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  Media Kit

Contact the Press Room for press inquiries.

2005 AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition Press Information
2005 AAPS National Biotechnology Conference Information


  AAPS Pharmaceutical Scientist Expert Resource Service

To better accommodate media requests for interviews with experts in the pharmaceutical sciences, the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) offers the Pharmaceutical Scientist Expert Resource Service. This service provides knowledgeable sources who can give background information across the broad range of the pharmaceutical sciences.

The Pharmaceutical Scientist Expert Resource Service instantly draws from the database of top experts in the pharmaceutical sciences and refers reporters directly to pharmaceutical scientists with expertise in areas such as:

  • drug design and discovery
  • biotechnology
  • pharmaceutics and drug delivery
  • pharmacokinetics
  • pharmacodynamics and drug metabolism
  • pharmaceutical technologies
  • clinical science
  • regulatory science

For instance, whom can you turn to for expertise in the areas of pharmacogenomics, drug safety and regulation, or dietary supplements? AAPS can put you in touch with experts who know these hot issues inside and out.

The world of pharmaceutical science is filled with exciting stories and thought-provoking personalities. Our service allows editors, writers and broadcasters to share in-depth information from these sources with readers, listeners and viewers.

To access this service, contact Sarah Pfeiffer, Communications Specialist by phone at 703-248-4744 or email Sarah Pfeiffer. We will quickly put you in touch with an accessible, knowledgeable, and reliable expert to provide the information you need for your story.

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  About AAPS

The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), founded in 1986, is an individual membership society composed of pharmaceutical scientists who have joined together to serve both society and their own common professional interests. AAPS currently boasts more than 12,000 members.

AAPS is not a trade organization. AAPS is a non-profit organization that serves as an educational, scientific and scholarly body.

AAPS offers vital benefits to the pharmaceutical scientists who constitute its membership, including: two annual meetings; numerous conferences, workshops, symposia and other networking opportunities; print publications; student chapters; and online initiatives.

Towards fulfillment of its primary purpose, AAPS recognizes its responsibility to support and encourage high standards of education for pharmaceutical scientists, and to actively participate in the international scientific community.

Snapshot of AAPS Members

AAPS membership is open to any individual who supports the objectives of the association and is willing to contribute to the achievement of those objectives. AAPS members come from industry, academia, government and private institutions. Members are engaged in research, teaching, product development, quality control, clinical testing, regulatory affairs, economic affairs, administration, management, and more.

Membership Profile

  • Male: 65%
  • Female: 35%
  • Males under 35: 52%
  • Females under 35: 48%
  • Average Age: 44 years old
  • Years of Experience: 14 years
  • Percent Holding Ph.D.: 64%

Where Employed:

  • 87% Industry
  • 9% Academia
  • 2% Government
  • 2% Other

AAPS Vision
The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists will be the premier organization of all scientists dedicated to the discovery, development and manufacture of pharmaceutical products and therapies through advances in science and technology.

AAPS Mission
The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists provides a dynamic international forum for the exchange of knowledge among scientists to enhance their contributions to health. We offer timely scientific programs, ongoing education, opportunities for networking, and professional development.

AAPS Values

  • Communication - AAPS is committed to effective communication throughout the association, with other organizations and with the public.
  • Inclusiveness - AAPS values diversity in its membership and scientific disciplines and promotes inclusiveness.
  • Innovation - AAPS is committed to innovation in science and technology.
  • Integrity - AAPS is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct.
  • Member Focus - AAPS is an organization driven by the needs of its members.
  • Member Involvement - AAPS supports and encourages the active participation of all its members.
  • Professional Development - AAPS values professional development through networking, mentoring, education and scientific exchange.
  • Quality - AAPS is committed to promoting quality science and offering quality programming, publications, and other services to its members, the scientific community and the public.

AAPS Sections
AAPS members usually join one or more sections related to their disciplines. The association's nine sections are organized as follows:

  • Analysis and Pharmaceutical Quality
  • Biotechnology
  • Clinical Sciences
  • Drug Design and Discovery
  • Pharmaceutical Technologies
  • Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery
  • Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism
  • Regulatory Sciences

For more information on AAPS Sections, visit www.aapspharmaceutica.com/inside/index.asp.

