

PharmaCamp 2023
Drug Discovery in the era of Precision Medicine and Digitalization
13-15 September 2023,
Location: Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine (SITEM),
Freiburgstrasse 3, 3010 Bern
Compete with other young professionals and students in a pharmaceutical case challenge. Show your skills to leading pharmaceutical companies in Switzerland and win the award.
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Registration dates: June 12 - July 24
ABOUT

PharmaCamp in Bern bridges top young talent and the pharmaceutical industry. The goal of the event is to provide ambitious students, PhDs, PostDocs and recent graduates with an opportunity to showcase their creative problem-solving and presentation skills in front of the top pharma companies and give them a platform to compete with their peers. On the other hand, the companies will have a perfect opportunity to meet the most prospective young minds and their potential future coworkers/employees.
The event consists of two parts. First part is open for public, who will have a chance to learn about new trends in pharmaceutical industry by experts from the field of personalised & precision medicine. The following talk session will be aimed at the important considerations when opening and running a biotech startup as well as the approaches of industrial companies to innovation. In the second part of the two-day event, a realistic case-challenge from pharmaceutical industry will be presented and the selected participants (registrations via the Google form in the "Apply now" button) will be divided into balanced groups.
The problem solving will require multidisciplinary approach and we therefore encourage people from all natural sciences, engineering as well as business fields to apply. Participants will have time to come up with innovative solutions and prepare a presentation until the next day's afternoon, when they will have a chance to convince the expert panel that their solution is best. The winning team will be awarded with 2'000 CHF (divided between 5 team members) as well as with the eternal glory and fame.
SCHEDULE
DAY 1 (September 13)
Time | Event |
---|---|
09:15 - 9:45 | Registration |
09:50 - 10:00 | Introduction |
10:00 - 10:45 | Talks by experts - 1 |
10:45 - 11:00 | Coffee break |
11:00 - 12:00 | Expert 2 and partner talk - 1 |
12:00 - 13:30 | Lunch break |
13:30 - 15:00 | Talks by experts - 3 and 4 |
15:00 - 15:30 | Coffee break |
15:30 - 16:15 | Talk by expert - 5 |
16:15 - 16:30 | Talks from partners |
16:30 - 16:40 | Teams announcement |
17:20 - 18:00 | Networking |
DAY 2 (September 14)
Time | Event |
---|---|
08:30 - 09:00 | Coffee and welcome |
09:00 - 10:30 | Beginning of the case challenge |
10:30 - 12:00 | Work in teams |
12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch break |
13:00 - 15:00 | Workshop on public speaking |
15:00 - 18:00 | Work in teams |
18:00 onwards | Networking |
DAY 3 (September 15)
Time | Event |
---|---|
09:30 - 10:30 | Presentations of projects |
10:30 - 10:40 | Coffee break |
10:40 - 11:40 | Presentations of projects |
11:40 - 12:15 | Jury discussion |
12:15 - 12:45 | Award |
12:45 - 12:55 | Closing remarks and end of event |
13:00 onwards | Lunch and networking |
SPEAKERS

Stavroula Mougiakakou holds a Ph.D. degree in electrical and computer engineering from the National Technical University of Athens. She is currently leading the AI in Health and Nutrition laboratory at the ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research Bern, Switzerland. Her research interests include artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision and their application in prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment personalisation of acute and chronic diseases. Over the last years she successfully involved herself and her research group in many competitive national, European, and internationally funded R&D projects, resulting in numerous publications, a number of patents, and several technology transfer activities.
Prof. Dr. Stavroula Mougiakakou
Associate Professor, University of Bern

Dr. Anke Arnold-Tugulu has over 15 years of experience in the leadership in pharmaceutical industry. Currently she is the Head of Regulatory Affairs at Azafaros working in the area of rare lysosomal storage disorders. She has solid experience across various therapeutic areas (Immunology, anti-infectives, cardiovascular, ophthalmology, transplantation, oncology, pulmonary, haematology) and all stages of drug development, from entry into human to post marketing. She also worked with orphan drugs and rare diseases. She is also a Co-Founder of the NovoNexile AG : NovoNexile.com. https://www.linkedin.com/in/anke-arnold-tugulu-phd-up-976b014/
Dr. Anke Arnold-Tugulu
Head of Regulatory Affairs at Azafaros

Theresa Visarius holds a PhD in Pharmacology from Switzerland with degrees in biology and chemistry from the USA where her research focus was on mitochondria and cancer. She presently takes an active role in driving life science innovation from bench to bedside. Theresa's experience ranges from molecular mechanism of action to innovation coaching with a broad spectrum understanding that forges ideas into viable applications.
Dr. Theresa Visarius
Vice President Business Development (Immunophotonics, Inc.) Managing Director (IPS Biopharma AG)

