The Pharma Logistics Masterclass (PLMC™), the world-renowned program founded by Pharma.Aero and the University of Antwerp, has launched its first-ever edition in North America in Dallas-Fort Worth. The event, which brings together more than 160 industry professionals and academics from around the world, represents a milestone for the pharmaceutical logistics industry as it seeks to address emerging challenges in the safe and efficient transportation of life-saving medicines.
The 2024 edition is distinguished not only by its location but also by an exceptional partnership that includes Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), the University of North Texas, the University of Texas at Arlington, and BioNTX. This partnership highlights the growing importance of North America as a vital hub in the global pharmaceutical supply chain.
Prof. Dr. Roel Gevers, University of Antwerp, Chair of PLMC: “As Chair of the Pharma Logistics Masterclass, I am proud to once again highlight the strong collaboration between the University of Antwerp and Pharma.Aero, which has been a strong driving force in the industry. For this first edition in the US American, we are excited to expand this collaboration by partnering with DFW Airport, BioNTX, and leading academic institutions such as UNT and UTA together, forging this strong business-to-business alliance Academia is the path for an impactful exchange of experiences, leading the way to new innovations and solutions in the pharmaceutical logistics sector.
Frank van Gelder, Secretary General of Pharma.Aero and Co-Chair of PLMC, underscored the growing impact of the event, saying: “The growing number of attendees, many of whom are high-level decision-makers in the industry, highlights the growing relevance and importance of the Pharma Logistics course.” Masterclass.The presence of these senior professionals from global pharmaceutical companies and logistics leaders indicates not only the importance of the ongoing discussions but also the urgency of addressing the challenges we face and as we bring together some of the most influential voices in the sector, we strengthen the… The importance of this platform in shaping the future of pharmaceutical logistics services.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, one of the busiest cargo airports in the United States, adds strategic importance to the event location, further establishing North America as a growing hub for pharmaceutical logistics.
“DFW International Airport is pleased to be a Platinum Sponsor and co-host of the fourth edition of the Pharma Logistics Master Class alongside BioNTX, Pegasus Park and Lyda Hill Charities,” commented Milton De La Paz, Vice President of Airline Relations and Cargo Business Development at DFW International Airport. This knowledge exchange event, bringing together a wide range of pharmaceutical logistics professionals and business academics, represents an excellent opportunity to showcase the North Texas region’s rapidly growing life sciences sector, and the airport’s commitment to enhancing collaboration across the supply chain in order to provide safe and efficient services. Handling time- and temperature-sensitive life-saving medications.
Academic contributions to the event come from seven universities, making this year’s Masterclass a truly interdisciplinary experience. Participants will delve into topics such as patient care, supply chain risk management, digital innovation, and crisis preparedness, all of which are critical to enhancing pharmaceutical logistics on a global scale.
“The University of Texas at Arlington is proud to be an academic partner of the PharmaLogistics Masterclass, hosting the ‘Unlocking Innovation: Life Sciences Supply Chain Expertise in the Age of Big Data and AI’ session on day three,” said Dr. Andrew Hippisley. , vice provost for academic affairs at the University of Texas at Arlington. “Our faculty members, Dr. Gautam Das, Dr. Ogan Gurel, Dr. Chengkai Li, Dr. J. Michael Rosenberger, Dr. Yuan Zhou and others bring their cutting-edge expertise in industrial and systems engineering, computer science, life sciences, and data science to solve real-world challenges. It is “By participating in such important events, UT Arlington is coordinating its research and application to address such challenges for the benefit of industry and patients around the world.”
Brian Sauser, Professor and Chair of the Department of Supply Chain Management, J. Brent Ryan College of Business, University of North Texas, highlights the value of collaboration between business and academia, saying: “As the industry continues to evolve, it is essential for supply chain leaders to be equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to To manage all logistical aspects of the pharmaceutical market, we are excited to bring together experts and participants to address the challenges and foster innovation in this vital sector. In addition to DFW’s participation, BioNTX, one of the leading advocates for the life sciences industry in North Texas, affirmed its support of the region’s growing role in the field. The field of pharmaceutical innovation and logistics.
Kathleen Otto, CEO of BioNTX, warmly welcomed attendees and highlighted Dallas-Fort Worth’s leadership in biopharmaceutical logistics: “We are thrilled to have you here in Dallas for this advanced logistics training course, where you will experience first-hand how DFW continues to lead in Innovation, service and reliability, designed to meet the unique demands of the biopharmaceutical industry. We are a thriving hub for international trade and logistics, where DFW Airport plays a role Cargo plays a pivotal role in global supply chains and has become a key partner to the biopharma industry, enabling the efficient and safe transportation of high value, time and temperature sensitive cargo. We hope this will be a valuable and informative event as you explore the logistics opportunities that Dallas and DFW have to offer for shipping.
Trevor Caswell, President of Pharma.Aero, emphasized the growing impact of the program: “As we launch this edition in Dallas, we are reminded how important this platform is in shaping the future of pharmaceutical logistics. It fosters collaboration between industry leaders and stakeholders, and leverages vital knowledge to ensure reliable transportation.” And safe for life-saving medicines, Professor Dr. Wouter DeWolf, University of Antwerp, Academic Director C-MAT – AMS, said: “Today marks the highly anticipated start of the Pharma Logistics Masterclass in Dallas. “We are thrilled to welcome an enthusiastic group of professionals and academics and are especially grateful to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and BioNTX for their support, paving the way for impactful collaboration and innovation in pharmaceutical logistics. The discussions we will have here will shape the future of the industry.”
This is the fourth edition of PLMC™. Previous editions have been successfully hosted in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, with each edition addressing critical supply chain challenges in different regions. The Dallas-Fort Worth edition represents another major milestone for the industry as it continues to expand its global reach.
Etihad Cargo, one of the main supporters of the Masterclass programme, has played a crucial role since the programme’s inception. Stanislas Brun, Vice President Cargo at Etihad Airways, said: “The Pharma Logistics Masterclass has become a vital platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, benefiting not only our customers, but the global pharmaceutical supply chain as well. We are proud to continue our participation in the fourth edition of the event in Dallas.
The Pharma Logistics Masterclass aims to set new standards and foster cross-industry collaboration, with a focus on regulatory frameworks, logistics ecosystems and the integration of digital technologies into the supply chain. As the pharmaceutical industry faces increasing pressure to ensure safe and timely delivery of important medicines, events such as PLMC™ provide a platform for developing innovative solutions.