AAPS Focus Groups
To help further the exchange of scientific knowledge, AAPS supports the formation of focus groups on specific topics of interest to members. Current AAPS Focus Groups include:

  • Animal Pharmaceutics & Technology Focus Group
  • Bioanalytical Focus Group
  • Bioequivalence Focus Group
  • Computational Drug Design Focus Group
  • Datamining, Computational Methods and Decision Support Focus Group
  • Dermatopharmaceutics Focus Group
  • Drug Metabolism Focus Group
  • Drug Transport and Uptake Focus Group
  • Excipients Focus Group
  • Expert Systems Focus Group
  • Generic Pharmaceuticals Focus Group
  • Inhalation Technology Focus Group
  • Intellectual Property Focus Group
  • In Vitro Release and Dissolution Testing Focus Group
  • Ligand Binding Assay Bioanalytical Focus Group
  • Lipid-Based Drug Delivery Systems Focus Group
  • Microdialysis Focus Group
  • Modeling and Simulation Focus Group
  • Modified Release Focus Group
  • Nasal Drug Delivery Focus Group
  • Natural Products Chemistry Focus Group
  • Nucleic Acid Based Therapeutics Focus Group
  • Nutraceutical Focus Group
  • Ocular Drug Delivery & Disposition Focus Group
  • Oral Absorption Focus Group
  • Pharmacogenetics Pharmacogenomics Focus Group
  • Population Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics Focus Group
  • Preformulation Focus Group
  • Process Analytical Technology
  • Process Development Focus Group
  • Special Population Studies Focus Group
  • Sterile Products Focus Group

For more information on AAPS Focus Groups, visit www.aapspharmaceutica.com/inside/Focus_Groups/index.asp.

AAPS Discussion Groups
In geographic areas where there is a large concentration of AAPS members, monthly discussion groups provide a forum to discuss technical and scientific topics of interest to academic and industrial pharmaceutical scientists. AAPS hosts the following discussion groups:

  • Kansas City Discussion Group
  • Chicagoland Discussion Group
  • Indiana/Ohio Discussion Group
  • North Carolina Pharmaceutical Discussion Group
  • Northeast Regional Pharmaceutical Discussion Group
  • Southern Regional Discussion Group
  • Southern California Pharmaceutical Discussion Group
  • Philadelphia Pharmaceutical Forum for the Delaware Valley area
  • San Diego Pharmaceutical Forum
  • Western India/Mumbai Discussion Group
  • Greater Maryland Discussion Group

For more information on AAPS Discussion Groups, visit www.aapspharmaceutica.com/inside/Discussion_Groups/index.asp.

AAPS Student Chapters
AAPS has 43 student chapters at colleges of pharmacy throughout the United States. Designed to serve the needs and interests of students studying the pharmaceutical sciences, AAPS Student Chapters enable students to:

  1. Increase their awareness of career opportunities in the pharmaceutical sciences;
  2. Gain access to educational opportunities where they will learn various aspects of drug development;
  3. Take advantage of opportunities for professional advancement and leadership development;
  4. Enhance their knowledge of the latest advances and discoveries in the pharmaceutical sciences; and
  5. Participate in outreach activities of AAPS at local, regional and national levels.

For more information on AAPS Student Chapters visit www.aapspharmaceutica.com/students.

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  Background on the Pharmaceutical Sciences

What does a Pharmaceutical Scientist do?
Pharmaceutical scientists are instrumental in the discovery and development of innovative drugs that save millions of lives and improve the quality of life for many others. They have a broad base of scientific knowledge and are employed by pharmaceutical companies; they work as researchers and professors at universities, as regulatory scientists for agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), and as researchers for government agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What are the Pharmaceutical Sciences?
The pharmaceutical sciences combine a broad range of scientific disciplines that are critical to the discovery and development of new drugs and therapies. AAPS classifies the pharmaceutical sciences into the following main categories:

  • Analysis and Pharmaceutical Quality (APQ) - analytical techniques, regulatory and compendial matters and quality assurance.
  • Biotechnology (BIOTEC) - research, development and commercialization of biotechnology-based pharmaceuticals.
  • Clinical Sciences (CS) - the application of pharmaceutical sciences in the clinical setting, including trial design, analysis of therapeutic efficacy and safety, drug-drug interactions, and special populations in therapeutic situations.
  • Drug Design & Delivery (DDD) - medicinal, natural products, molecular and structural chemistry, and drug design and discovery.
  • Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery (PDD) - physical, chemical, biological, medicinal and engineering sciences, characterization and optimization of drugs, formulation materials, formulations, and devices and performance in vitro and in vivo.
  • Pharmaceutical Technologies (PT) - pharmaceutical formulation and manufacturing process technology.
  • Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism (PPDM) - the action of drugs and chemicals within the body.
  • Regulatory Sciences (RS) - the governing and regulation of the drug approval and distribution processes.

AAPS Pharmaceutical Science Primers Developed to inform the media, students, and the public of current trends and career opportunities in the pharmaceutical sciences, these primers provide some detailed information about what our members do on a daily basis.

Visit our site for updated information on new topics, or browse our current selections:
www.aapspharmaceutica.com/primers

  AAPS Meetings

AAPS Annual Meeting
The AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition is the premier gathering of more than 7,500 pharmaceutical scientists from around the world. During symposia and podium/poster sessions, attendees discuss numerous issues, including groundbreaking research presented by members. Scientists also focus on subjects important to the future of therapeutics. Members participate in a variety of roundtable discussions aimed at topics at the forefront of the pharmaceutical sciences.

