Summer Course 2026 ‘Essentials of Drug Discovery’
A newly developed course within the PharmaNL funding programme on modern drug development.
Would you like to better understand how innovative medicines are created – from the initial idea to clinical application? Then this course is for you.
Drug development is a unique, multidisciplinary field in which chemistry, biology and pharmacology converge. In this practice-oriented course, you will gain a comprehensive overview of the modern development process, with attention to various therapeutic modalities such as small molecules, peptides, proteins, and genetic and cell-based therapies.
What can you expect?
🔹 Lectures from academic and industry experts
🔹 Insight into opportunities and challenges within pharmaceutical R&D
🔹 A combination of theory and group assignments
🔹 Focus on early drug discovery and current developments in the field
Who is it for?
Early-career professionals in the pharmaceutical sector, Master’s students, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers with a background in the molecular sciences.
What will you gain?
After completion, you will understand how medicines are discovered and developed, and you will be able to apply for a recognised edubadge to showcase your knowledge and skills.
📍 Location: Pivot Park Oss
📅 Date: 15–19 June 2026
🗣 Language of instruction: English
💶 Fee: €750 (including catering)
This course has been developed with support from a ZonMW (PharmaNL) grant and forms part of a broader Early Drug Discovery Education Track, in collaboration with the professional field.
👉 Interested or have questions? Please feel free to contact us and discover how this course can enhance your career:
Registration and more information
The development of medicines in Oss began one hundred years ago. It was then that the foundations were laid for what would become a flourishing pharmaceutical sector in the Netherlands, leading to groundbreaking discoveries such as insulin and the anti-conception pill.
Today, the entire chain is still represented in Oss, from early-stage research to the commercial scale production of medicines. Working in Oss, we focus on the health of people all over the world. Employees at dozens of companies large and small put their heart and soul into new medicines, products and services that will improve lives worldwide. Together, our strength lies in our combination of broad knowledge about the development of medicines and a thorough understanding of the requirements of high-quality production.
This shared past and common values stimulate strong bonds among everyone who works in pharmaceuticals in Oss. We build on qualities, expertise and networks that go back decades. And with a wide variety of pharmaceutical companies, suppliers and scientific institutions all located nearby, we offer an attractive business climate and an excellent basis for international collaboration.
We are proud to work together to create a better and healthier future for all, a collaboration that in turn fuels growing employment: today, most pharmaceutical jobs in the Netherlands are in Oss. Here we connect talent and companies and stimulate entrepreneurship, while our expert employees are our most important asset. Their drive ensures that Oss has an influence on health all over the world.
Pharma in Oss offers endless opportunities to startups and talent in a city and region that is a joy to live and work in. We are committed to collaboration and sustainable and successful entrepreneurship. Oss’s pharmaceutical companies are intrinsically competitive while also being committed to quality and safety. This, plus their focus on new health solutions and contemporary technology, makes us a leader in our pursuit of a better life for people worldwide.