniel Markl
Professor at University of Strathclyde

Title: ‘From Material, Process, and Product Knowledge to the AI Formulator’

09:45 – 10:25 Talk by Kārlis Bērziņš
Assistant Professor at University of Copenhagen

Title: ‘Predictive Pharmaceutical Development and Process Intelligence through Low-Frequency Vibrational Spectroscopy’

10:25 – 10:40 Short Pitch Presentation

Brigitta Nagy
PhD Research at Budapest University of Technology and Economics

Title: ‘From Mechanistic Models to Explainable Multimodal AI for Real-Time Dissolution Profile Prediction‘

10:55 – 11:35 Talk by Silvia Vogl
Senior Scientist at Quality Innovation Group EMA

Title: ‘The EU Quality Innovation Group Perspective on Modelling and AI in Pharmaceutical Process Development and Manufacturing‘

11:35 – 12:35 Short Pitch Presentations:

Michael Ghijs
Co-Founder at Elegent

Title: ‘Navigate the Formulation Space: In-silico Formulation Screening for Digital
QbD in Direct Compression
‘

Ruben Waeytens
R&D Scientist at Fette Compacting

Title: ‘Leveraging Bayesian Optimization Infused with Human Knowledge for Automatic Pharmaceutical Loss-in-Weight Feeder Tuning‘

Consuelo Del Pilar Vega Zambrano
PhD Researcher at University College London

Title: ‘A Generative AI Approach to Inverse Design for Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing‘

Charlotte Geleyn
Postdoctoral Researcher at Ghent University

Title: ‘Implementing Artificial Intelligence to Accelerate Process Development’

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CESPE Conference 2026 sessions

29/09 PM: EuPAT 2nd Session

Theme:
Integrated and Autonomous Pharmaceutical Platforms

13:35 – 14:15 Talk by Ossi Korhonen
Professor at University of Eastern Finland

Title: ‘Continuous Direct Compression in Development of Dispersible
CombinationTablet for HIV-positive Pediatric Patients’

14:15 – 14:55 Talk by Jérôme Mantanus 
Associate Director – Head of Materials Science at UCB

Title: ‘Enabling Continuous Direct Compression of High Drug Loading Tablets Through an Integrated Particle Engineering Framework’

14:55 – 15:25 Short Pitch Presentations:

Ivan Raguž
Senior Researcher at Research Center Pharmaceutical Engineering GmbH

Title: ‘Beyond the Surface: In-line NIR-HSI PAT for Monitoring of 3D-Printed Pharmaceutical Formulations‘

Martin Krov 
PhD Researcher at University of Chemistry and Technology Prague

Title: ‘Automated screening of self-emulsifying drug delivery systems‘

15:40 – 16:20 Talk by Amit Chandrakar
Senior R&D and Bioprocess Equipment Engineer at Cultzyme

Title: ‘Accelerating Process Intensification: Advanced Control Strategies Powered by Real Time Bioreactor Analytics‘

16:20 – 17:05 Short Pitch Presentations:

Muhammad Murtaza
PhD Researcher at University of Strathclyde

Title: ‘Milligram-Scale Adaptive Robotic Micro-Dosing System for Pharmaceutical Powders‘

Vojtěch Klimša
Head Researcher at University of Chemistry and Technology Prague

Title: ‘Automated Spray Drying for Data-Rich Screening of Amorphous Solid Dispersion Design Spaces’

Cristina Ruiz Samblás
Associate Principal Scientist at AstraZeneca

Title: ‘Control Strategy Considerations for the Continuous Manufacturing of Low dose Oral Solid Dosage Formulations’

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CESPE Conference 2026 sessions

29/09 AM: EuPAT 1st Session

Theme:
Next-Generation Sensors, Advanced PAT Tools and Innovative QbD Strategies

09:15 – 09:55 Talk by Axel Zeitler
Professor at University of Cambridge

Title: ‘Terahertz Porosity Sensing for Disintegration Prediction’

09:55 – 10:35 Talk by Tom Van den Kerkhof
Principal Investigator at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine

Title: ‘Control Strategies and Real-Time Release for Continuous Manufacturing: Case Studies’

10:50 – 11:30 Talk by Jan-Sebastiaan Uyttersprot
Head of Oral Dosage Form Development
& Tuur Vandeputte
PAT & Modelling Subject Matter Expert at UCB

Title: ‘From PAT Signals to Process Decisions:
Designing Closed-Loop Controls forDrug Substance Biopharma Manufacturing’

.

