We’re a month behind in reporting on the most recent Compass, principally because Prof Christians’ Interview was too compelling to push back. The December issue completed the year’s circuit of meetings, where IATDMCT members were involved in Regional meetings and Scientific Committee initiatives, among other international meetings and congresses. Among the great reports from SCs, members of the Drugs of Abuse Committee bring our attention to medicinal use of Cannabis, and suggest our Association keep an eye on emerging developments.

Many thanks to the Compass Editorial Team:

Paula Schaiquevich
Edgar Spencer
Franck Saint-Marcoux

This month we hear from Uwe Christians, program leader of the Biomarker Working Group of the Immunosuppressive Drugs Scientific Committee. It’s inspiring to hear about developments at iC42, an academic laboratory that provides a wide range of bioanalytical services, from clinical trials to patient solutions. It is also the first time aptamer based analytics have been raised in an interview, in this case for biomarker assays. Exciting things are happening in Colorado.

Uwe Christians
Director, iC42: Integrated Solutions in Clinical Research and Development
University of Colorado, Colorado, USA

This month’s interview comes from Barcelona, Spain. I had the pleasure to meet Olga Millán at last year’s congress, where she was among the early risers for the morning jog (not me, I was an admirer of the photos). Exhibiting similar speed, Olga has been the fastest responder to our interviews (less than 24h), greatly appreciated in a time of end of year commitments and pre-festivities. Olga shares about her long-term experience with a clinical lab and research group dedicated to discovery and implementation of biomarkers for tailoring immunosuppressant treatment.

Olga Millán
Researcher, Networked Biomedical Research Center (CIBERehd)
Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory (CDB)
Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, SP

This month I contacted Marieke Sturkenboom, Vice-Chair of the Pharmacometrics Committee, whom I didn’t realise works with Daan Touw, our first interviewee. It was wonderful to hear from Marieke’s perspective as a young scientist being welcomed into this world class laboratory and clinical service. It is also interesting to hear about how Marieke and her colleagues have been involved in the challenges that many modern hospitals go through, such as implementation of electronic patient records, upgrading to international laboratory standards and upgrading dose adaptation software.

Marieke Sturkenboom
Hospital Pharmacist and Clinical Pharmacologist
University Medical Centre, Groningen, NL