"I'm excited to attend the upcoming conference, as it allows me to explore research posters and engage with speakers from diverse industries. It’s a great chance to bridge the gap between academia and industry, gain fresh perspectives, and build connections that will help shape the next steps in my research and career."
Navya Nalajala
UM-AAPS Student Secretary / Ph.D. Candidate
Event details:
Date: April 8, 2025 Time: 8 AM - 5:30 PM Venue: The Inn at Ole Miss
The Vision of the Conference
This conference is meant to foster a dynamic platform for students, by students, and to students, where aspiring pharmaceutical scientists can exchange knowledge, build meaningful collaborations, seek career guidance, and expand their professional networks. This will drive innovation and progress in our field.
Conference Goals
- Empower Student Researchers- Provide an atmosphere for students to showcase their research, ideas, and innovations.
- Encourage Peer-to-Peer Learning- Facilitate discussions that promote shared experiences and diverse perspectives.
- Foster Meaningful Connections- Build strong networks among students, mentors, and industry professionals for academic and career growth.
- Promote Leadership and Initiative- Encourage students to take active roles in organizing, presenting, and leading discussions.
- Bridge Academia and Industry- Connect students with professionals through panels, workshops, and networking sessions.
Information about the Conference
The AAPS Student Chapter at the University of Mississippi is a dynamic community dedicated to nurturing the scientists of tomorrow. We foster collaboration, innovation, and professional growth by organizing networking events, career guidance sessions, and research showcases. Our chapter connects students with academic and industry professionals, empowering them with valuable insights and opportunities. Through poster presentations, seminars, and interactive workshops, we highlight cutting-edge pharmaceutical research and provide a platform for students to engage with the global scientific community.
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM | Registration & Networking Breakfast
Attendee check-in and distribution of conference materials.
8:30 AM – 8:45 AM | Welcome Address
Opening Remarks
- Dr. Noel Wilkin, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, The University of Mississippi
- Dr. John Higginbotham, Vice Chancellor of Research and Economic Development, The University of Mississippi
- Dr. Donna Strum, Dean, The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy
- Moderated by: UM-AAPS Student Chapter Chair and Faculty Advisor
8:45 AM – 9:45 AM | Speaker 1
Changquan Calvin Sun, PhD, Distinguished McKnight University Professor and Associate Department Head, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Minnesota.
"Frontiers in Powder Tableting Research"
9:45 AM – 10:45 AM | Speaker 2
Frank Fazio, President, Children’s GMP, LLC; Vice President, Therapeutics Production and Quality, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - Memphis
"Manufacturing Considerations for Biological Drug Products"
10:45 AM – 11:15 AM | Coffee Break & Networking
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM | Students| Post doctoral research presentations
Presentations by Early Career Researcher
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM | Lunch & Networking Break
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM | Alumni Panel Discussion
Awards Presentation, Live Panel Discussion, Q&A Session
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM | Coffee Break and Poster Presentations
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM |Career Development Workshop
Interactive session led by industry and academic professionals about career guidance and pathways.
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Students | Post Doctoral Research Presentations
Presentations by Early Career Researchers (Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, National Institute of Health, and the University of Cincinnati)
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Awards & Closing Remarks
Recognition for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place for Poster Presentation, Closing address by AAPS Student Chapter Leadership.
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*1:00PM - 4:00 PM | Writing Center
The Writing Center will assist the graduate students with any help they may need with their theses or dissertations. Please visit their table for more information!