The 2005 AAPS Annual Meeting will be held November 6-10, 2005 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville, Tennessee. Future meeting sites include San Antonio in 2006 and San Diego in 2007.

Members of the media are invited to cover the meeting. AAPS provides an on-site press room at the meeting. Visit the AAPS Annual Meeting Press Room for details on the upcoming AAPS Annual Meeting, including press registration information.

AAPS National Biotechnology Conference
The AAPS National Biotechnology Conference is an annual conference devoted to the science of pharmaceutical biotechnology. With biotechnology impacting every discipline within the pharmaceutical sciences, AAPS has designed a rich scientific program designed to stimulate interaction and provoke discussion, offering something for every scientist's specialty. Scientists at the AAPS National Biotechnology Conference attend cutting-edge poster sessions; a biotech-focused AAPS Career Center; and an exhibit hall showcasing major biotech suppliers.

The 2005 AAPS National Biotechnology Conference will take place June 5-8, 2005 at the San Francisco Marriott in San Francisco, California. Visit www.aapspharmaceutica.com/nbcpressroom for more information. Future meeting sites include the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts for 2006.

AAPS offers a wide selection of workshops and meetings on exciting topics connected with the pharmaceutical sciences. In next year, AAPS will sponsor workshops, forums and meetings with the following topics:

  • Development of PEGylated Biopharmaceuticals (June 9, 2005)
  • Nasal and Pulmonary Delivery Technology (June 9-10, 2005)
  • Microdialysis Principles, Application, and Regulatory Perspectives (November 4-5, 2005)

For up-to-date information on other AAPS meetings and educational opportunities, visit www.aapspharmaceutica.com/meetings.

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  Scientific News & Research

AAPS’ scientific journals feature the latest news and peer-reviewed research in the pharmaceutical sciences. Media are invited to use these journals as a source for potential news stories.

The AAPS Journal
The AAPS Journal www.aapsj.org, AAPS' first electronic-only journal, covers the areas of drug discovery, development and therapy. The AAPS Journal is a peer-reviewed, online, open-access publication, freely available to the entire scientific community. The publication allows AAPS to disseminate scientific information worldwide by taking full advantage of the electronic medium. The AAPS Journal website includes the publication of peer-reviewed articles with multimedia features, encompassing 3D graphics, videos, interactive figures and databases, and sound. The abstracts for the AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition are featured in a supplemental issue of the journal.

AAPS PharmSciTech TM
AAPS PharmSciTech TM, www.aapspharmscitech.org, AAPS' second electronic-only journal, covers the basic and applied research on pharmaceutical dosage forms including the emerging area of biopharmaceuticals. The publication is a peer-reviewed, online, open-access journal, freely available to the entire scientific community. The goal of AAPS PharmSciTechTM is to disseminate scientific and technical information on drug product design, development, evaluation and processing worldwide, taking full advantage of online publishing.

Pharmaceutical Research
Published monthly, this peer-reviewed publication focuses on fundamental and applied original research related to drugs, drug delivery systems, and diagnosis and therapy. Pharmaceutical Research also covers recent developments in the pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences. The journal publishes rigorously refereed, original research articles and reports. Pharmaceutical Research is now available to members at www.aapspharmaceutica.com For hard copies of this journal, contact Sarah Pfeiffer at 703-248-4744 or email Sarah Pfeiffer.

AAPS Newsmagazine
AAPS Newsmagazine, AAPS' monthly news magazine, provides the latest news about the association and issues relating to pharmaceutical science and pharmaceutical scientists. According to a recent readership survey, the publication is read cover-to-cover by more than 95 percent of AAPS members. For a complementary subscription, please contact Sarah Pfeiffer by phone at 703-248-4744 or email Sarah Pfeiffer.

AAPS Press
AAPS Press is the publishing arm of AAPS, dedicated to the promotion of pharmaceutical scholarship. Pharmaceutical scientists utilize AAPS Press to present their research as a reference tool for researchers around the world. Prior to publication, each title is reviewed by some of the most respected researchers in the field to ensure that AAPS Press books are of the highest caliber. Currently, we offer the following publications:

Pharmacokinetics in Drug Development

  • Clinical Study Design and Analysis (Volume 1)
  • Regulatory and Development Paradigms (Volume 2)

Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Aspects

  • Pharmaceutical Profiling in Drug Discovery for Lead Selection (Volume 1)
  • Lyophilization of Biopharmaceuticals (Volume 2)
  • Methods for Structural Analysis of Protein Pharmaceuticals (Volume 3)

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  AAPS Pharmaceutica

AAPS Pharmaceutica, www.aapspharmaceutica.com, is the web portal for the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and complete guide to essential pharmaceutical science information, products and services.

