University of Wisconsin–Madison

CMC Project Team Leadership – In Person

The Science, Principles, and Practices for Successful Teams

Enhance your leadership capabilities in drug development with our CMC Project Team Leadership – In Person course, offered by the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Division of Pharmacy Professional Development.

Course Overview:

Effective leadership in Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) is crucial for the success of drug development projects. This course thus provides comprehensive project management and leadership training tailored for aspiring and current CMC project team leaders. In addition, participants will gain practical skills to improve team performance and navigate the complexities of CMC development.

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Develop Leadership Skills: Learn effective leadership techniques within the context of CMC development to enhance team dynamics and performance.
  • Master Project Management: Acquire essential project management skills for planning and executing CMC activities, including decision-making and problem-solving strategies.
  • Ensure Regulatory Compliance: Understand the requirements for regulatory filings, such as INDs and NDAs, and learn to plan candidate advancement through various development phases.
  • Quality Assurance: Gain insights into the preparation, testing, packaging, and labeling of clinical trial supplies, ensuring adherence to quality standards and regulatory compliance.

Course Format:

The course combines informative presentations with interactive group exercises. Participants will engage in real-life scenario planning, creating team structures and project plans to navigate the stages of drug development. Moreover, this hands-on approach ensures that you can immediately apply the acquired knowledge and skills to your organization’s CMC activities.

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for current and prospective CMC project managers, as well as professionals involved in chemistry and pharmacy activities, who seek to deepen their understanding and enhance their management skills in drug development.

Three adults in attending a the CMC Project Team Leadership course at UW-Madison

Why Enroll?

By completing this course, you’ll gain a solid foundation in CMC project team leadership, enhancing your ability to lead successful drug development projects and contribute effectively to your organization’s goals.

Join us to advance your leadership skills and make a significant impact in the field of drug development.

This course is part of the Drug Product Development Certificate. It fulfills one of three required courses. We encourage scientists who wish to advance into leadership to take this course.

This program has been developed and will be presented in cooperation with the Zeeh Pharmaceutical Experiment Station in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Registration Information

Register

Refund Policy

Course date:Oct 5, 2026 - Oct 8, 2026
Location:

Pyle Center - University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus
702 Langdon Street
Room 232
Madison, WI

Course fee:

$2300 (please contact us for group rates)

$1150 Academic and non-profit (contact us for registration code)
$1000 Graduate student (contact us for registration code)

Tuition includes a reception on Monday evening with appetizers, beer and wine, lunch on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as well as continental breakfast each morning.

Refund Policy: All requests for refunds, less a $75 administrative fee, will be honored if received prior to September 20, 2026. No refunds will be provided after that date.

Course Objectives

This course covers practical aspects of CMC project management for development programs and associated regulatory filings for oral and parenteral dosage forms and drug-device combination products. Presentations will cover key technical activities carried out in drug substance, drug product, analytical method development leading to the initial IND and subsequently to an NDA/CTD. Other important activities typically conducted by the CMC team covered include the preparation, testing, packaging, and labeling of clinical trial supplies and the associated elements of quality assurance and regulatory compliance. In addition, the course covers project planning for regulatory filings, including timing of events and interdependencies of the many tasks required to advance a candidate to Phase 1 and beyond. Filing documents are examined, section by section, with a description of the content of each section and the typical level of detail consistent with FDA guidance documents.

The course is structured to provide background information in an informal setting designed to offer many question and answer opportunities. Additionally, attendees will work in small groups to conduct a number of exercises related to leading the construction and execution of CMC project plans and addressing specific tasks typically encountered by the project team. Each group will create a team structure and project plans to advance real-life development programs through the various stages of drug substance, drug product, analytical method and clinical development. All small group members will have the opportunity to lead their teams through a planning exercise and present their team's results back to the course attendees and faculty.

The overall objective of the course is to provide current and prospective CMC project managers and others engaged in chemistry and pharmacy activities a sufficient depth of knowledge and management skill to immediately and positively impact their organization's CMC development activities and regulatory filings, the key deliverables of the team. Concepts and lessons are equally applicable to all stages of drug candidate and life cycle management development programs.

