
Crowne Plaza, Athens, Greece
30 September – 2 October 2019
COST Action SimInhale is proud to announce its culminating event, the International Conference on Current Challenges and Future Opportunities for Inhalation Therapies.
The SimInhale Conference embraces work carried out in the framework of SimInhale COST Action MP1404, showcasing the most notable contributions made during the last four years. However, the Conference scope is much wider, and the scientific program includes several keynote lectures from leading experts in the field. These keynote lectures will address key current challenges in inhalation therapeutics from several different viewpoints and perspectives. This is of course only fitting for a complex and cross-disciplinary field such as the development of inhaled medicines and reflects the philosophy upon which SimInhale was founded. In addition, the program features lectures by experts from around the world addressing engineering, physiological, toxicological and regulatory aspects of inhaled drug development with a focus on what developments might one expect in the coming years.
Join us and be part of this leading event for presenting and discussing the latest concepts and developments in the field of inhaled medicines and of emerging issues and opportunities to enhance the lives of patients worldwide.
Over the next few weeks, we will be providing further details about the scientific program of the conference and about travel and accommodation arrangements. Please make sure to visit the site again regularly to get important updates
On behalf of the Organising and the Sceintific Committee
Prof. Stavros Kassinos, Action Chair
Sponsored by: ELPEN Pharm.Co.Inc.
Preliminary Programme
Monday 30 September 2019
Time | Presentation Title | Speaker | Presentation Link |
08:30 | Registration | | - |
09:15 | Welcome by the Local Host
| Dr. Stavroula Rozou, ELPEN Pharm.Co.Inc. | - |
09:30 | Welcome by the SimInhale Chair | Prof. Stavros Kassinos, University of Cyprus | - |
09:45 | SimInhale - The Big Picture
| Prof. Stavros Kassinos, University of Cyprus | - |
| Session 1 | Chair: Dr. Per Bäckman, Emmace Consulting AB, Sweden | - |
10:00 | Plenary Lecture
The Microphysics of Aerosol Particle Transformations on Inhalation
| Prof. Jonathan Reid, University of Bristol, United Kingdom | Presentation |
10:45 | Coffee Break | | - |
11:00 | Emerging inhaled nanomedicines and associated excipient technologies: What did we learn from COST Siminhale? | Prof. Elias Fattal, University Paris-Sud, France | Presentation |
11:30 | WG1 Presentation: Particle engineering/processing of inhaled medicines for local/systemic action | Prof. Alessanda Rossi, University of Parma, Italy | Presentation |
12:00 | Dissolution testing for orally inhaled products: science, practice and regulation | Prof. Ben Forbes, King’s College London, United Kingdom | Presentation |
12:30 | An acute regulatory challenge: The need for SimInhale and better in vivo predictions | Dr. Anders Fuglsang, Fuglsang Pharma, Denmark | Presentation |
13:00 | Lunch Break | | - |
14:00 | An overview of the COST Programme | Dr. Federica Ortelli, Science Officer, COST Association | Presentation |
| Session 2
| Chair: Prof. Emeritus Paolo Colombo, PlumeStars srl, Italy | - |
14:30 | Plenary Lecture
Bacteriophages and endolysins to tackle respiratory infections caused by superbugs | Prof. Hak-Kim Chan, University of Sydney, Australia | Presentation |
15:15 | Imaging-Assisted Design of a Thermostable and Self-Administrable Tuberculosis Vaccine for Inhalation | Prof. Camilla Foged, University of Copenhagen, Denmark | Presentation |
15:45 | Development of a soft mist inhaler using simulation tools to predict lung dose and pharmacokinetics | Mr. Wilbur de Kruijf, Medspray Pharma BV, The Netherlands | Presentation |
16:15 | Coffee Break | | - |
16:30 | Harnessing materials for the development of advanced respiratory therapeutics | Prof. Sally-Ann Cryan, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Ireland | Presentation |
17:00 | Excipients: their role for respirable particle construction | Dr. Francesca Buttini, University of Parma, Italy
| Presentation |
17:30 | Day 1 in hindsight | | - |
17:45 | End of day 1 | | - |
Tuesday 1 October 2019
Time | Presentation Title | Speaker | Presentation Link |
08:45 | Registration | | - |
| Session 3 | Chair: Dr. Jan Jedelsky, Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic | - |
09:15 | Plenary Lecture
The Dynamic Airway: Computed Tomography of Airways Diseases | Professor Haiwei Henry Guo, Stanford University Hospital, USA | Presentation |
10:00 | Measurement of pulmonary deposition of nanoparticles as a means for morphometry of the distal air spaces and diagnosis of emphysema | Prof. Per Wollmer, Lund University, Sweden | Presentation |