Changquan Calvin Sun, PhD, Distinguished McKnight University Professor and Associate Department Head, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
Dr. Sun is a distinguished McKnight University Professor of Pharmaceutics in the Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Minnesota. Dr. Sun’s research focuses on formulation development of tablet products through appropriate application of materials science and engineering principles. Two areas of his current research are ‘Crystal and particle engineering for superior pharmaceutical properties’ and ‘Fundamental understanding of pharmaceutical processes’. He has published about 270 peer-reviewed papers in these areas with an H-index of 69. Dr. Sun currently serves on the editorial boards of CrystEngComm and Frontiers in Chemistry. He also serves on the editorial advisory boards of Int. J. Pharm., J. Pharm. Sci., Mol. Pharmaceutics, AAPS Open, and Pharm. Res. He has served on the Expert Committee in Physical Analysis of the United States Pharmacopeia since 2010. Dr. Sun is a Fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He has received several prestigious awards, including the 2019 Ralph Shangraw Memorial Award from the International Pharmaceutical Excipient Council (IPEC) and the 2022 David J. W. Grant NIPTE Distinguished Scholar Award in Basic Pharmaceutics.
Frank Fazio, MS, MBA, President, Children’s GMP, LLC; Vice President, Therapeutics Production and Quality, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Memphis, TN
Frank Fazio, MS, MBA, joined St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as president of the Children’s GMP, LLC, and Vice President of Therapeutics Production and Quality in July of 2022. Fazio has a long career in GMP manufacturing and management. He worked at several pharmaceutical firms, including Pfizer, Boston Scientific and Becton Dickinson. In 2000 he founded and acted as President of Renal Plant Corporation. In this startup role, Fazio developed a wearable and implantable artificial kidney for treating end-stage renal disease patients. Most recently, he was promoted to Deputy Executive Vice Chancellor of Mass Biologics, the cGMP manufacturing element of the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. Fazio has been responsible for manufacturing over 50 million doses of Td vaccine, a World Health Organization (WHO) essential medicine, and has manufactured investigational drugs for over 300 investigational programs. Fazio holds an MBA from Anna Maria College and a Master of Science in Work Environment from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Benjamin A. Quintana, Ph.D
Adjunct Associate Professor (Retired),
Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery,
School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS
Dr. Quintana is a distinguished leader in the pharmaceutical industry with a career spanning over four decades in pharmaceutics, product development, and quality assurance. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutics from The University of Mississippi, where his research focused on the innovative use of liposomal drug delivery systems.
Currently serving as the Senior Director, Head of Product Development & Validation at Pharmaceutics International, Inc. (Pii), Dr. Quintana oversees the solid dosage-form development group, ensuring the advancement of pharmaceutical formulations. His extensive experience includes leadership roles at major pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Warner-Lambert, Parke-Davis, and Lundbeck, where he played a pivotal role in manufacturing development, regulatory compliance, and the successful commercialization of multiple pharmaceutical products.
Throughout his career, Dr. Quintana has been instrumental in product lifecycle management, process optimization, and the implementation of quality systems on a global scale. His expertise extends to international quality assurance, having managed operations across Europe, the United States, and Puerto Rico. He has also contributed to academia as a lecturer at The University of Mississippi, educating future pharmacists on formulation development and regulatory inspections.
Recognized for his dedication to pharmaceutical sciences and industry excellence, Dr. Quintana’s contributions have had a lasting impact on drug development and patient care.
Mr. Sriram Ramanathan, MS, MBA
C.E.O of Nevakar Injectables, Bridgewater, NJ
Mr. Sriram Ramanathan serves as Chief Executive Officer at Nevakar Injectables. He also serves as Board Member at Endoluxe. Before joining Nevakar, LLC, he was the Chief Operating Officer at InnoPharma, Inc., a pharmaceutical development company focused on developing complex generic sterile products. He continued with InnoPharma as Executive Director and Operating Officer after the acquisition of the company by Pfizer, Inc. in September 2014 and left InnoPharma, Inc. - a Pfizer Company in November 2015. He held various positions within the US pharmaceutical industry, including Roche Vitamins Inc., Inhale Therapeutics (now Nektar Therapeutics), Alpharma and Cardinal Health. His professional experience and expertise range from R&D, process development, regulatory affairs, and operations, as well as management of projects through development, regulatory filing, and commercialization. He has a Master's in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a Master's in Business Administration.
