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Taking the first steps of your career is an exciting time, especially with a supportive network on your side.

Pharmaceutical microbiology organisations endeavour to support and guide young professionals through the beginning of their careers while also representing their interests and connecting them with relevant information.

In this blog, we’re exploring why young microbiologists should consider working with a pharmaceutical microbiology organisation and the benefits these organisations offer. Scroll down to learn more.

What is a Pharmaceutical Microbiology Organisation

Before we jump into the advantages pharmaceutical microbiology organisations provide young microbiologists, we’ll quickly give an overview of what these organisations do.

A pharmaceutical microbiology organisation strives to bring together professionals, researchers, and students working within the industry to facilitate the exchange of microbiological information. They also offer training courses and relevant publications and organise conferences for members.

Pharmig has been a non-profit pharmaceutical microbiology organisation since 1991. Our membership program offers a comprehensive portfolio of products for all microbiologists, including young professionals. Learn more about us here.

What a Pharmig Membership Offers Young Microbiologists

When starting your career in microbiology, finding relevant publications and conferences can be overwhelming. You might also want to connect with mentors and other new graduates.

Pharmig provides support in these areas and offers the following benefits:

• Access to webinars, training sessions, and industry meetings.
• The chance to communicate with industry experts.
• Cutting-edge industry news and information in one place.
• Links to trustworthy online resources.
• Frequent newsletters and access to technical articles.
• Forums to exchange secure information with other microbiologists.
• Access to in-person events and conferences.

Alongside championing the latest research, Pharmig offers a social culture through its exclusive forum and networking events. Immersing yourself in the industry is paramount, and we’re here to help you get started.

The Aspiring Microbiologist of the Year Award 2023

At Pharmig, we recognise ‘excellence in microbiology’ and therefore have created an annual award which spotlights contributions made by a microbiologist new to the healthcare or pharmaceutical industry.

A winner is selected by our experienced committee and receives Pharmig publications of their choice (to the value of £180), attendance to any Pharmig meeting, and an article will be published about them in our popular newsletter.

Interested in applying? For the chance to win this award, microbiologists must have experience in a technical role for at least a year, and the role must have a strong emphasis on microbiology — this isn’t restricted to lab positions.

All entrants must be within the first three years of their career at the time of nomination.

Find out more about the award and the application process here.

We can’t wait to receive your nominations! Meeting the next generation of microbiologists is always a pleasure.

Final Thoughts

Pharmaceutical microbiology organisations offer crucial support and information for new microbiologists in all areas of the field. From providing networking opportunities to offering training courses, these organisations seek to nurture the next generation of professionals while promoting best practices and sharing the latest research.

Want to know more? Read Pharmig’s news articles now to stay in the loop.

Or get involved via our membership program. Sign up here.

Seminars are a must for any professional in the pharmaceutical microbiology sphere. However, when was the last time you attended an in-person conference? For many, it might be a long time ago.

The seminar landscape has evolved over the past few years. Virtual events have skyrocketed in popularity, allowing professionals from all over the world to connect in real-time. But don’t forget the personalised approach of in-person events. Each offers significant benefits to all who attend.

Today, we’re looking at the benefits of virtual and in-person pharmaceutical microbiology seminars to help you decide which is best for you. Keep reading to start contrasting.

Virtual Seminars

Virtual seminars allow pharmaceutical microbiologists to connect anywhere, anytime, and with anybody.

With these online events, the need to arrange travel and accommodation is eliminated, leaving attendees with more time and fewer expenses. This is ideal for anyone with tight schedules or busy family lives.

Online seminars also allow attendees to interact with experts anywhere in the world. No need to align everyone’s schedules. All you need to do is agree on a time that works for everyone.

Internet events can also be recorded, allowing individuals to re-watch and revisit content after the seminar is finished. This is ideal for notetaking or catching up on conferences you couldn’t attend.

In-Person Events

Don’t be so quick to write off in-person seminars, though.

These events offer a more immersive and engaging experience, allowing you to connect with other professionals and build your network. You’re more likely to remember someone you met in person than an icon on a screen! Learn why networking within pharmaceutical microbiology is crucial here.