10:30 | Coffee Break | | - |
11:00 | WG3 Presentation: Dry Powder Inhaler Performance: A CFD-Euler/Lagrange study | Prof. Martin Sommerfeld, Otto-von-Guericke University, Germany | Presentation |
11:30 | Predicting deposition in the human airways using CFPD: The SimInhale benchmark case
| Dr. Pantelis Koullapis, University of Cyprus, Cyprus | Presentation |
12:00 | Advanced in vitro lung-on-chip platforms for inhalation screening assays | Prof. Josue Sznitman, Technion , Israel | Presentation |
12:30 | CFD – DEM simulations of dry powder inhalers. Bridging to reality | Kyrre Thalberg, Inhaled Product Development, Pharmaceutical Technology & Development, AstraZeneca Gothenburg, Sweden | Presentation |
13:00 | Lunch Break | | - |
| Session 4 | Chair: Dr. Katrin Bauer, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Institute of Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics, Germany | - |
14:00 | Plenary Lecture
The Role pf Lymphatic growth and remodeling in Chronic Respiratory Diseases | Prof. Stanley Rockson, Allan and Tina Neill Professor of Lymphatic Research and Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, USA | Presentation |
14:45 | Aerosol characterization for the development of novel inhalation devices: in-vitro experiments | Dr. Nicolas Schwenck, PARI, Germany | Presentation |
15:15 | WG4 Presentation: Experimental methods applicable in research of flow and aerosol deposition in human airways and their replicas | Dr. Frantisek Lizal, Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic | Presentation |
15:45 | Coffee Break | | - |
16:00 | Understanding inhaled drug delivery using in silico and in vitro methods: Case studies involving inhaler and simplified or realistic human airway geometries | Dr. Fotos Stylianou, University of Cyprus, Cyprus | Presentation |
16:30 | STSM oral presentation: DPI mishandling: Influence on in-vitro drug deposition, dissolution and
pharmacokinetics | Ms. Snezana Radivojev, Research Center Pharmaceutical Engineering, Medical University of Graz, Austria | - |
16:45 | STSM oral presentation: Molecular Modelling to Design/Characterize Hyperbranched Polymer Nanoparticles Employed as Delivery Systems or Therapeutic Agents in Nanomedicine | Prof. Marco Agostino Deriu, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
| Presentation |
17:00 | Day 2 in hindsight | | - |
17:15 | MC Meeting (Only MC Members) | | - |
Wednesday 2 October 2019
Time | Presentation | Speaker | Presentation Link |
08:45 | Registration | | - |
| Session 5 | Chair: Prof. Gerrit Borchard, University of Geneva, Switzerland | - |
09:15 | Plenary Lecture
Biopharmaceutical Classification of Inhaled Medicines | Dr. Jayne E. Hastedt, JDP Pharma Consulting LLC, USA | Presentation |
10:00 | 'Trying but failing': medication delivery via inhalers- Let's leave no one behind | Prof. Maria Cordina, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics,
University of Malta, WHO Collaborating Centre for Health Professionals Education and Research | Presentation |
10:30 | Coffee Break | | - |
10:45 | Inhaled drug product development and commercialization | Dr. Aditya Das, Pharmaceutical Consulting LLC, USA | Presentation |
11:15 | Efflux Transporters in the Lung | Dr. Carsten Ehrhardt, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland | Presentation |
11:45 | Intelligent Clinical Platform for Self-management, Training, and Support of Chronic Respiratory Patients | Dr. Antonios Lalas
Information Technologies Institute, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Greece | |
12:15 | Roundtable Panel Discussion and Conclusions | | - |
| Moderators:
Dr. Stavroula Rozou, ELPEN Pharm.Co.Inc., Greece
Dr. Dimitrios Rekkas, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Dr. Aditya Das, Pharmaceutical Consulting LLC, USA | | - |
| 1. The role of in silico modeling: towards whole-lung hybrid models, gaining wider regulatory acceptance (20 min) | Introductory statements by Dr. Bo Olsson (Emmace Consulting AB, Sweden) and Prof. Josue Sznitman (Technion, Israel) | - |
| 2. Personalized therapies: patient-specific vs patient-group specific...And what is the role a digital inhaler? (20 min) | Introductory statements by Mr. Wilbur de Kruijf (Medspray Pharma BV, The Netherlands), Prof. Stavros Kassinos (University of Cyprus) and Dr. Antonios Lalas (CERTH, Greece) | - |
| 3. Emerging Challenges and Opportunities: Old diseases revive. Repurposed/repositioned drugs. (20 min) | Introductory statements by Dr. George Ismailos (ELPEN Pharm.Co.Inc., Greece) and Dr. Stavroula Rozou (ELPEN Pharm.Co.Inc., Greece) | - |
13:15 | Farewell Light Lunch | | - |
14:00 | End of conference | | - |
Organising and Scientific Committee
