11th Winter Process Chemistry Conference

Elena Braconi was born in Osimo, Italy. She obtained both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Chemistry from the University of Camerino, Italy.

Following her passion for advanced chemical research, in 2017 Elena moved to Switzerland to pursue a Ph.D. in the Laboratory of Asymmetric Catalysis and Synthesis led by Prof. Nicolai Cramer at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). Her work focused on developing novel chiral catalysts based on Earth-abundant metals to promote asymmetric cycloaddition reactions.

After completing her Ph.D., in 2021 Elena transitioned into industry, joining Syngenta Crop Protection AG as a Postdoctoral researcher in the Process Chemistry department based in Stein, Switzerland. She dedicated her efforts to developing sustainable processes for the synthesis of valuable scaffolds for crop protection. In this role, she embraced cutting-edge technologies including high-throughput experimentation, automation and machine learning.

In 2023, Elena was promoted to the position of Team Leader in the Process Development department based in Münchwilen, Switzerland, where she leads a team of three laboratory assistants. In this role, Elena is responsible for developing efficient, sustainable, and scalable processes for the synthesis of active ingredients and intermediates. Her team’s primary objective is to ensure these processes are ready for commercial production and market introduction.

The Different Scales of Mechanochemistry

Making Amorphous: The challenges of making amorphous API in early phase pharmaceutical development

Alex completed his PhD at the University of Bath within the EPSRC Future Manufacturing Hub in Continuous Manufacturing and Advanced Crystallisation (CMAC), focusing on solid-state understanding and crystallisation processes for chiral and polymorphic selectivity. With expertise in crystallography and crystallisation science, he joined AstraZeneca in 2018 as part of the Early Chemical Development group, where he develops API processes supporting pre-clinical and early-phase clinical studies. Alex works across the drug substance and product technical spectrum and has addressed a range of challenges at AstraZeneca, including complex polymorphic landscapes, poorly soluble compounds, amorphous materials, and demanding particle properties.

Green Chemistry in Drug Development and Manufacturing

André de Vries received a PhD in organic chemistry in 1996 from the University of Groningen, under the supervision of Prof Ben L. Feringa. During his PhD study he introduced the MonoPhos-Phosphoramidites, highly selective ligands in copper catalyzed conjugate addition reactions. After a post-doctoral position in the group of John M. Brown (University of Oxford) on catalytic asymmetric hydrogenations, he joined DSM in the summer of 1998.

At DSM, André has held several positions, including competence manager homogeneous catalysis, resulting in the successful plant scale applications of catalytic and continuous production processes for the pharmaceutical industry, also vested in over 20 patent applications.

In 2017 the chemical process R&D group of DSM spun-out to become InnoSyn BV, providing innovative technologies to the chemical industry.

Since early 2022, André is the director of innovation and business development at Symeres BV, a leading transatlantic CRO and CDMO.

André de Vries, PhD

1992 1996           PhD Organic Chemistry, University of Groningen, NL, supervisor: Ben L Feringa

1997-1998           Post-doc, University of Oxford, UK, supervisor John M. Brown

1998-2017          DSM. Several positions, in order of Senior Scientist, Resource Group leader, Competence Manager Homogenous Catalysis, Program Manager R&D and Innovation

2017-2022          InnoSyn. Commercial Director

2022- now          Symeres. Director of Innovation & Business Development

Solvent Eco-Impact Metric: A Data-Driven Approach to Sustainable Process Development

Federico Della Negra holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Padova. He began his career at F.I.S. – Fabbrica Italiana Sintetici, progressing from Junior to Senior Scientist, and later worked as a Product Development Associate at Reckitt Benckiser. Since 2011, he has been with Flamma S.p.A., where he currently serves as R&D Manager for one of the company’s Italian R&D sites.

With over 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical process development, scale-up, and industrialization, Federico leads a multidisciplinary team spanning Process Development, Solid State, Safety, and Automation. He manages five laboratories and drives infrastructure and technological upgrades to support innovation and efficiency.