AAPS Pharmaceutica offers:
Cutting-edge research and peer-reviewed papers highlighted in some of the industry's most acclaimed journals

  • The AAPS Journal
  • AAPS PharmSciTech TM
  • Pharmaceutical Research

The latest information on important AAPS events such as the AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition and innovative workshops and conferences on timely topics such as biotechnology, drug transporters, nasal/pulmonary delivery, and pharmaceutical materials.

Valuable AAPS resources and services for locating and learning about more than 750 exhibitors, suppliers and sponsors in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as contacts within the federal government and related organizations.

AAPS Online Press Room with breaking news in the pharmaceutical sciences:

  • Gain access to pharmaceutical sciences tutorials, the history of AAPS and future AAPS workshops and meetings.
  • Learn how to access our Pharmaceutical Scientist Expert Resource Service.M
  • Access press releases on the latest research findings.
  • Learn more about the AAPS Annual Meeting, including program highlights, meeting abstracts, press room, hotel and registration information.
  • Preview new scientific research by reviewing The AAPS Journal and AAPS PharmSciTech TM.
  • Discover more about AAPS' more than 12,000 members and view the biographies of AAPS leaders.

AAPS Student Center
The AAPS Student Center provides the latest information on educational and career opportunities in the pharmaceutical sciences. Reports, articles, presentations, web casts and more keep students up-to-date on scientific and academic developments. Job search and rsum assistance, and internship, fellowship, grant and travelship announcements equip students with the professional development materials they need to reach their career goals. Also, find news about the dynamic group of AAPS Student Chapters at schools of pharmacy across the country and the globe.

AAPS Career Network
The AAPS Career Network includes access to rsum posting and searching, recruitment service information, career articles, employment opportunities, and mentoring program information.

Science's Next Wave
AAPS Members have access to Science's Next Wave, a career development magazine published by the research journal Science. The publication provides early career scientists with the tools, insight, and advice to discover the vast range of careers open to them.

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  AAPS Presidents Biographies

Jay Sisco, Ph.D.

Jay Sisco, Ph.D., is the 2006 President of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) and Executive Director of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Global Product Enhancement and Intellectual Property for Pfizer Global Research and Development, Michigan Laboratories.

Dr. Sisco's research areas of interest include working at the discovery/development interface particularly in solid-state chemistry and in overcoming "drugability" issues for poorly-soluble and poorly-absorbed pharmaceutical new chemical entities. He is also very active in the areas of product enhancement/life-cycle management and intellectual property at Pfizer. He has numerous publications, presentations and patents describing the results of his research and is an ad-hoc reviewer for several pharmaceutical journals. Dr. Sisco has been a very active participant in numerous committees and task forces within AAPS since 1989 and has served as Member-at-Large on the Executive Council since 2001. Dr. Sisco received an M.S. and Ph.D. in pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of Kansas, an M.S. in chemistry from Rutgers University, and a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Scranton.

Jerome P. Skelly, Ph.D.

Jerome P. Skelly, Ph.D. is the Past President of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) and Adjunct Professor of Biopharmaceutics at the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy.

Dr. Skelly received his undergraduate degree and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Wayne State University in Detroit, and completed a post-doctorate in Pharmaceutics at the University of California at San Francisco. He held senior scientific and management positions in FDA for more than 24 years, much of it as director and program manager for biopharmaceutics. He was also a World Health Organization consultant to Egypt. At the time of his retirement, Dr. Skelly served as a member of the U.S. Federal Government's Senior Executive Service holding joint appointments as Deputy Director of CDER's Office of Research and Associate Director for Science in the Office of Generic Drugs (OGD).

Throughout his career, Dr. Skelly has received notoriety from AAPS for his contributions to pharmaceutical science including being selected as an AAPS Fellow and awarded the 2002 AAPS Distinguished Service Award.

Eugene Fiese, Ph.D.

Eugene Fiese is the 2006 President-elect of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS). His area of expertise is in drug development, specifically in analytical chemistry, drug absorption, and preformulation.

During his 30 year tenure at Pfizer, Inc., Dr. Fiese coordinated the evaluation of all new pharmaceutical chemical agents entering development from 15 therapeutic areas, screening for solubility, stability, and absorption properties affecting rapid development. Committed to education, Dr. Fiese served as a visiting lecturer to universities across the nation for more than 30 years – most recently with an AAPS-sponsored short course titled “Physical and Chemical Characterization of Drug Substances in the Pharmaceutical Industry.” He also helped to increase the quality and quantity of graduate students in schools of pharmacy as Chair of the AAPS Education and Graduate Education and Research Committees. His research has been published multiple times, and has been extremely active in AAPS leadership roles for several years. Dr. Fiese received a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He graduated with a B.S. in Pharmacy and an M.S. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin.

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