In-person events allow for better audience participation, such as Q&A sessions and guest speakers, which improve pharmaceutical microbiology discussions. They also allow for hands-on workshops and physical demonstrations, which can be hard to do via live stream.

It can also benefit the attendees to spend time out of the office. Taking breaks from the lab or desk allows your brain to take a break, further improving the brain’s capacity to function when you return.

Virtual vs In-Person Events: Which is Best?

When weighing up the benefits of each event, it becomes apparent that each event offers invaluable advantages. However, in-person events will always be the better option for creating new professional relationships and providing engaging microbiology seminars.

However, it would be an oversight to ignore that virtual events are more accessible to professions that can’t travel.

Therefore, hybrid events are an excellent option for future microbiology conferences. These modern events weave virtual elements into the traditional in-person format, allowing pharmaceutical microbiologists worldwide to attend however works best for them. Of course, the experience will be elevated in person, but those visiting online won’t miss out on the content.

Pharmaceutical Microbiology Events: The Future

Events and seminars will always be crucial for sharing information, innovations, and networking. Therefore, deciphering which events suit your working style best is critical. This will help you plan which pharmaceutical microbiology events you should attend and which will provide you with the most information and benefits.

Ready to find your next pharmaceutical microbiology conference? Pharmig has a plethora of in-person, hybrid, and virtual meetings coming up. From launching Pharmig Europe – The Netherlands, September 2023  to our 31^st Annual Conference – Hot Topics in Pharmaceutical Microbiology – November. We are at the forefront of research and collaborations.

See our complete list of upcoming in-person meetings online here. Or learn how a Pharmig membership could benefit you here.

Whether you love or hate it, networking is an essential practice within microbiology.

Joining a collective effort or open discussion can reap many benefits to your personal research and to those you connect with. Plus, it’s an excellent way to stay up-to-date with industry trends and cutting-edge concepts.

This article examines how pharmaceutical microbiology networking is essential for professional growth, validation, and collaboration. Keep reading to learn more.

Benefits of Networking for Pharmaceutical Microbiologists

Networking is advantageous for all involved. Here are the primary benefits pharmaceutical microbiologists will experience via networking.

Pharmaceutical Microbiology networks such as Pharmig , can provide opportunities to connect with fellow professionals, attend conferences, participate in workshops, and access resources and publications.

Networking is also paramount for creating and growing long-term collaborations and partnerships. It can even lead to mentorship opportunities, allowing new microbiologists to advance their practice with experienced microbiologists.

Attending conferences, workshops and ‘virtual networking’ via webinars etc focusing on pharmaceutical microbiology brings together experts, those wanting to learn more, and industry professionals offering invaluable networking opportunities and the chance to stay updated in latest advancements and trends whilst validating and benchmarking with other like-minded individuals and companies

Spending time within a professional microbiology organisation such as Pharmig can also foster support and an open forum for microbiologists. Here you can seek advice, share personal experiences, and learn from others in an informal environment.

Where to Network as a Pharmaceutical Microbiologist

Networking is a vital practice for microbiology professionals, and there are various places to get started.

• Online communities and forums — These online spaces allow professionals to discuss and share insights without travelling long distances. These communities include specialised websites, social media groups, and forums.
• Workshops, training courses, and industry events — Specific pharmaceutical microbiology events provide an in-person alternative for professionals to discuss their experiences and listen to presentations from other professionals. Industry events often feature appearances from pharmaceutical firms, laboratory representatives, NHS and other related businesses
• Universities and institutions — Academic institutions and societies with a pharmaceutical microbiology focus also frequently hold collaborative events for networking. From webinars to in-person conferences, connect with local bodies to participate in their events.
• Scientific conferences — Scientific conferences are held on local, national, and international scales, allowing professionals to network with researchers worldwide. Conferences usually include presentations, social events, and poster sessions.

How Pharmig Can Help

With 32 years of experience in microbiology, Pharmig is an international not-for-profit organisation that represents professionals with an interest in microbiology working in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and cosmetics industries.

We focus on continuing professional development and facilitating the exchange of microbiological information through conferences, publications, courses, and our own website which has technical white papers and previous accessible presentations and technical newsletter for current members. See how a Pharmig membership could benefit you today.

Start your microbiology networking practice today and join now. Or learn more about us and how we work alongside microbiology professionals.

