The upcoming RDD meeting to be held April 17-21, 2016 at the Westin Kierland Resort in Phoenix, AZ will offer several new features in addition to the usual scientific presentations, posters, exhibition, and networking opportunities. For the first time, the US meeting program will include Platinum Sponsor Sessions that allow delegates to customize their program, a new award honoring Peter Byron will be presented to a graduate student presenter and an associated scientific meeting coordinated by IPAC-RS will take place at the conclusion of the RDD program.
According to RDD Online’s Richard Dalby, “The organizers are making special efforts to provide maximum scientific and commercial opportunities for attendees in a relatively compact meeting. Obviously, attendance at a week-long meeting is a big investment of time, so we’re trying to provide as much value as possible. We have also started to really emphasize networking because that’s very important to a lot of the people who come such as new investigators and companies looking to connect with potential customers.”
In fact, Dalby says, one of the reasons for holding the meeting at large hotels like the Westin Kierland is the availability of numerous informal meeting areas that allow people to connect while staying close to the main sessions. Arizona has been a favorite location for RDD attendees, he adds, with an airport that is easy to access from both Asia and Europe, and approximately 650 OINDP specialists from 25-30 countries are expected to attend.
In addition to the Sunday evening opening reception and a Wednesday evening reception and banquet, the VCU School of Pharmacy is sponsoring a Monday night reception to be held in the poster and technology exhibit area, where attendees will also have a chance to network during lunches and breaks. As usual, the meeting will also include a recreation break on Wednesday morning, when attendees can take time to golf, swim, or participate in one of several guided excursions.