Director of the Department for Biomedical Research (DBMR) and head of the management board. Prof Rubin was the founding director of the Englander Institute for Precision Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-leader of the All of Us program (U.S. National Precision Medicine Program) for New York City before being recruited to Bern
Prof. Dr. Mark Rubin
Director of the Department for Biomedical Research
EXPERT PANEL

I am part of the team responsible for alignment of Medical Compliance Governance standards across Roche Pharma and Diagnostic organizations by providing medical compliance risks management and decision-making framework that relates to the pathways of how to conduct all our activities related to research, medical & clinical practice. Often, we need to find a way to respond to novel Medical Compliance challenges with agility and speed, by collaborating together to bring solutions that can be endorsed by the relevant Roche Councils or the Medical Compliance Board. We leverage in our daily work a robust decision and Roche medical compliance positions delivery process, for challenges related to GCP, GVP, IVDR, MDR regulations and legislation, in order to deliver outcomes in a timely manner to our colleagues in the study teams. https://www.linkedin.com/in/urszula-moniuszko-6a68a1/
Urszula Izabella Moniuszko
Medical Compliance Governance Partner, Roche

In 2020 Daniel received his Ph.D. in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences from the University of Bern under the supervision of Prof. Jean-Louis Reymond. His main research interest is efficient machine learning and data visualization applied to natural sciences, focusing on the intersection of chemistry and biology. After a two-year stay as a permanent research staff member at IBM Research in the Team of Teodoro Laino working on machine learning for biocatalysis, he started as a postdoctoral researcher in the group of Prof. Pierre Vandergheynst at EPFL. Over the last 5 years, Daniel has authored and co-authored more than 20 papers on the application of AI to chemistry, ranging from chemical synthesis prediction to exploration of chemical synthesis space and development of novel methods for computational analysis of drugs, biomolecules and metabolites.
Dr. Daniel Probst
Scientific researcher in AI for chemistry, EPFL

Human-centric, strategic, entrepreneurial and inclusive leader with demonstrated history of building and leading high performing organizations in pharmaceutical industry. Scientific and regulatory professional, skilled in biotech and small molecule product development, analytics and manufacture as well as commercialization. Inspired by NewWork culture, sustainability and corporate responsibility and life-long learning.
Hanns-Christian Mahler
CEO at ten23 health. Senior human-centric Leader in Pharma/CDMO
Camilla Calastra
Marketing Manager
ORGANISING TEAM

When I am not occupied holding a pipette or writing my PhD thesis, I love dedicating my time to work in NGOs and create platforms to bring people together.
Gregor Bordon
Co-founder and strategic advisor

Ph.D. Researcher at UniBE in systems biology. Passion for science, philosophy and travel. Challenges have been a boost to learning.
Sigma Pradhan
Head coordinator

PhD student in PharmaTech. Passionate about science, mental health & recycling. Most importantly, I love being around people - learn and connect with each individual and new situation.
Marianna Carone
Co-founder and strategic advisor

Head of the Innovation Office at the University of Bern. Holds a MA in Modern History and Political Economics from the University of Fribourg, and a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Ottawa, Canada.
Sebastien Hug
Strategic Advisor

Ksenia Kapitanova is a PhD student at UNIGE, exploring the role of S100A4-expressing smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis
Ksenia Kapitanova
Media Designer

Anastasia Sveshnikova is a recent PhD graduate in computational systems biotechnology. Currently, she is working as a software developer in the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics.
Dr. Anastasia Sveshnikova
IT Manager

PhD researcher in Enzyme Engineering and Flow Biocatalysis at the University of Bern. When I am not occupied performing enzyme-catalysed reactions, you can find me in the Wallis moutains where I enjoy hiking, bivouacking, ski-touring, climbing, or having a couple of beers with friends.
Laurianne Pillet
Marketing Manager

I am a master's student studying Immunology at the University of Bern. I am greatly interested in medicinal chemistry, drug delivery, and targeting. I am mostly occupied with traveling, sketching, or reading books near Aare in my free time.
Garima Yadav
Communications Manager

Graduated Bachelor of Law in Kiev National University of Trade and Economics. Currently I study International Law as an exchange student at the University of Bern on a master's programme and at the same time prolong my studies in Kiev. During my studies on a bachelor's programme I did some scientific research in a field of Law. I am keen on different interesting topics that have a global meaning, learn foreign languages, read books and travel.
Anastasiia Haisenok
Volunteer

Biotechnology Student at ETH Zürich, currently based in Basel. I am interested in bioinformatics and synthetic biology and their applications in translational science. Having participated in the Pharmacamp 2022, I am excited to continue this great event and create new opportunities for participants. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucawitte/
Luca Witte
Volunteer

Vasundhara Rao
Volunteer
Camilla Calastra
Marketing Manager
COLLABORATORS
SPONSORS