Remember, networking is not just about building connections but also about sharing insights, gaining new perspectives, and staying informed about industry advancements. Actively engaging with peers and professionals in pharmaceutical microbiology can contribute to your professional development and open doors for future opportunities. Pharmig can support you in this!

Here at Pharmig, we believe that it is always a good idea to keep improving and working on ourselves, which is why we have decided that the time is right to give our website a fresh look and feel.  We are very proud of our website and wanted to update it to offer the best user experience possible, to ensure we were able to give our visitors all the information they need to make informed decisions and at the same time easily navigate the site.

Our redesigned website should be ready to launch in the next few weeks, and we are incredibly excited to be able to share it with you.

As well as the refresh of the look and feel of the site, we have now implemented a fully mobile-friendly design, with more and more users opting for mobile phones and tablets to surf the web and search for goods and services, it was important to us to ensure the mobile experience matches that of the larger screen / PC / laptop experience.

We have also added more video resources to help our members access useful and important information. Video is proven to be a very effective way of learning and sharing information, we have some very exciting additions launching soon, a highlight being informative interviews with key figures from the Pharmaceutical and healthcare profession.

We have spent a great deal of time working with our web developers to create the best environment possible for our members, amongst many aspects of the new website, we have tried to focus on enhancing how we share information and the many different platforms we use to help our members develop and learn. Incorporated into the design is the possibility of sponsorship and member ads in key areas of the site, we are considering launching these facilities in the future, so watch this space.

A bit about us, in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, cosmetics, and NHS industries, Pharmig is a non-profit professional organisation that promotes the interests of people who work in, oversee, or collaborate with microbiology.

Our website is a key tool to help us grow, communicate, and offer products and services to our members, which include:

• Coordinating gatherings, training sessions, conferences, and the creation of publications that offer current information and opinions on issues relating to microbiology.
• Advancing the study of microbiology and its application in real-world settings
• Influencing the creation of rules and policies pertaining to microbiology
• Serving as a private forum for the exchange of knowledge on all facets of microbiology

We work with several different sectors, and our membership offers various benefits, including networking and career opportunities, the chance to meet with leading professionals, and attending meetings and conferences, or booking on-line modular training courses  Membership also includes access to our publications and fact sheets and we provide the latest industry news and links to relevant and useful resources.

One of the perks of revamping our website is that it will be even easier to find out more about what we do and how you can join our services.

We will announce once the site is live and ask you to come and have a look at the new design, we invite new visitors to review the benefits of being a member of Pharmig’s extensive network and invite our existing members to come and try out the new look and feel.

If you are interested in joining Pharmig, have any questions or require any further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by either clicking here or calling 01920 871 999.

Whilst we have seen attendance to online meetings / conferences / webinars increase significantly over the last 3 years or so, there is still nothing better than attending an in-person training course and the benefits this style of training brings to an individual, their team, or their company.

Face-to-face learning and training have their only uniquely beneficial factors when compared with online training. One of the most obvious aspects would be to allow hands-on experience, no matter how good the online course is, there is currently no technology that allows you to get hands-on experience outside of the classroom. Practical experience is a proven way in which we learn and retain information more efficiently.

Although online technology has become more advanced over the past few years, a classroom environment allows delegates and trainers to communicate and interact much more readily than online. Online courses often have waiting times before attendees can communicate (questions at the end, questions in the break), whereas in-person courses allow for more of a ‘free flow’ of communication and exchange of information.

A classroom environment can be much more adaptable and flow with the needs of the group, allowing for a much more open and fluid learning environment, in contrast online tends to be much more rigid to help facilitate the course, with less scope to change the learning topics or structure of the lesson.

There is also an obvious benefit with classroom and in-person learning, which is less reliance/need for technology, online has many conditions that need to be met before it can happen without problems, internet connection, the quality of technology available, software requirements and many more. In-person training can be interactive and effective with very little need for technology.

Online learning can be subject to distracting outside influences, the natural distractions that come with working/learning from home or the office, this is greatly reduced within a classroom environment.

Peer learning is a powerful educational tool, exchanging ideas and questions with one another and providing a valuable learning medium that online environments cannot replicate.

