The Conference

Glasgow preliminary programme

The British Pharmaceutical Conference is the annual conference of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. It combines a forum on developments in the professional practice of pharmacy with a major international platform for new work in the pharmaceutical sciences. An exhibition runs in conjunction with the conference. The 138th meeting of the conference takes place at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow, from Sunday, September 23, to Wednesday, September 26. The overall theme will be “Global pharmacy: science in the service of patients”

Facing the global challenge of health improvement Call for papers: pharmaceutical science Science medal Practice research medal Call for papers: practice research Further information

Facing the global challenge of health improvement The programme for the 138th British Pharmaceutical Conference aims to highlight the international scope of pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sciences, exploring key issues around the conference theme of “Global pharmacy: science in the service of patients”. Speakers will address innovations and developments in fundamental and applied sciences and will look at professional responses to these challenges. The conference will examine national and international programmes of health care strategies aimed at the treatment of major diseases. The programme will focus particularly on three areas of international concern that represent major challenges to global health: infection, particularly in the urban environment; cardiovascular disease, and in particular the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease; and cancer, addressing advances in pharmacological interventions and helping the patient to live with cancer. A full professional and scientific programme is being arranged, with plenary presentations, scientific and professional symposia, poster sessions and an integrated exhibition and science fair. Speakers are expected to include Government ministers, distinguished scientists, policy makers, academics, and those delivering services on the ground. Social events are also being organised, and there will be special celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary this year of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland.   Programme highlights Sunday The Sunday morning programme will include sessions on “Pharmacy in the service of patients” and “Global prescribing: the impact of e-commerce”. The afternoon programme will include a discussion, aimed at pharmacists of all disciplines, on “Global pharmacy: health care for all?” Speakers will include the director-general of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, Professor Trevor Jones.   Monday The programme for the Monday will focus on infectious diseases. A joint session for both scientists and practitioners will examine tuberculosis. For scientists there will be symposia on drug delivery in treating infectious diseases, on science and technology transfer and on quality control of herbal products. For pharmacists in practice, the day will include sessions on the challenge of tuberculosis and AIDS in the new millennium and on medicines management (including minor illnesses, hospital-acquired infection and intermediate care). The day’s programme will also include the science chairman’s address, given by Professor Peter York (University of Bradford), and a lecture by the winner of last year’s Conference science medal, Dr Bruno Hancock (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States). Tuesday The theme for the Tuesday will be cardiovascular disease. The programme will include a joint session for science and practice on tackling coronary heart disease and, for pharmacists in practice, sessions on the pharmacist’s role in the prevention of CHD and the pharmacist’s role in delivering the CHD national service framework. A further session will use a cardiovascular case study to look at “joined-up prescribing” in primary, intermediate and secondary care. Sessions for pharmaceutical scientists will include symposia on “Biopharmaceutics and cardiovascular disease”, “Screening and diagnostics”, “Materials science and crystal engineering” and “Pharmaceutical analysis: technical technology transfer”. Wednesday Improving cancer care will be the theme for the Wednesday. Plenary sessions will look at the Government’s priorities for cancer and at multidisciplinary approaches to reducing cancer deaths. For pharmaceutical scientists, the day will include symposia on cancer drug discovery and design, on pharmacognosy and on pharmaceutical materials. The programme will also include a symposium on cancer for industrial pharmacists, a session on complementary therapies in cancer care and a session on the legal and ethical implications of genetics and cancer. During the day, the Hanbury memorial medal will be presented to Professor John B. Stenlake, CBE, FRPharmS (emeritus professor, University of Strathclyde), who will then deliver a lecture entitled “Freedom to experiment”. The Hanbury memorial medal is awarded every six years “for high excellence in the prosecution or promotion of original research in the natural history and chemistry of drugs”. Professor Stenlake is best known as the inventor of the skeletal muscle relaxant, atracurium, for which the Wellcome Foundation and Strathclyde university were jointly awarded the Queen’s Award for Technology Innovation in 1986.   Exhibition A conference exhibition will run from September 23 to 25. It is expected to feature a broad range of stands and demonstrations of interest to pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists. Companies and organisations interested in exhibiting should contact Theresa Westwood (tel 0121 559 3445; fax 0121 561 3252) for further information.   Fringe events A series of fringe events will be arranged on the first three evenings of the conference. Any organisation wishing to run such events should contact the conference organisers. . Back to Top Call for papers: pharmaceutical science Contributions are invited for the conference science sessions. A contribution should relate to original, previously unpublished work in sciences that contribute to the development and evaluation of medicinal substances and associated topics. It may report a complete piece of research or work in progress. Contributions should fall into one of the following areas: analytical chemistry/ pharmaceutical analysis; bioanalysis; biochemistry; biopharmaceutics; drug delivery; drug metabolism; medicinal chemistry/drug design; pharmaceutics; pharmacognosy; pharmacokinetics; pharmacology; microbiology. Contributions may be entered for either poster display or podium presentation. Posters will be displayed for one day only. Corresponding authors will be notified of the day of display. Display will be from 10am to 6pm (Monday, Tuesday) or 5pm (Wednesday) and posters must be attended for the last hour of display. A poster discussion session will be held from 5.30 to 6pm (Wednesday 4.30 to 5pm ) at which authors of selected papers are invited to make a two-minute presentation. Prizes will be awarded for the best posters. There will be podium presentations of selected papers in analytical chemistry, bioanalysis, materials science, pharmaceutical analysis and pharmacognosy. Corresponding