His work focuses on process scale-up, technology transfer, and robust development through Quality by Design (QbD) and Design of Experiments (DoE) approaches. Federico is the author of several scientific publications and patents in the field.

Early Development and Alternative Routes Toward Evixapodlin (GS-4224)

Tim Elford began his chemistry career through internships at places like Xerox, Shire Biochem and E-One Moli Energy. After completing his undergraduate studies at Simon Fraser University in chemistry and nuclear sciences, Tim moved to the University of Alberta and completed his doctoral studies in the group of Prof. Dennis Hall. His doctoral research focused on the use of 2-alkoxycarbonyl allylboronate in methodology, diversity-oriented synthesis and total synthesis. Tim then moved to the University of Bristol in the UK for a post-doctoral position with Prof. Varinder Aggarwal. There, his research centered on enantioselective transformations of boronate esters in both methodology development and total synthesis. Tim then moved back to Canada to join Gilead as a research scientist in process chemistry. After working on or leading a variety of programs in oncology, virology and inflammation through the years, Tim is now a director of process chemistry at Gilead.

Deciphering Complexity in Catalytic Cross-Coupling

Ian J. S. Fairlamb was born in Crewe (England) in 1975, and was brought up in the south east of Cheshire, going to high school in Congleton.  Following undergraduate Chemistry study at Manchester Metropolitan University, he remained as a Ph.D. student, working with Dr. Julia M. Dickinson on squalene synthase inhibitors (1996/9). He then moved on to work as a post-doctoral researcher with Prof. Guy C. Lloyd-Jones in Bristol (2000/1), on the complex mechanisms involved in palladium catalysis.  He was subsequently appointed as Lecturer in Organic Chemistry in York in October 2001, and then awarded a Royal Society University Research Fellowship (2004/12) to further develop independent research projects. He was promoted to full Professor in Organic Chemistry (2010) and has remained in York for his independent academic career. Professor Fairlamb’s research interests are in transition metal catalysis, mechanistic studies, reaction discovery and use of automation (robotic systems) in accelerating mechanistic understanding and improving catalyst performance.

Professor Fairlamb has received several awards for the research which he has been involved with, including the RSC Meldola medal and prize (2003), Corday-Morgan medal and prize (2016), and a team Horizons prize (2021). He has also been recognized by awards associated with Industry including an Astra-Zeneca prize (2007) and SCI Process Chemistry research prize (2019).

Professor Fairlamb currently leads a group of 20 researchers in York, involving collaboration with several academic, industrial and science facilities (STFC Central Laser Facility) groups.

RetroBioCat for Automated Chemo-Enzymatic Synthesis Planning

William Finnigan obtained his PhD in Biocatalysis and Synthetic Biology from the University of Exeter in 2016, before moving to the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology as a post-doc in the groups of Nicholas Turner and Sabine Flitsch investigating the use of mathematical modelling for in silico optimisation of biocatalytic cascades, design of experiments for reaction optimisation, and computer-aided synthesis planning for biocatalysis – leading to the creation of the RetroBioCat platform.  William then worked for two years as a data scientist for an American biotech start-up – Aether Biomachines, before returning to Manchester in 2025 to launch Disyn Biotec with other co-founders where he currently works.  At Disyn Biotec William is developing digital and AI tools to democratise biocatalysis and leading the Biocat Copilot consortium.

Process Design and Development of a Kat6i Agonist for Metastatic Breast Cancer

Iain began his career as an analytical chemist at the Wellcome Foundation in 1988 before transitioning to process chemistry in 1991 where he worked on products including Acyclovir and Retrovir. Iain joined Pfizer Chemical R&D department in Sandwich, Kent in 1997 as a process chemist where he spent the next 10 years at the Medicinal Chemistry interface focused on the rapid, fit for purpose, process development of chemistry to enable delivery of first kilogram quantities of API to support FIH studies.