Additional Benefits of Effective in-person Training with Pharmig

• Increased Employee Motivation, Satisfaction, and Morale.
• Increased Efficiency.
• Reduction in Employee Turnover.
• Increased Innovation.

Pharmig is a non-profit professional organisation that represents the interests of people who work in, oversee, or collaborate with microbiology in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, cosmetics, and NHS industries. We offer a wide variety of courses and publications to our members.

Pharmig is offering 2 training courses in March and April:

Basic Microbiology Practical Training Course – 14^th & 15^th March, York

A 2-day course designed for those who are new to pharmaceutical microbiology. The course is laboratory-based and strongly focuses on practical techniques, group exercises, and lectures. Attendees will have the opportunity to practice fundamental techniques. Course contents include culture maintenance, microbial identification, environmental monitoring, aseptic technique, and data integrity for the microbiology lab.

You will leave this course with a clear understanding of what happens in a microbiology lab, why the tests are performed, and how to document them correctly.

Training in the basics will help you to:

• Understand contamination risks to the process.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of current control measures.
• Maintain compliance with cGMP and data integrity expectations for the laboratory.

A Practical Introduction to Sterile Manufacturing – 26^th April, Solihull

Designed for those people who are new to the industry this interactive training course will help you understand what sterile manufacturing is and will cover topics which include: microbiology, clean room design, sterilisation processes, sterility assurance, manufacturing methods and regulatory oversight.

It is designed to:

• Get you to think about the risks associated with sterile manufacturing.
• Understand the basic elements of sterility assurance.

The course will support:

• Building greater people capability and consistency in your sterile operations
• Reducing quality issues, waste, defects, and accidents
• Being better able to meet your regulators’ expectations.
• Releasing batches more consistently à get products to the patient more reliably.
• Better management of individual performance

At the end of this training programme, you will:

• Have an underpinning awareness of sterile manufacturing and associated risks.
• Attain an introductory understanding and knowledge of key sterile processes and controls.

If you are interested in attending these courses, please contact us here, we would love to hear from you.

Pharmig Microbiological Publications, Fact Sheets, and Interactive On-Line Training

As a part of our remit and service included in our membership across these sectors, we provide informative guides, publications, factsheets, and on-line training. Industry leaders have written and created Pharmig publications, fact sheets, and interactive online training courses, which cover and provide important data pertaining to GMP practices and regulator guidance.

Our publications and fact sheets cover a wide range of subjects, please see below for our full list:

• A Guide to Cleaning and Disinfection of Pharmaceutical Facilities – A Road Map to Regulatory Compliance
• A Guide to Microbiological Control for Non-Sterile Pharmaceuticals
• Guide to Cleanroom Operation & Contamination Control
• Guide to Bacterial Identification
• Current Perspective on Environmental Monitoring
• Guide to Microbiology Laboratories in the Pharmaceutical Industry
• Guide to Isolator for Sterility Testing
• Best Practices for the Bacterial Endotoxin Test: A Guide to the LAL Assay
• Rapid & Alternative Microbiological Methods in conjunction with the CTPA
• Cleanroom Environmental Isolates Fact Sheets
• Microorganisms Fact Sheets
• Major Objectionable Microorganisms Fact Sheets
• Pharmaceutically Important Fungi Fact Sheets
• Water Microorganisms Fact Sheets
• Commonly Occurring Organisms Fact Sheets
• LAL Fact Sheets

Additionally, Pharmig provides online interactive training courses. Your staff can get access to top-notch online training through the Pharmig Training Portal. Module 1: Cleaning & Disinfection of Cleanrooms covers contamination, preparation and storage of cleaning agents & disinfectants, and application techniques.  By watching a series of detailed videos, followed by a multiple-choice assessment, they will learn a variety of essential subjects relating to their role in the cleanroom environment.

On successful completion of all chapters within the module, participants will be issued with a certificate and will then be able to apply their learnings within the working environment.

The interactive online training module is aimed at those who are new to working in GMP cleanrooms as well as being ideal for Production Operators, Cleaners, QA, QC

In the pharmaceutical, healthcare, cosmetics, and NHS industries, Pharmig is a non-profit professional organisation that promotes the interests of people who work in, are in charge of, or collaborate with microbiology.

