Future Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Supply Chains: Building Resource Efficiency, Resilience and Circularity
Washington, D.C. | September 17-18
Help Shape the Future of U.S. Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
This 1.5-day workshop will convene leaders from industry, academia, and government to explore the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing and supply chains through the lens of resource efficiency, sustainability, and resilience. As global pharmaceutical systems face increasing pressure from supply disruptions, environmental concerns, and rising production demands, this event will create a collaborative space to examine how the next generation of manufacturing can be both innovative and sustainable.
Participants will engage in conversations focused on green chemistry, materials recycling, and circular manufacturing approaches that reduce waste and energy consumption while maintaining the high standards required for pharmaceutical production. The workshop will also address strategies for building resilient supply chains, capable of adapting to disruptions while improving transparency and sustainability across the pharmaceutical lifecycle—from raw materials to finished therapeutics.
A key goal of the workshop is to identify critical research gaps and innovation needs from industry stakeholders. By bringing together practitioners and researchers, the event will help align academic research priorities with the practical challenges facing pharmaceutical manufacturers today. In parallel, the workshop will highlight emerging computational and data-driven tools that support decision-making in areas such as supply chain optimization, lifecycle assessment, manufacturing efficiency, and sustainability trade-offs.
The program will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions examining real-world challenges, and interactive breakout sessions designed to facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange. Hands-on activities will encourage participants to evaluate case studies, explore modeling tools, and discuss strategies for integrating sustainability into pharmaceutical manufacturing systems.
Sponsored by the National Science Foundation FMRG Program and William D. Sherry Young Institute, Purdue University. Organized by Purdue’s Institute for a Sustainable Future.
Organizing Committee:
Dr. Shweta Singh, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering, Courtesy Appointment in Davidson School of Chemical Engineering
Dr. Zoltan Nagy, Arvind Varma Professor of Chemical Engineering
Dr. Gintaras Reklaitis, Burton and Kathryn Gedge Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering
Dr. Elizabeth Topp, Professor of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy, Maxine Spencer Nichols Professor in Chemical Engineering, Director of the William D. and Sherry L. Young Institute for the Advanced Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals
Dr. Paul Collins, Pharmaceutical Fellow, Office of Research, Purdue University
Dates and Location
September 17 & 18, 2026 – 1333 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Workshop Registration
Registrations will be reviewed for approval to ensure alignment with the workshop’s goals, content, and participant audience.
Full Workshop Agenda
Dr. Katherine Beers
Dr. Kathryn (Kate) Beers is Director of the Material Measurement Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where she leads scientists and staff advancing measurement science across chemical, biological, and materials research.
Dr. Bhavik Bakshi
Dr. Bhavik Bakshi is the Julie Ann Wrigley Professor at Arizona State University, with appointments spanning engineering, sustainability, and complex systems.
Shashi Mandapaty
Shashi Mandapaty is Principal and Managing Director of Synapsys LLC and former Chief Procurement Officer at Johnson & Johnson, where he led more than $30 billion in global spend across 35,000+ suppliers and 100+ countries.
Stephen Colvill
Stephen Colvill, MBA is Assistant Policy Research Director at the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, where he leads the ReVAMP Drug Supply Chain Consortium and advances policy solutions to strengthen pharmaceutical supply chains and biomedical innovation.
Area Hotels
The following hotels are conveniently located within a few minutes walk to our workshop venue on H Street. We encourage participants to book early, as hotel availability in the area can fill quickly during peak travel periods.
Hilton Garden Inn – 815 14th St NW, Washington, DC (around the corner from venue)
Hamilton Hotel – 1001 14th St NW, Washington, DC (0.2 miles from venue)
Mint House – 1010 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC (0.3 miles from venue)
Grand Hyatt Washington – 1000 H St NW, Washington, DC (0.3 miles from venue)
Washington Plaza Hotel – 10 Thomas Circle NW, Washington, DC (0.5 miles from venue)
Holiday Inn Washington/Central – 1501 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC (0.7 miles from venue)
Holiday Inn Express – 317 K St NW, Washington, DC (1 mile from venue)