11:30 – 12:30 Short Pitch Presentations:

Kei Shimura
Principal Engineer at Hitachi High-Tech Corporation

Title: ‘Robust API Quantification by Terahertz Frequency-Domain Spectroscopy Against Tablet Design Variation’

Freddy Vandenbroucke
Head of Research at Pharma Technology SA

Title: ‘Performances of API fraction predictions with NIR-SRS and with Transmission FT-NIR: A Comparative Case Study‘

Fabien Chauchard
General Director at Indatech Chauvin-Arnoux

Title: ‘Blend monitoring of a Low-Dose Formulation in a Tablet Press Feed FrameUsing Spatially Resolved Near-Infrared Spectroscopy’

Domenica Braile
Senior Process Engineer at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine

Title: ‘From Compression to Coating: FEM and DEM Simulations Supporting Process Understanding in Continuous Tablet Manufacturing’

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CESPE Conference 2026 sessions

28/09 PM: EuPAT-CESPE Hands-On Workshop

13:30 – 16:30 EuPAT-CESPE Hands-On Workshop including:

Site visits at Rheavita or Legend Biotech facilities

Workshops showcasing the equipment of Fette Compacting and HighTru

Networking during a poster session

Explore the facilities of The Nucleus

16:30 – 18:30 After-workshop reception

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CESPE Conference 2026 sessions

28/09 AM: CESPE Industry-Focused Session

Theme:
PAT in Practice: Implementation Challenges, Measurable Impact and Real Outcomes

09:00 – 09:10 Talk by Willem Dhooge
Platform Manager at CESPE

Welcome and conference opening

09:10 – 09:35 Talk by Jakob Christensen
Principal Consultant and PAT Implementation Lead at Novo Nordisk Engineering

Title: ‘PAT in Full Scale Biomanufacturing:
Implementation Experience and Challenges’

09:35 – 10:00 Talk by Yannick Borguet
Manufacturing Sciences Laboratory Lead at Takeda

Title: ‘PAT Is a Tool, Not a Goal:
Lessons from Translating Raman Spectroscopy into Manufacturing’

10:00 – 10:25 Talk by Melanie Dumarey
Product and Process Design Engineer at AstraZeneca

Title: ‘A leading role for PAT in continuous manufacturing’

10:25 – 10:50 Talk by Laurent Strodiot 
Director in R&D – Drug Product at GSK

Title: ‘PAT strategy to master continuous process –
example for on-line vaccine formulation’

11:20 – 11:45 Talk by Shana Van de Steene 
Application Specialist for Continuous Manufacturing at Fette Compacting

Title: ‘Turning Data into Decisions:
The Road to an Integrated Control Strategy in Continuous Direct Compression’

11:45 – 12:10 Talk by Olivier van der Ha 
Research Project Manager at Ajinomoto OmniChem

Title: ‘Beyond Method Replacement:
Using PAT to Understand, Support and Improve Pharmaceutical Processes’

11:45 – 12:10 Talk by Jeroen Hofenk 
Research Project Manager at SwiftPharma

Title: ‘From Leaf to Product:
Implementing PAT for Robust Downstream Processing
in Plant-Based Biomanufacturing’

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CESPE Academy Courses

Environmental Sustainability Assessment & LCA in Pharma: From Theory to Practical Applications

Registrations are currently closed: The next iteration of this course is planned for May 2027 at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000, Ghent).