It acts as a network for the exchange of microbiological knowledge through training sessions, conferences, publications, and its website forum. It also offers a focus on ongoing professional development.

Since 1991, the Pharmig group has experienced substantial growth, enhancing the range of products it presently provides to the Membership while adhering to the original requirements of microbiologists which include:

• Planning meetings, conferences, training sessions, and publications that offer current information and opinions on issues pertaining to microbiology
• Improving the science of microbiology and its application in real-world situations
• Having an impact on the formulation of rules and regulations pertaining to microbiology
• Serving as a confidential platform for the exchange of knowledge on all facets of microbiology.

Pharmig publications, fact sheets and interactive online training modules can be ordered online, please see the following links for more information and to buy through the website.

Pharmig’s complete list of publications.

Fact Sheets.

Online Training.

Along with many other advantages, our members have access to a vast array of valuable information, articles, and fact sheets, see here for more information.

In the pharmaceutical, healthcare, cosmetics, and NHS industries, Pharmig is a non-profit professional organisation that promotes the interests of people who work in, are in charge of, or collaborate with microbiology. It was founded in 1991.

It acts as a network for the exchange of microbiological knowledge through training sessions, conferences, publications, and its website forum. It also offers a focus on ongoing professional development.

Since 1991, the Group has experienced substantial growth, growing the range of products it now provides to the Membership while adhering to the original requirements of microbiologists.

There are a number of benefits, tools, information and resources that will benefit you within the pharmaceutical, healthcare, cosmetics, and NHS industries.

Types of membership:

Corporate:

All Pharmaceutical companies can apply for this level of Membership with nominated representatives per site (corporate membership does cover ALL personnel at that site). With larger Companies, each site would be considered as an individual Corporate Member as would separate research divisions.

Commercial Suppliers:

Any company that supplies or supports the pharmaceutical industry that has a commercial basis.

NHS/Not for Profit Organisations

Independent Consultants

Academia/Students:

This category would also include retired professionals.

Honorary:

At the discretion and invitation of the Committee, this status may be offered to an individual. A Membership fee is not imposed and Pharmig will remunerate all reasonable expenses for any services rendered to the company.

These benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Participating in ‘live’ Action Groups
• Attending meetings, training sessions, webinars, and conferences and communicating with top industry experts and other delegates
• Purchasing unique publications
• Improving company and individual networking and career prospects (see Action Group section)
• Getting pertinent news and updates from the Pharmig website
• Appreciating and using links to a variety of online resources
• Being able to post job listings on our website
• Exhibiting at Pharmig meetings (additional sponsorship packages also available)

Access to the member’s section on the Pharmig website that includes:

• Exchange information securely
• Up-to-date newsletters.
• Access to technical articles.
• Relevant photos and imagery.
• An extensive information/article archive.
• Commercial supplier members have access to one free technical article per year for either the website or newsletter.

Pharmig is proud of the vibrant social culture that has developed among its members because it promotes the advancement of microbiology.

We can only accomplish this by expanding our membership, which will allow us to provide books and how-to guides that advance our knowledge and promote best practices.

In the past, our members have banded together to form action groups, such as the disinfection action group, which produced a manual on disinfectant use in the pharmaceutical microbiology business.

You can create connections with other members and start your own action group as a member, which might result in a technical paper, presentation, or publishing for our membership.

The opportunity to join a professional organisation working to advance microbiology is provided through membership.

Pharmig is unique among microbiology-based societies: it is the only organisation for pharmaceutical microbiologists in the UK and Ireland. Moreover, it is one of the very few pharmaceutical microbiology bodies in the world.

For more information about our memberships, contact us today.

Over the past 30 years, Pharmig’s annual UK conference has been a highlight for microbiology professionals and enthusiasts from across the country and beyond. The 2022 event marks the 30th anniversary of our first ever event and is set to be bigger and better than ever.

The epic two-day anniversary conference is set to take place in Nottingham on November 30th and December 1st. Tickets are now available for Pharmig members and non-members alike. Click here to secure your seat at one of the year’s biggest industry events today.

Welcome To The Pharmig Annual Conference 2022

Following the virtual conferences held during the pandemic, the 2022 Pharmig anniversary conference will be a chance for the community of microbiological and pharmaceutical experts to unite and finally enjoy face-to-face interactions once more.

