To register for the ITPS 2025 program, please complete the registration on this page and pay the non-refundable deposit ($300 USD). This deposit will be applied towards your overall program cost. Once your registration is completed, we will reach out to you to complete your enrollment and request your visa documents.
Discounts:
- Early Registration: $250 USD off if you register by January 31st, 2025!
- Group Discount: $250 USD off if you attend with a group of 15 students from your university!
About the Program: Innovations and Transformations in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (ITPS) is a 3-week course offered to pharmacy and pharmaceutical science learners around the world by the No. 1-ranked school of pharmacy in the United States. Through this program, participants will develop their knowledge and skills across the lifespan of the drug - including drug discovery, drug delivery, drug optimization, clinical pharmacy practice, and pharmaceutical outcomes. Students will learn about cutting edge research from world-class professors while also enhancing their professional development and exploring pharmacy practice in the United States. The program consists of in-class instruction, site visits to local pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies, hands-on skill activities, and cultural activities.
The program will be held on the UNC-Chapel Hill Campus in North Carolina, USA from July 7th to July 25th, 2025. The total cost for the program is $4,000 USD and includes:
- Study abroad fee
- Coursework preparation and delivery
- International health insurance
- Ground transportation for program activities
- Cultural activities
- Some meals as part of social/cultural events
- Certificate of Completion
- Four UNC credit hours
- Official UNC transcript
For more information about the ITPS program, including virtual options, please visit our website at:
https://pharmacy.unc.edu/itps/.
Advanced Short Courses:
New this year, we are offering two advanced short courses ideal for students looking to develop their skills in pharmacy leadership or drug discovery research. These are optional courses that will occur simultaneously with the ITPS program in the afternoons/evenings. They will be an intensive study through small-group learning, hands-on application, and discussions with faculty mentors. There are a limited number of seats for each advanced short course to optimize interaction with instructors. Students will receive an additional 1.5 credit hours upon successful completion of the course. If you would like to enroll in a short course, please select that as an additional option on your registration. Please note, each student can register for up to one (1) short course. Below are additional details about each offering:
1) Computational Drug Discovery with
Dr. Konstantin Popov
Description: The focus of this course is on leveraging modern computational approaches to facilitate the identification of ‘hits’ during the early stages of drug discovery. Hits are compounds that exhibit activity against a given target and represent potentially valuable chemical matter that could be developed into drug candidates through subsequent medicinal chemistry campaigns.
The class will include a series of lectures to give students a basic understanding of the fundamental principles behind traditional and AI-based computational drug discovery approaches. It will also feature hands-on computer lab training and case studies, teaching students how to conduct computer-aided drug discovery campaigns. Students should plan to have their own laptop for the computer lab work.
Learning Objectives:
1. Conduct comprehensive knowledge mining to gather all available prior data that supports computational modeling efforts.
2. Identify, visualize, and prepare protein targets and ligand libraries for structure-based drug discovery campaigns, using tools like PyMOL, Maestro Schrödinger, and AutoDock.
3. Use molecular docking software such as AutoDock and Glide to perform virtual screening of compound libraries.
4. Validate docking results by utilizing available experimental affinity data.
5. Understand the strengths and limitations of computational tools and approaches in drug discovery.
Price: $1,800 USD
2) Leadership and Entrepreneurship within the Business of Health Care with Drs.
Stephen Eckel and
Michael Stepanovic.
Description: In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, there is an urgent need for visionary leaders equipped with the skills to navigate complex challenges and inspire high-performing teams. As healthcare organizations grow in size and complexity, they require dynamic leaders who can guide them through potential pitfalls and ensure long-term success. Additionally, the healthcare industry presents significant opportunities for entrepreneurs to drive innovation, launching startups that can disrupt the status quo, introduce groundbreaking drugs, devices, or services, and improve patient outcomes.
This program is designed to empower students with the leadership acumen, management strategies, and entrepreneurial mindset necessary to excel in today’s healthcare environment. Through exposure to cutting-edge leadership practices, practical management insights, and entrepreneurial tools, participants will gain the skills needed to drive organizational change and foster innovation in the business of healthcare.
Learning Objectives:
1. Master Leadership Strategies: Practice and refine various leadership techniques to effectively navigate change and drive organizational growth.
2. Learn Effective Management Principles: Explore key management concepts to enhance organizational efficiency and achieve sustainable success.
3. Discover Entrepreneurship in Healthcare: Gain hands-on exposure to the entrepreneurial activities essential for launching and scaling a successful healthcare startup.
Price: $1,300 USD
Housing and Dining: If you would like to stay in the UNC dorms or use the UNC dining halls, please indicate that on your registration. There is an additional fee for both that will be added to your overall program fee, payable in early June. Below is additional information:
- On-Campus Housing is available in the UNC dorms for $50 per person/night (single occupancy) or $26 per person/night (double occupancy). You may also find your own short-term housing if preferred. In the past, students have stayed at the Mangum Residence Hall, which includes a recently renovated kitchen.
- On-Campus Dining is available at the UNC dining hall (Chase Dining Hall) for $38.50 per person/day. This includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
