This is the fifth installment of the PDA Letter's series featuring the winners of the 2021 Honor Awards, which were presented at the Honor Awards Ceremony at the 2022 PDA Annual Meeting. PDA thanks all of the recipients for their contributions to the Association.
Featured below are the winners of the European and Asia/Pacific Service Appreciation Awards and the Outstanding Chapter Award. Next time: publication awards.
PDA Europe Appreciation Award
This award is given in recognition of special volunteer acts contributing to the success and strength of PDA in Europe.
Johannes Bluemel, PhD
Dr. Johannes Blümel is leading the virus safety section at the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen. He is dealing with assessment of virus safety and TSE safety of blood products and recombinant DNA products such as monoclonal antibodies for clinical trials and marketing authorization. He participates as expert in EMA-Biologics Working Party (BWP) and EDQM TSE-certification procedure. Further, he is working in several research projects on virus inactivation and virus removal.
Prior to joining the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut in 1998, Dr. Blümel worked at the University Hospital, University of Bonn (1993-1998) He performed basic research on virus replication and received a five years training in medical virology and virus diagnostics.
Dr Blümel completed his Diploma Study in Biology (molecular genetics, microbiology, biophysics and physical chemistry) in 1991 at the University of Freiburg, Germany. He received his Ph. D. degree at the Department of Virology, University of Freiburg, Germany (1993). In 2010 he received teaching graduation (Habilitation) in Medical Virology from the University Frankfurt.
PDA Asia/Pacific Service Appreciation Award
Given for special acts, contributions, or service that has contributed to the success and strength of PDA’s Asia/Pacific activities.
Bruce Loxley
Bruce performs regional and global auditing of GSK Vaccines and third-party provider sites and functions focusing on the Asia Pacific. Bruce has 29 years in the Pharma and Vaccines businesses, a variety of roles in Validation and Compliance in both Drug Substance and Drug Product Manufacturing in the UK, France, and Singapore.
Bruce has been a PDA Singapore Chapter member since 2014. From February 2020 to January 2022 he was PDA Singapore Chapter President.
PDA Chapter of the Year
This award is given in recognition of the outstanding chapter of the year. Outstanding chapters must be in good standing regarding operational qualifications established by PDA and are invited to nominate themselves or another chapter as the Chapter of the Year. This year it was awarded to the Ireland Chapter.
Aidan Harrington, President
Each chapter was invited to nominate candidates for the chapter of the year. Nominees were required to meet basic standards for chapter activity and adherence to PDA policies. Further consideration was given to how each chapter performed in several categories, including:
- Advancing or promoting the Mission and Vision of PDA
- Demonstrating support for PDA's strategic initiatives
- Attracting and engaging Students and Early Career Professionals
- Success or innovation in growing membership/retaining membership
- Quality of Chapter events and activities
The winner was selected by unanimous consent of the Membership Advisory Committee.