This year’s Pharmig microbiology conference in Nottingham will be a true extravaganza for all individuals working in this landscape. Here are just some of the reasons to join the microbiological community for the two-day event;

• We have built an incredible lineup of professional speakers and top experts in the field of pharmaceuticals from around the world,
• Our event will include plenty of fun-filled activities and networking opportunities – it’ll certainly beat the normal midweek routines.
• The event is an opportunity for us all to reflect and celebrate our progress as a community since the last in-person conference.

Our 30th anniversary conference isn’t only a landmark achievement for Pharmig, it’s a moment for celebration across the industry in the UK and beyond. And with the stunning Nottingham Belfry Hotel providing the perfect setting, the event is sure to be as enjoyable as it is entertaining.

Celebrate 30 Years Of Pharmig

Microbiologist Poly Hajipieris first established Pharmig following a conference that saw attending professionals unanimously decide that the existence of an interest group specifically for pharmaceutical microbiology would be in the best interests of the industry. Pharmig was soon born, and we’ve seen huge progress from those humble beginnings.

We have built a huge global community of microbiological experts over the past 30 years and continue to strive for excellence to support continued developments within the industry through training courses and more. Our courses and publications support the science of microbiology and its practical application, and regulatory developments.

Our anniversary conferences serve as the perfect outlet for new and old members alike to join forces, network, learn, and hold a forum for key discussions within this field.

Join Some Of The Top Industry Professionals

We are excited to announce that the 2022 anniversary conference will include guest speakers from AstraZeneca, FDA, BPL, Johnson & Johnson, P&G Quell Therapeutics, and more.

Hot topics include: Annex 1, practical applications of CSS, Burkholderia cepacia complex, cleanroom energy costs versus performance; risks & risk reduction in bacterial endotoxin tests and much, much more. Check out the itinerary to learn more about what to expect from this year’s event. From presentations to open discussions, all microbiology professionals will gain truly valuable insights.

We are immensely proud of the Pharmig journey so far and the positive impact we’ve helped the industry create over the past three decades. Reflect on the progress and look ahead to the future by joining us in Nottingham. It will be our biggest and best conference ever.

Pharmig is hosting its 30th Anniversary Conference at the Nottingham Belfry Hotel on Mellors Way in Nottingham, UK, between 30th November and 1st December 2022. This in-person event will bring people and industry back together again after the long break away for networking, information-sharing and education. Attendees will debate the latest issues in pharmaceutical microbiology and update themselves on all the recent developments.

The agenda for the conference is jam-packed. Pharmig is inviting world-class speakers from around the globe, fourteen in total including; one from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA and two formerly of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Attendees will join these professionals in open question and answer sessions, debates, and informal discussions. Real-time polling and opportunities to share feedback will be available throughout the schedule using the bespoke Conference app.

The 30th Anniversary Conference will cover a range of interesting and controversial topics. Top of the agenda are issues around the recently published EU GMP Annex I Manufacture of Sterile Medicinal Products, finalised in August 2022. The new guidelines clarify how the industry can apply the latest manufacturing and handling standards for sterile medicinal products and what non-sterile companies should start working towards too. Speakers, including Phil Rose and Dr Tim Sandle will cover what’s in the updated rules, what they mean for practitioners, how industry representatives should respond to them, as well as how the new Annex 1 compares to what the Pharmig membership initially wanted from it.

The conference will also cover the ‘hot’ topic of Burkholderia Cepacia Complex (BCC) testing as a presentation from the FDA and as a debate for delegates to take part in. The debate will whether the approach should be based on risk or if a more scientifically justified approach should be taken!

Other key topics range from: practical applications of a contamination control strategy (CCS); risks and risk reductions with bacterial endotoxin; artificial intelligence for quality control in practice; socialising rapid methods for QC microbiology; Cleanroom energy costs vs performance; and much more…

In short, there’s something for everyone at our celebratory 30th Anniversary Conference. The event will cover all the most pressing topics and issues in pharmaceutical microbiology currently affecting the industry and will provide an opportunity companies and individuals to validate their learning and knowledge and network with like-minded organisations and peers.

