By Alicja Urbaniak, MSc, PhD and Ahmed F. El-Yazbi, BPharm, PhD, BCPS
Partnerships Committee
Dear ASPET Community,
Welcome to Partnerships Corner, a new column in The Pharmacologist dedicated to highlighting the activities of ASPET’s Partnerships Committee.
The Partnerships Committee works to increase awareness of ASPET’s international role, expand international membership, identify priority global issues that ASPET may help address, and manage ASPET’s current domestic and international partnerships. The committee is also responsible for proactively identifying new opportunities for international engagement and collaboration.
One of the ways the committee supports these efforts is through sponsorship of scientific meetings and initiatives that align with ASPET’s strategic goals and foster long-term partnerships.
New Submission Schedule for Partnership Support Requests
The Partnerships Committee recently updated its process for reviewing funding requests. Moving forward, requests for sponsorship or support will be reviewed twice per year during the following submission periods:
- January 1–31
- July 1–31
Please be mindful of these deadlines when preparing sponsorship applications. Requests submitted outside of the submission window will be reviewed during the next application cycle. As always, the Partnerships Committee will prioritize applications that have the potential to establish or strengthen long-term partnerships and advance ASPET’s mission.
Recently, ASPET co-sponsored two major international pharmacology meetings: the inaugural Middle East Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (MESPET) meeting, held May 3–4, 2026, at the historic Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt, and the World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology 2026, held July 12–17, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
Highlights from the Inaugural MESPET Meeting
ASPET was proud to support the inaugural Middle East Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (MESPET) meeting.
The meeting was jointly organized by Alamein International University, the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, and Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and brought together more than 210 participants and distinguished speakers from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt.
The scientific program showcased cutting-edge advances in neuropharmacology, precision medicine, drug repurposing, toxicology, artificial intelligence, and translational therapeutics. A defining feature of the meeting was its strong commitment to developing the next generation of pharmacologists through trainee poster sessions, competitive oral presentations, and the inaugural MESPET Young Investigator Awards.
The meeting also strengthened ASPET’s international engagement by fostering new collaborations among academic institutions, regulatory agencies, industry, and early-career investigators across the region. Building on this successful launch, MESPET looks forward to expanding its educational programs, regional partnerships, and scientific activities in the years ahead.
The meeting itself was made possible, in part, through support from the ASPET Partnerships Committee, whose commitment to international engagement helped transform the vision of a regional ASPET partner into a thriving scientific community.
Highlights from the WCP 2026
ASPET was also proud to serve as a diamond-level sponsor of the World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology 2026, a meeting with which ASPET has a long history of engagement and collaboration.
ASPET was well represented at the meeting by current and past ASPET Presidents, Chairs of the Publications and Partnerships Committees, ASPET staff, and many ASPET members who participated in the scientific program and related activities.
During the meeting, ASPET hosted a booth to promote the Society, increase international awareness of ASPET and its membership opportunities, and showcase ASPET journals and other initiatives. The booth was well attended and provided an excellent opportunity to connect with pharmacologists from around the world.
The meeting also offered valuable opportunities to begin conversations with representatives from international societies. The Partnerships Committee looks forward to building on these discussions as ASPET continues to explore and develop new partnerships in the future.
As the Partnerships Committee continues to strengthen existing relationships and explore new collaborations, we look forward to sharing future updates in Partnerships Corner. Through strategic partnerships, ASPET can continue expanding its international presence, supporting scientific exchange, and advancing pharmacology worldwide.
