29th July: Innovations in Paediatric Clinical Research and Translational Science
Speakers
Karel Allegaert
Professor Allegaert is paediatrician-neonatologist and clinical pharmacologist, Professor at KU Leuven and Consultant at Erasmus MC Rotterdam. His research focuses on developmental pharmacology, particularly the impact of maturation and disease-related factors on drug disposition and the optimisation of medicines use in newborns and children. He is also President of EPTRI.
Sergiu Siminiuc
Sergiu Siminiuc is Software Engineer and Technology Officer at the Duchenne Data Foundation, where he leads the development of digital tools and data platforms for the Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy community. His work focuses on FAIR data approaches, clinical data integration and the use of digital technologies to support rare disease research.
Oksana Degtjarik
Dr Degtjarik is a Cryo-EM Scientist at the Astbury Biostructure Laboratory, University of Leeds, with extensive experience in structural biology and single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. She supports academic and industrial researchers across the cryo-EM workflow, from sample preparation to high-resolution structure determination. Through Instruct-ERIC, the Leeds Centre contributes to a European ecosystem of shared technologies supporting researchers investigating rare and paediatric diseases.
Oscar Della Pasqua
Professor Della Pasqua is Chair in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics at University College London and Senior Director of Clinical Pharmacology Modelling and Simulation at GlaxoSmithKline R&D. He leads research activities focused on biomarkers, disease modelling and innovative approaches to clinical trial design, with more than 150 scientific publications.
Jan Přibyl
Dr Přibyl is Head of the Core Facility Nanobiotechnology at CEITEC Masaryk University, where he develops and applies advanced imaging and biomechanical approaches for the characterisation of biological systems. His expertise includes atomic force microscopy, correlative microscopy and the analysis of molecular and cellular mechanical properties. As part of the Instruct-ERIC infrastructure, CEITEC provides access to advanced structural biology technologies that complement paediatric translational research by enabling detailed investigation of disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets.
Antonio Lopalco
Dr Lopalco is Researcher in Pharmaceutical Technology at the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Bari Aldo Moro. His research focuses on advanced drug delivery systems, pharmaceutical formulations, nanotechnology and strategies to improve drug targeting and administration. He has extensive experience in the development and characterization of innovative paediatric formulations and drug delivery approaches.