Book today and secure your slot. Be warned, places are going fast, so the sooner you reserve your slot, the better.

If you’d like to learn more about the speakers and event itinerary, you can here.

You can also view the agenda here.

The year 2022 is a significant occasion for Pharmig, as we will be hosting our 30th-anniversary conference. This exciting event marks over 30 years of Pharmig providing pharmaceutical microbiologists with a voice. Our conferences offer a unique opportunity for professionals within the pharmaceutical microbiology arena to come together in person. These events help foster a sense of community which is crucial for the future of our field and the continued progression of the work and role of pharmaceutical microbiologists.

Despite our hopes, the 29th annual conference took place online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This event was a still a great success though and provided a valuable opportunity for our members working in the microbiology and pharmaceutical industries to share ideas, further their understanding of evolving practices, and interact with each other, albeit virtually.

This year we are very much looking forward to our 30th-anniversary conference as the time when we can all come together again and meet up in person. The 2022 conference is already shaping up to be one that is fitting for this milestone anniversary year. We are excited to share with you the confirmed details of the event so far.

Conference Dates

Pharmig’s 30th-anniversary conference will take place in Nottingham on Wednesday, 30th November and Thursday, 1st December 2022.

30th-Anniversary Conference Agenda Highlights

For over 30 years, Pharmig has provided a much-needed voice for microbiology workers and bringing together members of the industry to share ideas and exchange knowledge is central to this. With this in mind, our conferences are carefully curated to provide the maximum benefit to our attendees and tailored to provide relevant, valuable content that enriches our community.

As we edge closer to the start of the Pharmig 30th-anniversary conference 2022, we can share with you some of the confirmed topics that will be featured at this year’s event, along with the speakers who will be sharing their knowledge with us.

Key Note Session: Annex 1 overview and Contamination Control Strategies (CCS) drawing on sterile & non sterile impacts
Phil Rose – Executive Director, NSF International (ex-MHRA)

Socialising rapid methods for QC microbiology – balancing todays capability with traditional approaches
Kevin Wright – Director Corporate Quality Assurance – Industrial Microbiology, Procter & Gamble

DEBATE – BCC testing is here to stay – the new sterility test! Pistols at dawn debate of the year.
Edel Fitzmaurice – Quality Director/QP, Fitzmaurice Scientific Ltd & David Keen – Director Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ecolab

“Where did they come from? Considerations for test strains”
Miriam Guest – Principal Microbiologist, AstraZeneca & Christine Farrance – Senior Global Scientific Affairs Liaison at Charles River Laboratories (USA)

Transformational technologies: Artificial intelligence for quality control in practice
Louis Ryan – R&D Director, Ash Technologies

ID strategies: what’s signalling your level of control?
David Keen – Director Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ecolab & Pharmig Chair

How to stop fungi getting into your cleanroom – covering sterile and non steriles
Ian Harwood – Managing Director, Harwood Pharma GMP Consulting Ltd (& recent ex- MHRA)

Insights into the risks and risk reductions with bacterial endotoxin
Gerald McDonnell – Senior Director Microbiological Quality & Sterility Assurance – Johnson & Johnson (USA – presenting virtually)

How Pharmig’s 30^th Annual Celebratory Conference Benefits the Microbiology Profession

Our annual conferences are designed to help nurture the microbiology field in ways that cannot be achieved without bringing professionals together. Sharing knowledge, debating ideas, and connecting with each other are all valuable ways to further knowledge and understanding within the pharmaceutical microbiology industry. As microbiology professionals, fostering this sense of community and making connections is a powerful way to raise a collective voice and ensure the importance of microbiology is not overlooked.

Connecting with like-minded people and bridging gaps in knowledge is beneficial to both individual microbiologists and the field as a whole. The sector needs a sense of community and the opportunity to collaborate in order to keep moving forward. Our two-day conferences are the ideal opportunity to facilitate this and ensure it happens.

In addition to the current exciting line-up, we have further topics and speakers yet to be confirmed (including the FDA) – watch this space!

Don’t miss out on securing your place at the conference. Click here to download a booking form for the Pharmig 30th-anniversary conference and to view the advanced notice with confirmed presentations.

We look forward to seeing you there.