30/01/24

FAST (Centre for Future Affordable Sustainable Therapy Development) is excited to announce on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Health, NWO and ZonMw the upcoming stakeholder meeting, dedicated to advancing innovative antimicrobial therapy development. This event aims to bring together stakeholders from academia, industry, governmental organizations, research funding organizations and all other relevant bodies and organizations, in hopes of fostering research, development, and production of new antimicrobial agents and enrich the innovation ecosystem for innovative antimicrobial therapies. Together, we can make a profound impact on the future of antimicrobial therapy development.

Date & time: Tuesday, January 30th 2024 from 11:30 – 18:00

Location: Jaarbeurs Meetup in Utrecht

Registration: Register here. Given the expected interest and moderate capacity (about 100 persons), please register now to ensure your participation.

Language: English

Program:
The program will include plenary sessions and thematic breakout sessions surrounding several aspects of antimicrobial therapy, such as novel clinical development models, push and pull mechanisms and repurposing drugs for antimicrobial use. Importantly, the event will mark the launch of a new AMR research program by NWO (expected to launch mid-January 2024) to stimulate research and development of novel antimicrobials against bacteria and fungi for human use. The program will offer matchmaking opportunities to prepare the formation of relevant public-private consortia for the research program.

11:30 – 12:00 Reception with lunch

12:00 – 13:30 Plenary session: Stimulating antimicrobial therapy development

Setting the stage by Prof dr. Gilles van Wezel (Leiden University) and Karla van Rooijen, director of the department of Medicines and Medical Technology (Dutch Ministry of Health)
NACTAR-call ‘Preclinical studies 2023’ by Dr. Titia Plantiga (NWO)
Explanation of new KIC call by Dr. Vincent van Hensbergen (NWO) and Steven Marinus (Dutch Ministry of Health)
Public-private partnership for antimicrobial therapy development by Dr. Jon de Vlieger, Strategy director (Lygature)

13:30 – 14:00 Matchmaking sessions
Topic 1: New molecules and approaches for the development of antimicrobial therapies

Generation of new leads
Genomic-based approaches, including artificial intelligence and machine learning
New molecules targeting resistance mechanisms
New (sub)classes of antibiotics and antifungals (synthetic and/or bio-inspired compounds)

Topic 2: Mechanisms of action and structure-based design

Mechanisms of action to complement drug development
Structure-based design studies

Topic 3: New concepts and innovation in therapy development

New concepts, unconventional approaches, or innovative combinations
Immunotherapy and alternatives to antimicrobial agents (such as anti-biofilm therapies).

14:00 – 14:15 Break

14:15 – 15:15 Breakout sessions

Session 1: Clinical development of antimicrobial agent – Moderated by Dr. Saco de Visser (Chief Science Officer, FAST)

Prof dr. Meta Roestenberg (Leiden University Medical Center)
Prof dr. Marc Bonten (Chief Executive Officer ECRAID, University Medical Center Utrecht).
CCMO

Session 2: Opportunities for repurposing and innovations in existing antimicrobial therapies- Moderated by Prof dr. Dick de Zeeuw (Chairman Drug Repurposing committee ZonMw, UMCG)

Dr. Martin de Kort (Senior Scientific Program Manager Translational Medicine & Drug Development, EATRIS)
Dr. Edwin Spaans (Principle Consultant, CURARE).
Dr. Auke van Heel (CEO, Omnicin Therapeutics)

Session 3: Novel solutions for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of antimicrobial infections – Moderated by Annemiek Verkamman (Managing Director, hollandbio)

Dr. Pol Vandenbroucke (VP Global Government Affairs, Shionogi)
Dr. Remko van Leeuwen (CEO, SurvivX, Beam Alliance)
Dr. Sophia E. Shanko (CEO, ShanX Medtech)

15:15 – 15:30 Break

15:30 – 17:00 Plenary session: International developments

Prof dr. Laura Piddock (Scientific Director, GARDP)
TBA (Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator – CARB-X)
TBA (Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority – HERA)

17:00 – 18:00 Networking

door Dina Diek