During the following 7 years Iain led the Chemical Engineering, Process Safety, High Throughput Screening and Crystallization functions within the Pfizer UK late stage, process chemistry group before leading the development and registration of Litfulo (ritlecitinib tosylate) for alopecia areata. In mid 2024 Iain transitioned to Pfizer Groton site in Connecticut US where he is currently a Director in the late stage, process development group. In addition to process chemistry Iain has a passion for developing and delivering interactive training games on subjects such as drug development, QbD, impurity management and regulatory submissions. To date Iain has welcomed more than 1500 attendees on his training courses.

Greener-by-Design Synthesis Methods: Characterisation, Modelling, and Optimisation of a Challenging Reaction in Continuous Flow

Innovative 2^nd Generation Process: A New Synthetic Route to Abrocitinib

Chris was born in Halifax UK, he studied chemistry at the University of York which included a 1y placement in the Chemical Development group at Roche in Welwyn Garden City.  This was followed by a PhD at the University of Nottingham in the group of Nigel Simpkins where he worked on the synthesis of unnatural indolocarbazole analogues.  Post completion of his PhD, Chris moved to GSK where he started as a Senior Scientist in their Chemical Synthesis Department in Stevenage, UK.  Over the years he took on increasing levels of responsibility in both matrix leadership and people leading roles.  After 8 years at GSK Chris moved to Johnson & Johnson where he is currently a Scientific Associate Director in the Chemical Process Research and Development group in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.  In his free time Chris loves to spend time with his family in the Swiss mountains, either snowboarding in the winter or hiking in the summer.

Discovery and Structural Characterisation of a Novel Albendazole Polymorphs via Electron Diffraction

Elise has a background in synthetic organic chemistry, beginning with a PhD from the University of Nottingham, where she worked on asymmetric radical cyclisation. She went on to complete postdoctoral research at Seoul National University, contributing to the total synthesis of dendrobine, followed by a second postdoc at the University of Southampton in the field of molecular machines.

Elise joined CatSci in 2018 as a process chemist and developed a strong interest in crystallisation science. In 2021, she became a member of the company’s Materials Science team, where she applies her expertise to a range of solid-form challenges. With broad experience across crystallisation and process chemistry, Elise takes a holistic approach to isolation and solid-state development.

Stepping into the Unknown: Process Development and Manufacture of ASAP-0017445

Dr Jamie E. Stokes FRSC CChem CSci

Jamie graduated ‘best in year’ at The University of Manchester, earning a MChem in 2009 following a final year project studying dearomatising spirocyclisations under the supervision of Prof. Jonathan Clayden. He then moved to Cambridge for a Ph.D. and post-doc in organic chemistry, advised by Prof. David Spring. Here, Jamie used small molecule synthesis to advance a number of projects at the chemistry/biology interface, including the development of de-novo strategies to target difficult-to-drug protein-protein interactions, the design and synthesis of novel quorum sensing small molecule – antibiotic conjugates and the use of macrocyclisation technology to prepare libraries of diverse screening collections.

Since joining Concept Life Sciences in 2017, Jamie has worked as a bench chemist, project manager and Associate Director, along the way supporting the delivery of many successful projects. His current research interests include the use of electrochemistry to expand chemical space, unnatural amino acids and sustainable synthesis. Earlier this year, Jamie was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Application of Organic Solvent Nanofiltration Membranes in Pharmaceutical Processes

Hui completed his PhD in Chemical Engineering and subsequently worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Manchester, where he developed and scaled up next-generation graphene-based membranes for applications in water purification, lithium recovery and ethanol dehydration. In 2023, Hui joined AstraZeneca as a postdoctoral researcher specializing in membrane technologies. His current work focuses on advancing the use of membranes in pharmaceutical processes to reduce environmental impact and enhance process sustainability.

Availability and sustainability of Platinum Group Metal catalysts

Antonio Zanotti Gerosa studied chemistry in Milano, completing his PhD in 1994 with Prof. S. Maiorana.

After some academic research experiences with Prof SV Ley (London), KH Doetz (Bonn), C. Floriani (Lausanne) and R. Noyori (Nagoya),

he moved to industry working at Chirotech (Cambridge, UK) and, since 2003, at Johnson Matthey (Cambridge, UK) where he currently leads a team working on the application of metal catalysis to customer projects and the development of homogeneous catalysts.