Over 350 researchers gather this week in Paris (February 4 – 6), a 60% increase in attendance from 2014 50% of registrations come from European universities demonstrating the strong interest in this rewarding event for young scientists
Romainville, France, February 5, 2015 – Biocitech, a center for healthcare and biotech companies, is hosting the 22nd Young Research Fellows Meeting this week. The annual event is organized by the French Medicinal Chemistry Society (Société de Chimie Thérapeutique, SCT). The European conference focuses on approaches for drug discovery of therapeutic molecules. During three days, February 4 to 6, over 350 European undergraduates and PhD students, post-doctoral fellows and experienced researchers in academia and industry meet in Romainville.
Thirty junior researchers have been selected to present their work during the conference. Recognized researchers from all over Europe also share their expertise in drug discovery chemistry by giving plenary lectures including: Professors K.-H. Altmann (from ETH Zurich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Mr Botta (University of Sienna, Italy), D. Letourneur (Universities of Paris 7 & 13, France), and A. Nonell-Canals (Mind the Byte, Barcelona, Spain).
Several universities support this event (including Paris-Nord, Paris-Diderot, Paris-Descartes and Paris-Sud) as well as the French pharmaceutical company Servier. During this meeting, young researchers have the opportunity to discuss with representatives of Biocitech’s resident companies, of major pharmaceutical companies and of biotechnological manufacturers thanks to career workshops and networking sessions.
The Servier Research Institute will award the ‘Prix d’Encouragement’ to Professor R. Frederick (from the Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium) and Dr. M. Fonvielle (Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France) to honor their research on medicinal chemistry. The company will also award the ‘Prix de la Vocation’ for young researchers to E. Deau from ICOA (the Institute of Organic and Analytical Chemistry at the Université d’Orléans, France) and to M. Bouët from IRCOF (Rouen University’s Institute of Fine Organic Chemistry Research). The winners will deliver keynote lectures regarding their achievements.
The SCT will deliver prizes for best presentations during this meeting (€8,000 in total). The winners will be chosen by a panel of experts from European academia and industry. These prizes include grants to attend the annual conference of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in the US, the European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC) conference and the 51st International Meeting of Therapeutic Chemistry (Rencontres Internationales de Chimie Thérapeutique, RICTs), organized by the SCT.
“Our resolutely low pricing policy makes this meeting one of Europe’s most affordable drug discovery chemistry conferences,” said Luc Demange, member of the organizing committee for this SCT meeting, lecturer and researcher at Paris-Descartes University as well as the Institute of Chemistry in Nice. “This allows us to welcome the researchers of tomorrow regardless of where they come from by offering a high-quality scientific program. It also means we can provide an international platform to train the next generation of scientists who will develop the molecules of the future.”
“We are delighted to host this event at Biocitech, a center for healthcare and biotech companies. It is completely in keeping with our mindset to build synergies between junior researchers from academic institutions with representatives from the booming biotechnology sector,” said Jean-François Boussard, chairman of Biocitech. “We are happy to contribute to the success of the SCT’s 22nd Young Research Fellows Meeting. We aim to establish a genuine dialogue between Biocitech resident companies and the impassioned junior researchers from across Europe.”
About the Young Research Fellows Meeting
The Young Research Fellows Meeting (YRFM) is an annual European conference on drug discovery chemistry organized by the French Medicinal Chemistry Society (Société de Chimie Thérapeutique, SCT). Each year, it brings together nearly 250 young doctoral, post-doctoral researchers, and junior representatives from academia and industry to attend scientific presentations and plenary sessions. There are also careers workshops and round-table sessions on entrepreneurship and on the business side of research of biotechnology companies and start-ups. All aspects of academic and industry research in drug discovery chemistry are addressed during the conference: structure-activity relationship, ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity), chemical biology, chemoinformatics, imaging, physchem, biomarkers and diagnostic tools, vectorization, nanotechnological approaches, natural products, and synthesis methodology, etc. The American Chemical Society (ACS) and the European Federation have recognized the scientific quality of the Young Research Fellows Meeting for Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC).
About the French Medicinal Chemistry Society
The French Medicinal Chemistry Society (Société de Chimie Thérapeutique, SCT) was founded in 1966 as a non-profit organization with the aim to disseminate scientific findings and to promote interdisciplinary knowledge in the major pharmaceutical research and development fields, particularly the research and validation of biological targets of therapeutic interest, the screening, design, optimization and selection of candidate drugs, chemical biology, therapeutic chemistry, pharmacokinetics, metabolism and toxicity).
The Society organizes an annual international conference in these areas, with themed days directed towards junior researchers and workshops focusing on specific topics.
The SCT rewards junior researchers and awards prizes to support their research activities and their involvement with medicinal chemistry.
The SCT is a member of the European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC), and the Fédération Française pour les sciences de la Chimie (French Federation for Chemical Sciences, FFC).
More information
About Biocitech
Biocitech is a center for healthcare, biotech and environmental companies. It provides on-site support to residents from inception through to business maturity. Services are specifically designed to help firms grow and to publicize their development.
Biocitech is the only science and technology center in the Paris area that is ICPE certified. It offers a comprehensive and flexible range of services that include technical buildings, multi-technical services, and support services. ICPE certification provides entrepreneurs with secure premises of a high technological standard.
The unique combination gives firms the benefit of specialized resources that cost less because they are pooled. Biocitech is located close to Raymond Queneau Paris subway station and is only 20 minutes from Charles de Gaulle airport. The center is market-oriented; the great majority of its residents generate revenues from the sale of products or services.
Biocitech firms complement one another by generating strong synergies and numerous collaborations. Along with other organizations in the Paris area, Biocitech is a key element in the Medicen Paris Region network, the Greater Paris region’s world-class competitiveness hub for health and new therapies. More information
Help employers find you! Check out all the jobs and post your resume.
