Innovations and AI in drug development
The Research Club Innovations and AI in drug development aims to promote academic discussion and advance knowledge on innovations and artificial intelligence applied to computer-aided drug design. Aimed at thesis and dissertation supervisors and their students interested in the field, the club seeks to foster the exchange of ideas among researchers at different stages of training, from postgraduate students to experienced professors.
Through critical analysis of recent and relevant works, the club seeks to keep participants up to date with trends and technological advances in the field, stimulate collaborations between different research groups, and guide the definition of new research projects. In addition, it provides a structured environment for developing presentation and scientific debate skills, which are essential for comprehensive academic training.
The club also serves as a space to discuss ethical and methodological issues in pharmaceutical AI research, preparing participants for the regulatory and scientific integrity challenges they will face in their careers. Discussions are expected to generate ideas to support final projects, dissertations and theses, as well as to enable the identification of knowledge gaps that may be explored in future research.
Criteria for paper selection
Papers must meet criteria of relevance and innovation, with current or potential impact on computer-aided drug design. They must be accessible, that is, understandable for the technical level of the group, and current, preferably from the last two to three years. The topic of AI in computer-aided drug design is preferred, but not exclusive. Diversity is important to cover different AI subfields throughout the year, as well as applicability, with potential for practical discussion and implementation in the pharmaceutical context.
Success metrics
The club’s success will be measured by a participation rate equal to or greater than eighty per cent per session, a monthly evaluation of the quality of discussions, and engagement between sessions through group discussions. We will also consider the practical application of knowledge by members in their work and research, as well as the expansion of the network of specialised contacts in pharmaceutical AI over the year.
Role responsibilities
How it works
- Duration: 12 months (September/2025 to August/2026)
- Meetings: monthly, always on Thursdays
- Minimum deadline for paper submission: 15 days before each session
- Roles: rotating among group members
Session structure
- 5 min – Opening (welcome, agenda and connection with previous sessions)
- 20 min – Presentation by the presenter (context and key insights from the work)
- 25 min – Structured discussion (moderated debate and critical analysis focused on applications)
- 20 min – Presentation by the guest specialist (when applicable) + questions and answers
- 5 min – Wrap-up and next steps (actions/readings and confirmation of the next session)
Schedule 2025-2026
Sep/2025
Best Practices for Using AI When Writing Scientific Manuscripts
Oct/2025
NLP in Pharmaceutical Literature
Nov/2025
Molecular Computer Vision
Dec/2025
Generative AI for Chemistry
Nov/2025
Jan/2026
Molecular Reinforcement Learning
Feb/2026
Ethics in Pharmaceutical AI
Mar/2026
Precision Medicine
Apr/2026
Therapeutic Recommendation Systems
May/2026
Explainable AI for Regulatory Purposes
Jun/2026
Federated Learning in Pharmaceuticals
Jul/2026
Mobile AI in Health
Aug/2026
The Future of Pharmaceutical AI
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