The University of Malta recently hosted members of COST Action MP 1404 Siminhale for a number of meetings. The event was coordinated by Professor Maria Cordina from the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and excellently supported by the Conferences and Event Unit and the Communications office.
The Simlnhale Cost Action is working to accelerate the introduction of a new generation of safer and more effective inhaled medicines with obvious social and economic benefits. It will advance pharmaceuticals with higher effectiveness and fewer side effects, thus reducing Health Care costs in the long run and help sustain innovation in the industry of inhaled pharmaceuticals and inhaler devices. Through a pan –European network of experts it aims to:
- advance particle designs for improved deposition and interaction with lung tissue;
- promote realistic computer simulations of particle aerosolization, delivery and deposition;
- promote patient-tailored inhaled medicines;
- promote integration of device and formulation design, and
- promote critical assessment of toxicity issues and related risks.
The event, which was held at the Valletta Campus, kicked off with the Training School. It attracted a very large group of young scientists and early stage researchers from all over Europe and Israel and lasted over a period of 3 days. The training school was addressed by a various eminent European and US speakers from the academia, industry and the regulatory field. The Training school focused on:
- Lung Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics
- Particle engineering and formulation
- Device engineering
- Lung targeting and toxicity
- Regulatory aspects including the human factor
Professor Cordina was also one of the trainers and delivered a presentation entitled Human factor: the interaction between inhalers and their users.
The training school was followed by the various action workshop meetings which discussed the deliverables and way forward. The event came to a conclusion with the management committee meeting Chaired by Prof Stavros Kassinos, from the University of Cyprus who is the Action Chair and grant holder.
The meetings were complimented with two social events, the highlight of which was a walking tour of Mdina.