Upon completion of the course, the attendees should be able to describe:

  1. The role of the CMC team and project manager in the broader context of the entire product development program
  2. Essentials of project team management, including team dynamics, managing meetings, decision making, communication, negotiation and conflict resolution
  3. Project planning and timing of CMC-related events leading to regulatory filings
  4. Practical approaches for addressing typical tasks carried out by the project team
  5. Key drug substance, drug product, and analytical method development activities as they pertain to regulatory filings
  6. Content of Drug Substance and Drug Product sections of regulatory filings and the level of detail recommended by relevant FDA guidance documents

Who Should Attend

Scientists, technical managers and directors who work in preclinical and clinical drug development as part of CMC teams, particularly those already managing or motivated to assume leadership responsibilities for NCE, NBE, or life cycle management programs. Attendees include PhD graduates with typically 3+ years and MS graduates with 5+ years of experience in product development.

The scientists, managers and directors who would benefit from the course include those working in process chemistry, analytical chemistry, preformulation and formulation development. Other individuals who would be well-suited to attend this short course are those who have previously completed other core Applied Drug Development short courses: 1) Principles and Experimental Strategies in Physicochemical Characterization, Solubilization, and Solid Form Screening for Candidate Selection, and/or 2) Practical Strategies for Developing Preclinical and Phase 1 Oral Drug Formulations. This course integrates the most critical scientific elements presented in the above-mentioned courses into coherent project plans created and executed by optimally led CMC development teams.

Course Outline

Pre-Course

Attendees view introductory lecture prior to the start of the course

Monday, October 5, 2026
7:45 am

Continental Breakfast/Networking

8:30 am

Welcome and Introductions

Rick Pyter, PhD
Development Consultant and Adjunct Professor
School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin – Madison
Madison, WI

8:45 am

Current and Emerging Discovery Approached 

Speaker: TBA

9:30 am

Physical & Chemical Factors in Candidate Selection and Optimization

Speaker: Rick Pyter, PhD, Development Consultant and Adjunct Professor
School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin – Madison

The key physicochemical factors that distinguish "lead compounds" from "development candidates" will be addressed.

10:15 am Break
10:30 am

Technical Overview: Drug Substance Synthesis and Process Development

Speaker: Ashok Bhatia, PhD, Director, Pharmaceutical Development, Associate Research Fellow, Process Chemistry, AbbVie

Synthesis/process chemistry challenges (from medicinal chemistry to scalable process); starting materials, intermediates, reagents, solvents, catalysts; particle isolation step; salts, crystal forms and polymorphs; impurity profiles of toxicological and clinical batches including: chirality; genotoxic impurity assessment; working with contractors; elucidation of structure and physico-chem properties; reference standard; level of detail provided in an IND

11:30 am

Pharmaceutical Solid Forms: Optimizing Drugs without Changing the Molecule

Speakers:

Lian Yu, PhD, Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Pharmacy, Madison, WI
and
Sichen Song, Postdoctoral Fellow, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Pharmacy, Madison, WI

Solid-state engineering strategies for improving pharmaceutical performance without changing the molecule, including polymorphs, salts, and amorphous drugs.

12:15 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Team Exercise #1: Calculation of Drug Requirements through FIM-Introduction
Rick Pyter
                    1:15 pm Team Exercise #1: Small groups work
2:00 pm Team Exercise #1 - Sub-Groups Report to Entire Group
Sub-groups present their constructed project plans, highlighting key features, assumptions and critical success factors
2:45 pm

ADC

Speaker: Ashok Bhatia

3:15 pm

Break

3:30 pm

Analytical Challenges with Testing Drug Substance

Speaker: James Bernstein, PhD, Pharmaceutical Consultant
Live Oak Pharmaceutical Consulting, Inc.

Overview of analytical chemistry role in DS development; analytical methods used for raw material, intermediates and final DS; analysis of DS; associated release tests, the C of A; method validation requirements; specifications; stability assessment and protocol example; initial retest period and extension; typical level of detail provided in an IND or IMPD for DS.