COURSE OVERVIEW

The Sustainable Systems Engineering (STEN) group offers a comprehensive training program in Environmental Sustainability Assessment with a focus on the pharmaceutical industry.The training is divided into a theoretical and practical part. The theoretical module covers principles of the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to evaluate environmental impacts of pharmaceutical production systems. The practical module provides hands-on experience with LCA software (OpenLCA). Finally, LCAs for non-classical drug products and methodological advancements in (environmental) sustainability assessment of pharmaceuticals will be discussed.

Through lectures, case studies, and interactive sessions, participants gain essential knowledge and skills to perform sustainability assessments, with an emphasis on practical applications and critical thinking about sustainability in the pharmaceutical field. Moreover, practical expertise in the LCA process empowers decision-makers to fully comprehend the insights derived from the analysis, enabling them to make more informed and sustainable choices.



Pricing (for 3-day course)

  • Industry (non CESPE member): 1600.- EUR
  • Industry (CESPE member): 1125.- EUR
  • Academic (non-UGent): 800.- EUR
  • Academic (UGent postdoc or professor): 650.- EUR
  • Academic (UGent PhD student): 0.- EUR (free of charge).

COURSE PROGRAMME

A detailed overview of the course programme can be found in the following document.


Registrations are open for this course, please follow the ‘REGISTER HERE‘ link above for further details, including registration fees. UGent PhD students can attend this course for free! If you have any questions please email CESPE@UGent.be.

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Team

Sarah Braet

Head of Business Development, MBA, QP

Ghent University
Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Pharmaceutical Engineering & Manufacturing
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Campus Heymans
Ottergemsesteenweg 460
B-9000 Gent, Belgium

Sarah.Braet@UGent.be

Sarah Braet is heading the CESPE steering committee. The CESPE manager is reporting to her. As Business Developer for the Drug Discovery research consortium at Ghent University and through the CRIG, GATE and CESPE platforms, she facilitates the translation of early-stage research into therapeutic and commercial outcomes. She serves as a strategic link between academic research groups and external stakeholders, including industry, investors, and clinical partners. Her work spans key domains such as Medicinal Chemistry, Biological Screening, Pharmacokinetics, Toxicology, Structural Biology, Molecular Medicine, Biomolecular Modelling & Design, Advanced Therapies, and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.

Sarah’s expertise includes research and innovation management, technology transfer, regulatory strategy (including FDA submissions), CMO coordination, digital transformation, change management, and commercialisation support. She actively engages with pharma, biotech, and venture capital partners to accelerate the impact of oncology-focused research.
Holding two MSc degrees in Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, and certified as a Qualified Person (QP) by FAGG/AFMPS, Sarah brings extensive experience from Baxter/Baxalta/Shire/Takeda in manufacturing sciences, regulatory planning, and commercialisation. She previously served on Takeda’s GMAB advisory board to the CEO and executive team.

Sarah has both a very technical background (Master of Drug Development, Advanced Master in Industrial Pharmacy), and 12+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry to back it up. Her experience ranges from Manufacturing Science Specialist (pilot scale), to crisis management, CMO management, Tech Transfer management and Regulatory Submission strategy at Baxter/Baxalta/Shire/Takeda. After acquiring her company-sponsored executive MBA (Vlerick Business School), she moved to Los Angeles and took on the Head of Digital Transformation position. As a qualified person, she is responsible for translating innovative research in a quality-by-design manner towards tangible business outcomes and a patient-centric asset.

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Team

Dr. Lobke De Vos

Operational Officer

Ghent University
Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Pharmaceutical Engineering & Manufacturing
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Campus Heymans
Ottergemsesteenweg 460
B-9000 Gent, Belgium

Lobke.DeVos@UGent.be

+32 9 264 81 18

Lobke De Vos joined CESPE as an Operational Officer in 2026. She is responsible for the communication and organization of the CESPE events and courses of the CESPE academy. She obtained a Master of Science in Chemistry from Ghent University in 2020. Subsequently, she got the opportunity to start working as a PhD researcher in the Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials group at that same university and soon after, she was granted an FWO-SB fellowship. In 2026, she successfully graduated with a PhD in Chemistry. Her interest include polymer synthesis, processing and characterization.