About

SPS-XRPD CONFERENCE

The Spring Synchrotron X-Ray Powder Diffraction (SPS-XRPD) events are a collaborative initiative led by Excelsus Structural Solutions (Switzerland), Purdue University, Argonne National Laboratory, and Improved Pharma (USA). Born as 2-day workshops, then evolved into 3-day conferences to accommodate the demand, the SPS-XRPDs serve as a platform for experts from the pharmaceutical industry and the Synchrotron X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD) community to address key challenges in pharmaceutical R&D, explore the latest advancements in synchrotron XRPD, and discuss cutting-edge applications.

 Each edition of the SPS-XRPD is built around a distinct leading theme. 

In 2024, SPS-XRPD was held at the prestigious Novartis Pharma Campus in Basel, marking a significant milestone as Novartis Pharma officially joined the Organizing Committee.

To accommodate a broad international audience, the workshops alternate annually between the USA and Switzerland. Participants engage in discussions on critical topics, including phase identification and stability assessments, structural characterization, prediction and modelling, quantification of crystalline phases, even in trace amounts.  A special session covers the Pair Distribution Function method for characterizing amorphous and nano-crystalline formulations.

In 2025, we explored Pharmaceuticals Crystallization and Characterization under Non-Standard Conditions. This included an exploration of microgravity crystallization in space, opening new frontiers in structural studies.

For the 2026 edition, we aim to highlight integrated modelling and multimodal data fusion, combining artificial intelligence with complementary theoretical and experimental approaches to address structurally complex systems. For this edition of the conference, we were honored to welcome two eminent scientists to the Organizing Committee: Dr. Christoph Saal from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma in Germany and Dr. Pirmin Hidber from Roche Pharmaceuticals in Switzerland, whose expertise and engagement have significantly strengthened the scientific vision of the meeting.

Join us for insightful discussions, cutting-edge research, and a unique opportunity to connect with experts shaping the future of pharmaceutical materials science.