Montreal to host seventh edition of Summer School on Medicines (SSM7)

The 7th Summer School on Medicines (SSM7) will be held this year in Montreal (Canada) from 14 to 19 June. The program is jointly organized by the University of Montreal, University Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier, CAPTOR Project – Investissement d’Avenir, INNABIOSANTE Foundation – Toulouse Cancer, Barcelona Science Park (PCB), University of Barcelona (UB) and Biocat. The registration period is open through 10 June.

Drug discovery is a complex process that involves a wide range of highly specialized professionals at public institutions and in the industry: from biologists and chemists to doctors, economists and regulatory-affairs specialists. Since 2009, the Summer School on Medicines has been working to become a benchmark in this arena. Last year, participants in the program included 49 students of different nationalities from the academic arena (university graduates, masters, PhD and postdoc students), research and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.

With faculty made up of experts from the biopharmaceutical industry and research bodies in several countries, including Canada, France and Spain, the SSM7 program will deal with the whole drug development process, covering the whole value chain from idea to market, including topics like funding, public-private partnerships and open innovation. The 40-hour training course is divided into interactive classes, successful case studies and visits to research centers in translational medicine, as well as participation in a networking event with pharmaceutical experts from the Montreal area, one of the most active in North America.

SSM7 is geared towards life sciences students (undergraduate, master, PhD and postdoc), researchers and professionals from the biopharmaceutical industry and regulatory agencies, among others.

This year, the University of Barcelona, through the Vice-Rectory for Science Policy and the HUBc Campus of Excellence, has launched a call for candidates to receive one of three €1,500 grants to attend SSM7. To be considered, candidates must have registered for a PhD in the 2014-2015 school year. Applications will be accepted from 19 May to 29 May via the DOCTORANDsUB section of the UB Virtual Campus.