What is a pharmaceutical scientist?
FIP’s Board of Pharmaceutical Sciences adopted the following definition of "pharmaceutical scientist": A pharmaceutical scientist is a qualified expert in aspects of the science and technology of medical products. This includes but is not limited to the discovery, development, manufacture, regulation, and utilisation of medical products - embracing how medicines work, how safe and effective products are brought to the market, their impact on the body and their effect on the prevention and treatment of disease.
Pharmaceutical science at FIP
To advance the pharmaceutical sciences on a global level is one of FIP’s three main strategic objectives. This work is lead by the Board of Pharmaceutical Sciences (BPS) through six special interest groups (SIGs).
All individual FIP members can choose to be a member of a SIG, through which they can interact with peers and colleagues with similar interests from all over the world. A major platform for these interactions include the annual FIP world congress.
The special interest groups are:
Drug delivery and manufacturing
New generation of pharmaceutical scientists
New medicines
Personalised and precision medicine
Pharmacy practice research
Regulatory sciences and quality
Initiatives and Activities
Our initiatives and activities are designed to advance pharmaceutical science through dynamic knowledge exchange and global engagement. These include webinars featuring leading experts, regular newsletters that highlight emerging research and opportunities, and publications that disseminate cutting-edge research advancing knowledge and improving patient outcomes. We are committed to foster collaboration, ensure science can inform practice, and support the growth of a vibrant scientific community within FIP.
| Check our webinar library | |||||
| To see what webinars are coming up: | You can find all the past webinars here: | ||||
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Our communication channels
Please feel free to follow our social media channels: 
Our Newsletter “Pharmaceutical Sciences at FIP” is a membership benefit – you can find the archive here.
Publications
You can find our FIP publications on this link.
We also publish our projects in peer-reviewed publications – please find a recent selection listed below:
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2024 |
Hala M. Fadda, Hannah Weiler, Maria Carvalho, et al.; European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2024, 204, 114483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114483. |
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Knowledge-based: facilitating access to medicines in Latin America |
Talita da Silva Ferreira, Giovanni M Pauletti, Eduardo Agostinho Freitas Fernandes, et al.; Brazilian Journal of Health Review, 2024, 7(2), e69323. https://doi.org/10.34119/bjhrv7n2-480 |
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2022 |
Master’s Graduate Programs in the Pharmaceutical Sciences: An International Survey |
Marilyn E. Morris, Tianjing Ren, Samuel Asare-Nkansah, et al.; Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2022, 111 (12), p. 3206-3214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xphs.2022.07.003 |
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Doctoral Graduate Programs in the Pharmaceutical Sciences: An International Survey |
Marilyn E. Morris, Tianjing Ren, Samuel Asare-Nkansah, et al.; Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2022, 111 (12), p. 3196-3205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xphs.2022.07.001 |
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Unmet Medical Need as a Driver for Pharmaceutical Sciences – A Survey Among Scientists |
Zuzana Kusynová, Giovanni M. Pauletti, Hendrika A. van den Ham, Hubert G.M. Leufkens, Aukje Katja Mantel-Teeuwisse; Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 111(5), p. 1318-1324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xphs.2021.10.002 |
History of Pharmaceutical Science in FIP
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1912 |
The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) is formed “to protect pharmacy by international means, both as a profession and as an applied exact science”. |
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1925 |
The FIP Scientific Committee is formed. It’s charged with a number of topics to progress pharmacy as an applied science – for example to develop an international codex for medicines testing and an international nomenclature for medicines. This work later transferred to the WHO through its International Pharmacopoeia and international nonproprietary names, respectively |
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1947 |
The Scientific Committee becomes the Scientific Section |
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1955 |
The Høst-Madsen Medal is created in honour of Dr Erik Høst-Madsen, a past-President of FIP, to recognise an exceptional research-active scientist. Dr Høst-Madsen is the first recipient. |
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1968 |
The Linestead Commission is formed to look at the transformation of the Scientific Section |
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1970 |
The Scientific Section becomes the Board of Pharmaceutical Sciences (BPS) after Council approval and is tasked with advising FIP on scientific aspects relevant to the pharmacy profession, establishing interactions with other scientific organizations, and planning scientific contributions to FIP congresses and symposia. |
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1986 |
Prof. Tsuneji Nagai is awarded the Høst-Madsen Medal, and becomes the first recipient outside of Europe/USA |
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2000 |
The Millennial World Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences is held in San Francisco, USA under the chairmanship of Prof Les Benet. This successful event becomes the template for the Pharmaceutical Science World Congress |
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2004 |
2nd PSWC is hosted in Kyoto, Japan |
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2007 |
3rd PSWC is hosted in Amsterdam, Netherlands |
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2010 |
4th PSWC is hosted in New Orleans, USA |
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2014 |
5th PSWC is hosted in Melbourne, Australia |
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2017 |
6th PSWC and the 1st Young Scientist Satellite Conference is hosted in Stockholm/Uppsala, Sweden |
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2018 |
The SIG structure is reformed to feature six groups: Drug delivery and manufacturing; New generation of pharmaceutical scientists; New medicines; Personalised and precision medicine; Pharmacy practice research; Regulatory sciences and quality |
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2020 |
7th PSWC is hosted virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic (planned for Montréal) |
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2025 |
The FIP Council votes to form a new, integrated governance structure in FIP |
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