International Conference on Interdisciplinary Approaches and Emerging Trends in Pharmaceutical Doctoral Research: Innovation and Integration, 1st Edition

1. Conference Overview/Introduction

The inaugural edition of the International Conference on Interdisciplinary Approaches and Emerging Trends in Pharmaceutical Doctoral Research: Innovation and Integration, held from 7 to 9 July 2025, at the “Pius Brînzeu” Center, Timisoara, Romania (https://www.umft.ro/event/international-conference-on-interdisciplinary-approaches-and-emerging-trends-in-pharmaceutical-doctoral-research-innovation-and-integration-1st-edition/), was a landmark event for the academic and research community in the pharmaceutical and medical fields. Organized by the Doctoral School of Pharmacy (Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania) in a hybrid format—both online and on-site—the conference brought together PhD students, faculty members, and distinguished guests from both Romania and abroad.

Participants had the opportunity to attend lectures delivered by leading figures in the field, who offered valuable insights into emerging trends and interdisciplinary approaches in pharmaceutical and medical research. Concurrently, PhD students presented current research topics and findings, demonstrating professionalism, scientific rigor, and a strong commitment to innovation. We express our appreciation for the enthusiasm, dedication, and energy of all those involved in this first edition, and we hope that this event will become a tradition, offering new opportunities for dialogue and professional development in the years to come.

2. Conference Committees

2.1. Organizing Committee

• Corina Danciu, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania
• Cristina Dehelean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania
• Codruța Șoica, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania
• Lucreția Udrescu, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania
• Marius Mioc, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania
• Iulia Pânzaru, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania
• Cristina Trandafirescu, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania

2.2. Scientific Committee

• Corina Danciu, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania
• Cristina Dehelean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania
• Codruța Șoica, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania
• Lucreția Udrescu, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania
• Marius Mioc, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania
• Iulia Pânzaru, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania
• Cristina Trandafirescu, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania
• Lavinia Vlaia, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania
• Dorina Coricovac, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania
• Alina-Elena Moacă, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania

3. Conference Sessions/Topics/Program

The scientific program of the conference encompassed recent advances in drug discovery, phytochemical research, and pharmaceutical formulations, with a strong emphasis on integrating artificial intelligence and biotechnology. The conference included keynote lectures, thematic sessions, workshops, and e-poster presentations, bringing together academic researchers and industry professionals.

Key conference topics included the following:

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in drug discovery and repositioning;
• Bioactive compounds from medicinal plants: isolation, characterization, and therapeutic potential;
• Functionalization and derivatization of phytochemicals for enhanced bioactivity;
• Emerging strategies in the prevention and management of contemporary diseases;
• Development of innovative pharmaceutical formulations;
• Drug–drug interactions and smart monitoring in pharmacotherapy;
• Alternative in vitro testing models and advanced cell culture systems.
• The following scientific sessions were held during the conference:
• Smart Monitoring and Pharma Management of Drug–Drug Interactions
• Emerging Approaches in the Prevention and Management of Contemporary Diseases
• Bioactive Compounds from Plants: Isolation, Characterization, and Therapeutic Potential
• Functionalization and Derivatization of Phytochemicals: From Bench to Bioactivity
• Novel Candidates as Anticancer Agents
• Pharmaceutical Formulations of Bioactive Compounds: Toward Enhanced Therapeutic Efficacy
• In addition to these thematic sessions, the conference included several interactive workshops focused on practical and translational aspects of pharmaceutical and biomedical research:
• Innovative 3D Culture Models (Igor Pongrac, PhD, MBA, Merck Life Science, Science and Lab Solutions, Croatia)
• Advanced Cell Culture Systems for Drug Testing, Toxicity Studies, and Disease Modeling (Igor Pongrac, PhD, MBA, Merck Life Science, Science and Lab Solutions, Croatia)
• Practical Demonstration of Cell Culture Instrumentation (Andrei Tanase, Account Manager, Merck Life Science, Science and Lab Solutions, Romania)
• Alternative In Vitro Methods—3D Reconstructed Tissue Models (Emily Reis, PhD, MatTek In Vitro Life Science Laboratories, Bratislava, Slovakia)
• EpiDerm Skin Irritation Test—OECD TG 439: The Gold Standard Alternative Testing Method for Skin Safety (Emily Reis, PhD, MatTek In Vitro Life Science Laboratories, Bratislava, Slovakia)
• The following keynote talks were held by internationally recognized experts from the pharmaceutical industry:
• AI for Drug Discovery and Development: Emerging Applications, Challenges, and Opportunities (Paul Bogdan, PhD, Professor)
• Anticancer Research at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Szeged (Istvan Zupko, PhD, Professor)
• Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery: The Six Circles of Hell (Andreas Bender, PhD, Professor)
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AIML) in Drug Discovery and Repositioning (Tudor Oprea, PhD, Professor Emeritus)
• Immunotherapy: A Major Pillar of Biopharmaceutical Innovation (Adrian Bot, Professor)
• Application of Computational Methodologies Toward the Identification of Novel Therapeutics and Photodegradation Studies for the Design of Light-Stable Formulations (Maria Antonietta Occhiuzzi, PhD, Assistant Professor)
• Strategies from the Field of Particle Engineering to Develop Novel Formulations—Updated Overview (Rita Ambrus, PhD, Professor)

4. Conference Speakers

• Paul Bogdan, PhD, Professor, Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
• Istvan Zupko, PhD, Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacodynamics and Biopharmacy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
• Andreas Bender, PhD, Professor for Machine Learning in Medicine, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Visiting Professor for Life Science Informatics at the Centre for Molecular Science Informatics of the University of Cambridge, UK
• Tudor Oprea, Professor Emeritus, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA; CEO, Expert Systems Inc, San Diego, California
• Adrian Bot, Professor, MD, PhD-CSO and EVP, Capstan Therapeutics, San Diego, USA
• Maria Antonietta Occhiuzzi, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
• Rita Ambrus, PhD, Professor, Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology and Regulatory Affairs, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary

5. Sponsors

S.C. Merck Romania, S.R.L.