- Stavros Kassinos, University of Cyprus, Action Chair
- Gerrit Borchard, University of Geneva, Action Vice Chair
- Alessandra Rossi, Universiry of Parma, WG1 Leader
- Wilbur de Kruijf, Medspray Pharma BV, WG2 Leader
- Martin Sommerfeld, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, WG3 Leader
- Frantisek Lizal, Brno University of Technology, WG4 Leader
- Beatriz da Silva Lima, University of Lisbon, WG5 Leader
- Elias Fattal, Université Paris-Sud, WG1 Sub-Leader
- Jelena Dijris, University of Belgrade, WG2 Sub-Leader
- Alessio Alexiadis, University of Birmingham, WG3 Sub-Leader
- Joy Conway, WG4 Sub-Leader
- Carsten Ehrhardt, Trinity Colleger Dublin, WG5 Sub-Leader
- Stavroula Rozou, ELPEN Pharm.Co.Inc., Local Host, Member of WG1
Due to a 24h strike in Athens, transportation will be either limited or unavailable as follows:
Wednesday 2 October 2019:
- Metro Lines 2 & 3 will NOT run for 24 hours
- Bus and trolley lines will run ONLY from 9.00 to 21.00
Thursday 3 October 2019:
- Metro Lines 2 & 3 will NOT run between 12.00-15.00
AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION
Flights will not be affected by the strike
For your transportation to the airport you can use the Bus Line X95 which starts from Syntagma Square. It will run only from 9am to 9pm. Otherwise you can use taxis or Beat (app, similar to uber)
There are bus stops nearby at Hilton Hotel and Ilissia (Megaron Mousikis Metro Station) SEE MAP and TIMETABLE
Ticket price is 6 euro and can be purchased on board from the driver. Please have the exact amount on hand!
Practical Info
Transportation
Getting to the Conference Venue, Metro Station “Megaro Moussikis”- Metro Line 3 (Blue)
For more information you can visit the website: https://www.athenstransport.com/english/
Greece:
Athens:
Interesting Links:
Museums
All of the following museums and art galleries are at walking distance from the venue.
Some of the best restaurants, which can be easily accessed from your hotel, are the following:
Restaurants/Bars
- Galaxy Bar: Cocktail bar on the roof of Hilton with excellent view
- CV Distillers: A Jazz all day Bar with the biggest and one of the rarest collection of whiskeys and spirits in Europe. Try the whiskey stone. Iced stones are used instead of ice cubes!
Also, watching a concert or a play in the ancient theater Herodion is a unique experience. Herodion can be easily accessed by Metro.
Herodion Theater
Built at the base of the Acropolis, the ancient amphitheatre of Herodion, also known as the Odeon of Herodus Atticus, is today one of the best places to experience a live classical theatre performance. This ancient theater was built in the Roman times, in about 161 A.D. by the Roman philosopher, teacher and politician Herodes Atticus. It was built in the memory of his wife Aspasia Regilla who died in 160 AD. This semi-circular amphitheater has a wide 1,250 feet radius with a seating capacity of more than 6,000 people. The original wall of the stage stood three storeys high and was decorated with marbles and ceramic. The stage and seating area were laid with marble while it has been renovated today. A cedar-wooden roof covered the theatre in the ancient times. Today you can attend the Athens Art Festival, musical concerts and classical tragedies under the night sky with a marvelous acoustic experience. All events are held from May to early October since the theatre is open.
Organised by:



Co-organised and Sponsored by:

- A bus will pick up participants at 20.15 in front of the Crowne Plaza Hotel and take them directly to Strofi restaurant.
- For those coming directly ot the restaurant, dinner will be served around 9pm.
Restaurant location: https://goo.gl/maps/djMVYFmUo4w1sYB79
- For the return, the bus will pick everyone up from the restaurant around 23.00-23.30 and will stop at Crowne Plaza Hotel.
- For those returning on their own, Metro lines run until midnight
Registration
Registrations is FREE for all participants
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
Registration includes: admission to all Sessions, Online access to abstracts, Program Booklet, Conference Pack, e-certificate of attendance, coffee breaks, all 3 lunches.
If you have any queries please contact us at info@siminhale-cost.eu
Conference Venue
Crowne Plaza hotel Athens – Conference Venue
Address: Michalacopoulou Street 50, Athens, 11528, Greece
Tel. +30-210-7278000
Reserve your Accommodation
Crowne Plaza hotel Athens – Conference Venue
Information LINK
RESERVATION FORM: HOTEL BOOKING FORM SEPT-OCT 2019
Address: Michalacopoulou Street 50, Athens, 11528, Greece
Tel. +30-210-7278000
Email: info@cpathens.com
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Contact
For any queries please contact us at info@siminhale-cost.eu