Dr. Tacey Viegas, B. Pharm., Ph.D., CDO
Dr. Viegas brings over 25 years of experience in pharmaceutical drug development. He has led discovery and development activities for synthetically and biologically derived therapeutic agents in oncology, neurology, influenza, psoriasis, and wound care. Before joining Kalm, he served as the Chief Operating Officer at Serina Therapeutics, where he was responsible for the early development efforts in chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) and the evaluation of preclinical safety and efficacy. Dr. Viegas worked in different progressive management roles at Nektar Therapeutics where he was a co-inventor of nalexogol (Movantik®) and etirinotecan pegol (Onzealdä), at BioCryst Pharmaceuticals where he was part of the early development team for peramivir (Rapivabä), and at MDV Technologies where he invented and developed FloGelä for the treatment of burns, bruises, and abrasions. Movantik® was licensed and sold to Astra Zeneca for a total deal value of about $1.0 billion. Onzeald™ was licensed to Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH for $60 million and 20% of net sales royalties. Alliance Pharmaceuticals of San Diego, CA acquired Flogelä wound dressing.
Dr. Viegas received his B.S. in Chemistry and Pharmacy from Bangalore University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Mississippi. He has issued over 50 patents, 10 in skin health treatment. He also serves on the National Institutes for Health (NIH-NIDA) scientific advisory committee and the American College of Clinical Pharmacology (ACCP) publication committee. He is a member of numerous non-profit and charity organizations.
Sujith Raj Bashetty - President UM-AAPS Student Chapter, 2nd Year PhD student
Achref Cherif, Chair-elect UM-AAPS Student Chapter, 1st Year PhD student
Kshitij Chitnis, Vice Chair UM AAPS Student Chapter, 2nd Year PhD student
Navya Nalaja, Secretary UM- AAPS Student Chapter, 2nd Year PhD student
Suyasha Chaudhari, Treasurer UM- AAPS Student Chapter, Master’s Student
UM AAPS Non–Executive Committee
- Shiv Atul Kumar Sheth (Social media chair)
- Thirupathi Anekalla (Event Manager)
- Janhavi Deshmukh (Event Coordinator)
- Karthik Pawar (Event Coordinator)
- Shivani Paspohe
Why attend PharmAdvance?
"I am thrilled to invite students nationwide to the UM-AAPS PharmAdvance Conference, a dynamic event: For the students, By the students, and with the students! This conference offers a unique platform to explore cutting-edge pharmaceutical research, connect with academic and industry leaders, and gain valuable career guidance opportunities. Hosted by the AAPS Student Chapter at the University of Mississippi, our mission is to empower students through research, innovation, and collaboration. The UM Chapter has taken the previous PharmForum to a new level. PharmAdvance is more than just a conference—it's a gateway to networking, mentorship, and professional growth, equipping students with the knowledge and connections needed to excel in the pharmaceutical sciences. Don't miss this opportunity to engage, learn, and shape the future of pharmacy and pharmaceutical research!"
Michael A Repka
Director of the PII Center for Pharmaceutical Technology Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery and Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Why I am excited!
I’m elated that the UM-AAPS Student Chapter is organizing a unique student-led conference, PharmAdvance 2025. This event aims to promote scientific interaction between students and pharmaceutical scientists across various universities in the USA, aiming to promote their professional and scientific development. This program would open a new door to networking and disseminating novel research outputs for students and attendees from academia, the pharmaceutical industry, and regulatory bodies. Presentations from eminent academics will cover broad aspects of drug delivery, pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies and novel approaches for developing and characterizing pharmaceutical products. Since this program is geared towards promoting students and their research, a large part of this event will include presentations, both podium and posters, from the students. I look forward to welcoming you to the first-ever UM-AAPS PharmAdvance 2025 conference, which will be held this spring at the University of Mississippi in Oxford.
Mo Maniruzzaman
Chair and Professor of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery and Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences