Emerging Leader Award 

The competitive Emerging Leader in the Advancement of Scientific Knowledge Award aims to provide four (4) early career professionals*, PhD students, or post-docs with the opportunity to aid in the planning of the 2025 WCBP Symposium while receiving hands-on guidance through the planning process by industry, regulatory, and academic leaders that will oversee the successful implementation of their proposed session content. 

Meet the 2024 WCBP Emerging Leaders

Meet the Emerging Leaders

Why should you apply?

This recognition is an opportunity for you to be part of the conversation when crafting scientific content for one of the highest-regarded annual conferences that addresses the role of current and emerging CMC analytical technology among evolving US and international regulatory perspectives. 

In addition to placement on one of the Symposium working groups, you will receive the following:

• An opportunity to present your work in either a virtual poster format with an accompanying video presentation, or as part of a 60-minute session featured during the WCBP Symposium.
• Waived full conference registration for the CMC Strategy Forum North America (CMC) and WCBP 2025.
• Complimentary airfare (up to $700.00) to Washington D.C. for the CMC Forum and WCBP Symposium.
• Complimentary hotel accommodations (5 nights) at the Mayflower Hotel.
• The ability to join the WCBP Scientific Organizing Committee for the 2025 planning cycle, and the option to remain on the committee for the WCBP 2026 planning cycle.
• While on-site at CMC and WCBP:
  • Full conference experience, including the opportunity to attend the leadership and planning meetings that occur throughout the week.
  • Special recognition during the Symposium closing remarks.
  • Registration includes breakfast, coffee breaks, Welcome, and Exhibitor Receptions.

How do you apply?

To be considered, applicants will submit the following:

• Detailed proposal which includes your topic, abstract (300 words or less), session objectives (questions that you aim to address during the duration of the session), as well as any supplemental materials or case studies that will guide the session. Please include a description of the proposed session format, and any additional contributors that can enhance the content.
• Statement of interest (300 words or less) which discusses your interest in the attending WCBP 2025, working with the Scientific Organizing Committee, and how this award will enhance your academic and/or professional path.
• Brief biography.
• Letter of recommendation from an academic advisor or supervisor.
• Detailed CV or résumé, to include any previous experience presenting at a scientific conference.

Developing your proposal: 

The theme of WCBP 2025 is “Transformative Solutions”, which is a concept rooted in the idea of “alchemy” where ordinary things are transformed into something extraordinary. When developing your proposal, consider focusing on content that seek to address the following questions:

• ID and Dissolve Barriers: What are our critical barriers to overcome?
• Creative Solutions: What are the most inventive and diverse solutions to sustainably meet the needs of patients?
• Community Legacy & Impact: How do we maximize the use of our community to amplify our global impact? 

Suggested topics can include, but are not limited to, any of the following: 

• Global implementation of new technologies and changes, different perspectives
• Patient-centric specifications
• Analytical platform methods/ICHQ2R2 implementation
• Device/combination product challenges
• Microbiological considerations: LER, refiltration for biologics, inspections, IRs
• Breakthrough technologies for comparability and characterization
• Cutting edge science: feature novel creative analytical solutions
• Prior knowledge to support clinical and marketing authorization submissions and case studies
• Digital solutions (data management, modeling, submissions, etc)
• Conjugated Products - beyond ADCs
• Raw materials, supply chain, and sustainability
• Scaling to a rapidly expanding drug demand forecast with the current global manufacturing capacity constraints
• Mutual recognition agreement
• Small startup/virtual company problems: challenges that are unique to small companies/academic

Application for an award does not release you from the obligation to register. 

What is the selection process?

Awardees will be selected by the Symposium Co-Chairs on the strength of the proposal, inclusion of fresh and innovative session content, and the relevance of the content to the overarching Symposium goals. 

Determined by the proposal’s best fit within the program, the proposal will be accepted as either a roundtable, workshop, mini-case, or plen-shop**. In addition, the awardees will be placed on the applicable working group where they will be present for each of the regular Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC) calls and will be partnered with an experienced WCBP Committee Member that will provide guidance in the execution of the proposal. 

Special consideration will be given to applicants who identify as an underrepresented minority which is classified as one or more of the following:

• Individuals from racial and ethnic groups such as Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander.
• Individuals with disabilities.
• Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Women from any of the above backgrounds.

What is the process timeline?

The awardees will formally begin their committee duties on Thursday, September 14; with duties scheduled to conclude at the closing of the 2025 WCBP Symposium. Once the initial apprenticeship is complete, the awardee will have the option to be placed on the WCBP SOC for the 2026 planning cycle and beyond. 

Applications closed Friday, August 30, 2024 at 5:00 pm PST.

*CASSS defines an early career professional as someone that is less than 4 years from the commencement of their first postdoctoral or industrial position.
**Additional information about each format can be found in the application form.