RECHARGED

RECHARGED

What a day! Another step forward on the road to effective medication for Collagen Connective Tissue Disorders. Fantastic!

On Thursday, I went to Leiden. There was the Drug Development Conference, or LDDC. Developing new drugs is, of course, our goal and biggest mission. I was looking forward to this day and what it brings to our path towards effective medication.

‘The chairman of the day Mark Kramer of Association Innovative Medicines announced the speakers. What a nice start which immediately got my attention. Below is the ‘Why’.

Herman van Vlijmen of Johnson & Johnson & LACDR raised a smile with me from his very first slide: So THIS is a molecule! He explained it sincerely, the notation of a molecule and what it looks like when it gets more complicated.
Ik kijk ervan op dat er bij een conferentie niet van uitgegaan wordt dat iedereen dezelfde vakjargon spreekt.

This is evident as I speak to more people on the day.

Stef van Grieken follows. Inspiring how he made the move to @Cradle after years of working at Google.

“Explainable Models”

After a short break, I follow the session AI in Clinical Data Analysis with
Wim van Hartingsveldt, TNO as chairman.

Interesting how Matthijs van Leeuwen, Leiden University, unravels clinical data analysis down to the last single thread of a tangle to explain this matter. Or Explainable Models for Clinical Data Analysis.

This is followed by Sarah Volinsky from LUMC with her current findings in her studies. How AI offers an opportunity to make certain predictions. This is further brought into reality with pathological images.

Simon Dalmolen of TNO closed this session with his presentation of the power in collaboration.

‘moment of silence’

During the breaks, there are nice snacks to really be able to take a moment for yourself or start a nice conversation with others. In my case, a very pleasant and inspiring conversation with Kevin Goyvaerts. He talks about how, as an I(C)T-er, he applies his knowledge for clinical research and was surprised by the name of our foundation Power Of Reflection. He wanted to hear more about that. After the story, the reason for our origin, existence and mission of our foundation, a silence suddenly fell. I can see him thinking, but about what? Silent, it was for a moment.

‘How inspiring!’, Kevin suddenly said, breaking the silence. He continued, ‘ A very inspiring story and that from this the foundation was born.’

Over a good cappuccino, delicious tea and refreshing mint water, the next session can start again.

‘AI and ... yes ... BMW’

With Martijn Wapenaar of Johnson & Johnson as chairman for
AI in Drug Manufacturing and Quality Control. Thomas Bäck, Leiden University also started with an opening which woke everyone up after the lunch dip. He shows the slide you shouldn't ask him any questions about. The construction of molecules, he doesn't understand anything about that, he says. Even so, he is definitely a valuable expert on the team. So he explains how his knowledge with AI and ... yes ... BMW ... also makes the application for the medical world.

Valentine Tuyishime of Johnson & Johnson follows. With complete ease, she explains how she applies AI and Digital Transformation in LM Drug Substance.

The afternoon will be concluded by Jildau Bouwmanof TNO with a Panel Discussion
‘Responsible use of AI’. Together with Cor Veenman, of TNO, Niya Stoimenova of Deus.ai and
Rüya Gökhan Koçer from Leiden University closed the day.

‘New insights and opportunities have come my way’

I have 20 minutes left for one last drink because I don't want to miss the once-a-hour bus. These are precious minutes that put me in relationship with Jennifer, Norimassa and Ana for building a solid future for our mission. Our next conversation is already planned!

This intensive yet beautiful day has ‘recharged’ me. New insights and opportunities came our way.

I walk out of the building to the nearest bus that takes me back to the station. The lovely (still) warm September sunshine completes my day.’