authors will be notified of abstracts selected for presentation. For these areas of science, authors should specify if they do not wish the abstract to entered for a podium presentation. Podium presentations in analytical chemistry, bioanalysis and pharmaceutical analysis may be considered for a prize if presented by a “less experienced” author. Authors who wish to be considered should provide a short curriculum vitae to confirm eligibility at the time of submission of the abstract. Abstracts will be published as a book, available at the conference, and electronically. Making a submission Abstracts should be submitted in electronic form, by diskette or as e-mail attachments. Because the intention is to publish them without alteration, they must be prepared to a high standard, conforming to the style of the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology and complying with specific requirements with regard to text layout, type size, type face, spacing, layout of tables and inclusion of figures. Full details of the presentation and submission requirements, with an abstract submission form, have been published with the preliminary conference programme and are also available on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s website (www.rpsgb.org.uk/events). Inquiries about science contributions should be addressed to Dr John Clements, BPC (Science) Secretariat, Room 301, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 1 Lambeth High Street, London SE1 7JN (tel 020 7735 9141; e-mail bpcscience@rpsgb.org.uk). Abstracts should be submitted to the same address, either as an e-mail attachment or on a diskette clearly labelled to show the contributor’s name, address and e-mail address. The closing date for submissions is April 27. Acceptance Evaluation panels appointed by the Academy of Pharmaceutical Scientists, the Joint Pharmaceutical Analysis Group and the UK and Ireland Controlled Release Society will decide on acceptance of abstracts. The corresponding author will be advised of the outcome. Back to Top Science medal Applications are invited for the 2001 Conference science medal from scientists world-wide aged under 35 years on March 31, 2001, who work in a pharmaceutical or allied discipline in industry or academia, who have a proven record of independent research and whose published work shows outstanding promise. Applicants should send a full curriculum vitae listing name, age, education, appointments held, research responsibilities and all forms of publications already accepted, including patents, consultancy reports and teaching packages. For jointly authored work, candidates should give all authors’ names and indicate their own contribution as principal investigator or co-investigator. Candidates should list research students who have worked for them (with thesis titles and dates), instances of research co-operation, giving details of research grants as awarded and the candidate’s role, invitations to speak at conferences in the United Kingdom and overseas, lecture or symposium titles, and prizes of awards. A brief résumé of the candidate’s research (about two pages), indicating discoveries made, with relevant publications attached (no more than 10), should be sent with the CV. The successful applicant (to be announced at the 2001 conference), will receive £500 and a medal, and will be invited to present a lecture on his or her work at the conference in 2002. Applications should be made by March 31 to the Secretary of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Scientists, Room 301B, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 1 Lambeth High Street, London SE1 7JN. Back to Top Practice research medal Nominations or applications for the 2001 Conference practice research medal are invited for the consideration of the practice research adjudicating panel. The award is intended to recognise an individual aged up to 45 years of age who has made a significant contribution to pharmacy practice research and has the potential to become a leader in the field. An applicant does not necessarily have to be based in a school of pharmacy and need not be a pharmacist. Overseas applications are welcome. The winner will receive a cheque for £1,000 and will be invited to deliver a 50-minute lecture during one of the practice research sessions at the 2001 conference. The lecture should be based primarily on the applicant’s own research but should also draw on relevant published work from related fields including health policy. The award is sponsored by Chemist & Druggist. Under revised regulations and requirements, those who wish to apply for the award, or to nominate a colleague, should forward a copy of the applicant’s or nominee’s curriculum vitae and a short supporting statement (up to two sides of A4) to Ms Cathryn Andrews, Practice Research Secretariat, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 1 Lambeth High Street, London SE1 7JN, by March 30. In April the panel will review applications and invite short-listed candidates to submit a lecture title, an outline of the research areas to be included in the lecture and a statement of how the research will contribute to knowledge in relation to health care generally and pharmacy practice specifically. A CV that includes details of publications, professional and academic record, including peer review experience and significant grants held, etc, will also be required if not already submitted. The closing date for full applications will be the end of May, and the successful applicant will be notified in June. Back to Top Call for papers: practice research Contributions are invited for the pharmacy practice research sessions of the 2001 conference. Intending contributors are invited to submit oral presentations or posters on original research into, or demonstration on, any aspect of pharmacy practice, including the provisions of health care and the management of resources. Submissions will be accepted in three categories: practice research, practice development and audit, and research in progress. Posters will be displayed throughout the conference. Contributions accepted for presentation will be published in a supplement to the International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, available at the conference. Further details and submission forms giving full instructions for contributors are available from Ms Cathryn Andrews, BPC Practice Research Secretariat, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 1 Lambeth High Street, London SE1 7JN (e-mail candrews@rpsgb.org.uk). The closing date is March 31. Back to Top Further information Copies of the preliminary programme for BPC 2001 can be obtained from Yvonne Hunter or Angela Lyons at Health Links 401F The Big Peg 120 Vyse Street Birmingham B18 6NF T el 0121 248 3399 Fax 0121 248 3390 e-mail jeantrainor@dial.pipex.com The programme can also be downloaded as a PDF file from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s website (www.rpsgb.org.uk/events). The full conference and social events programme and booking form will be sent out in April. Information for those interested in oral presentations and poster displays is available from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s headquarters (see address). Correction Dr Bruno Hancock is a senior research investigator for Pfizer Inc. Back to Top