4:15 pm

Anatomy of the Common Technical Dossier ("CTD"): Drug Substance and Clinical Trial Applications in US and EU

Speaker: Sharon Graham, Regulatory Affairs, Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls (RA CMC), AbbVie

Overview of the common technical document format focusing on drug substance submissions of IND's, NDAs, BLAs, ANDAs, and DMFs. US clinical trail applications: types of INDS, US laws, regulations and guidance, and IND submission and review process. Overview of international clinical trial applications in the EU.

5:00 pm

Phase Appropriate CMC Development

Speaker: James Bernstein, PhD

Examination of how time, money, and resources can be used efficiently to advance the CMC parts of drug development with consideration of risk and regulatory requirements during the different clinical phases.

5:30 pm Reception at the Pyle Center
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
7:45 am

Continental Breakfast/Networking

8:30 am

Technical Overview: Oral and Parenteral Drug Delivery and Dosage Form Development

Speaker: Ed Elder, PhD

Overview of major oral and parenteral dosage forms: formulation development stages (excipient compatibility, selection and level optimization, prototype formulation development): DS requirements and development time requirements for different dosage forms; technical considerations with placebos and packaging (container and closure) selection.

9:30 am

Analytical Challenges with Testing Drug Product

Speaker: James Bernstein, PhD

Overview of the role of analytical chemistry in DP development; analytical methods used for raw materials, intermediates, and DP; support of DP development; analysis of DP (content, impurities, etc.), associated release tests, the C of A; method validation requirements for Phase 1; specifications; stability assessment and protocol example including packaging; assignment of DP expiration dating; typical level of detail provided in an IND or IMPD for DP.

10:15 am Break
10:30 am

Technical Overview: Preparation of Toxicology and Clinical Trial Supplies

Speaker: Ed Elder, PhD

Overview of the strategies and other factors associated with design and production of supplies for GLP toxicology and human clinical trials.

11:15 am

Anatomy of the Common Technical Dossier ("CTD") Drug Product

Speaker: Sharon Graham, Regulatory Affairs, Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls (RA CMC), AbbVie

Overview of the Common Technical Document focusing on drug product

11:45 am

Lunch

12:45 pm

CMC Project Management Tools

Speaker: James Bernstein, PhD

Elements of project planning; timing and interdependencies of DS and DP tasks; critical path identification, determining DS and staffing requirements for development, clinical trial supply manufacture & scaleup; project reviews, strategy documents, progress reports and other communication vehicles; CMC team meeting management ( agendas, minutes, decision making approaches, conflict management and other aspects of project team meetings).

               1:30 pm

Team Exercise #2 Sub-groups construct their project plans
Sub-groups present their constructed project plans, highlighting key features, assumptions, and critical success factors

1:45 pm Team Exercise #1 - Sub-Groups working session

2:45 pm Break
3:00 pm

Team Exercise #2 Sub-Groups Report to Entire Group 

Project Management of Drug Device Combination Products - CMC and Regulatory Considerations

Speaker: Pamela Swatkowski
President, PLS Consulting, LLC, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin – Madison

Differences in the science, associated project planning and tasks for life cycle management programs, including drug device development and line extensions, will be highlighted.

3:45 pm

Quality Assurance and Quality Control for GLP and GMP Materials

Speaker: James Bernstein, PhD

Overview of the regulatory aspects of release and testing of supplies for GLP toxicology and GMP clinical trials.

4:30 pm

FDA-Industry Meetings

Speaker: Sharon Graham

Overview of the types of formal FDA meetings, pre-IND, pre-NDA, end of phase (EOP), preparation of questions and briefing documents, meeting conduct.

