We are pleased to share an interview with Dr. Fiora Artusio, from Politecnico di Torino, Italy, who received the Best Invited Lecture Award at the 1st International Electronic Conference on Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics (ECMC-P2025).

1. Could you please briefly introduce yourself?
My name is Fiora Artusio, and I am currently an Assistant Professor at Politecnico di Torino, Italy. I obtained my BSc, MSc, and PhD in chemical engineering at the same university before moving to EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland) for a postdoctoral position. Over the years, I have also had the opportunity to work as a visiting researcher at MIT (Boston, USA), Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos (CSIC, Granada, Spain), and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (Ispra, Italy). These experiences have deeply shaped my approach to both science and teamwork.

2. Could you introduce your current research direction and provide an update on your progress?
My research focuses on downstream pharmaceutical processes, with particular emphasis on crystallization and freeze-drying. By integrating experimental investigations with mathematical modelling, my work aims to develop mechanistic understanding of key phenomena such as freezing and protein crystallization. This knowledge-based approach supports the optimization of existing processes, including the freeze-drying of biopharmaceuticals, while enabling the design of new strategies and technologies for improved control of crystallization processes. Within a Quality by Design (QbD) framework, my research seeks to move pharmaceutical manufacturing from empirically driven development toward knowledge-based and scalable process design. Recent progress includes the development of chemically modified silica gels to enable controlled protein crystallization under otherwise inaccessible conditions, the elucidation of the role of thermal interactions among vials during freezing of pharmaceutical unit doses, and ongoing work on novel non-invasive Process Analytical Technologies (PATs) to support real-time monitoring and control of freeze-drying processes.

3. From your perspective, what are the benefits of attending an academic conference?
From my perspective, academic conferences are an excellent opportunity to meet experts in the field, exchange ideas with peers, establish new collaborations, and also build professional relationships and friendships. They provide a stimulating environment to discuss ongoing research and to gain exposure to diverse perspectives and emerging trends within a specific field. Conferences also offer a valuable chance to receive informal and constructive feedback on preliminary results that are not yet published, which can help refine research directions and improve the quality of future work. In addition, attending conferences supports professional development by improving communication skills and increasing the visibility of one’s research.

4. As the winner of this award, is there something you want to express or someone you wish to thank most?
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my PhD advisor, Prof. Roberto Pisano, for always supporting my research activity and Dr. José Gavira for encouraging me to explore even the most unconventional ideas. I would also like to warmly thank all the MSc and PhD students who contributed to the work I presented. Without their passion, dedication, and teamwork, I would not be here today (and certainly not with all those triplicates!). Finally, I would like to thank the conference organizers and the award selection committee for this recognition and for their dedication to organizing such a high-quality scientific event.

5. Could you kindly share with us your thoughts and outlook on this E-conference?
I appreciated the electronic format of this conference, as it offers a flexible way to access presentations on demand over an extended period. This format allows participants to engage with the content at their own pace, revisit presentations when needed, and better balance conference participation with other professional/academic responsibilities. In addition, the virtual setting promotes greater inclusivity by removing the need for travel and associated costs, making scientific presentations accessible to a wider audience. One suggestion for future improvement would be to increase opportunities for real-time interaction, such as live panel discussions on selected topics, to enhance engagement and promote more dynamic exchanges between presenters and participants.