5:15 pm

Adjournment

Evening free to explore Madison

Wednesday, October 7, 2026
7:45 am

Continental Breakfast/Networking

8:30 am

Creation of a CMC Project Plan for a Drug (small molecule)Device Combination

Speaker: Pam Swatkowski

9:30 am Team Exercise #3: Intro and Sub-Group Working Session
Assemble the appropriate tasks into a coherent CMC project plan that includes timing, key dependencies, responsibilities, etc. One team member will be elected by the team to present the plan to the entire group.
10:45 am Break
11:00 am Team Exercise #3: Sub-Group Report to Entire Group
11:45 am

Lunch

12.:45 am

Assessing CMC Changes Late in Development
Speaker: Sharon Graham

Assessing CMC changes that occur late in development (during or after Phase 3 and after primary stability batches have been manufactured). Using post approval change guidance to determine what additional data need to be included in the initial NDA to support changes. 

1:30 pm

Team Exercise #4 - Assessing Changes to Drug Substance and Drug Product: Introduction and Working Session

Moderator: Sharon Graham

1:30 pm

Team Exercise #4 - Assessing Changes to Drug Substance and Drug Product: Introduction and Working Session

Moderator: Sharon Graham

2:30 am Break
2:45 pm

Team Exercise #4 - Sub-groups report to entire group

Sub-groups present their proposed data packages for their CMC changes made late in development

3:30 pm

Expedited Filings and the Effect on CMC Activities

Speaker: James Bernstein, PhD

Major regulatory agencies (FDA, EMA, Health Canada) have various pathways for advancing the speed of development or review for important therapies. Possible effects on the CMC strategy and timeline will be discussed. Sharing of participant experiences will be encouraged.

4:00 pm

Challenges with An Outsourcing Model

Speaker: James Bernstein, PhD

Out-sourcing of various CMC activities creates new challenges for CMC team leaders, with additional differentiation occurring between large integrated pharmaceutical organizations and small or virtual pharmaceutical organizations. The different requirements of CMC leaders in these situations will be explored; participant experiences will be of particular value to the discussion.

4:45 pm

Open Discussion

5:30 pm Adjournment - Evening free to explore Madison
Thursday, October 8, 2026
7:45 am

Continental Breakfast/Networking

8:30 am

Team Exercise #5: Introduction and Working Session: Creation of a CMC Project Plan for A "Line" Extension

Moderator: Rick Pyter and other faculty

Assemble the appropriate tasks into a coherent CMC project plan that includes timing, key dependencies, responsibilities, etc. One team member will be elected by the team to present the plan to the entire group.

8:45 am

Team Exercise #5 - Sub-Groups Working Session

9:45 am

Team Exercise #5 - Sub-Group Reports to Entire Group

Sub-groups present their constructed project plans, highlighting key features, assumptions, and critical success factors

10:30 am

CMC Project Manager's Responsibilities Part II: Skills and Key Attributes

Speaker: Rick Pyter, PhD
Important skills and attributes of an effective leader will be described.

11:15 am

Course Summary and Assessments

Rick Pyter, PhD, & Eric Buxton, PhD, Clinical Professor, Program Director: MS Applied Drug Development, Chair, Division of Pharmacy Professional Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Key concepts will be summarized and integrated in closing comments. Attendees will be asked to fill out a course assessment form to help the faculty improve future offerings.

11:30 am Adjournment

 

Instructors

James Bernstein, PhD
Pharmaceutical Consultant
Live Oak Pharmaceutical Consulting, Inc.
Research Triangle Park, NC

Ashok V. Bhatia, PhD
Director, Retired, Pharmaceutical Development
Process Chemistry
AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL

Edmund (Ed) Elder, Jr., RPh, PhD
Emeritus Research Services Director
School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin – Madison 
Madison, WI

Sharon Graham
Regulatory Affairs, Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls (RA CMC)
AbbVie
Chicago, IL

Lian Yu, PhD
Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Pharmacy, Madison, WI

Rick Pyter, PhD
Development Consultant and Adjunct Professor
School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin – Madison
Madison, WI

Sichen Song 
Postdoctoral Fellow, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Pharmacy, Madison, WI

Pamela Swatkowski
President, PLS Consulting, LLC, 
Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin – Madison
Naperville, IL

Accommodations

Hotel accommodations are the responsibility of the attendee.

The Graduate Hotel (1/2 block from the course site)
601 Langdon Street
Madison, Wi  53703
Rate: $199.00

(608) 257-4391

Block released 9.4.2026

Reservation link