BMFC2026 Programme

Under the theme “Collaborating to Implement Innovative Approaches in Paediatric Development” this year’s Conference offers a wide variety of sessions for attendees, and will feature distinguished speakers from all around the world, relevant stakeholders and experts, to delve into the latest innovations in paediatrics.

Day One will explore the evolving ethical and regulatory landscape in paediatric medicine development, alongside sessions on clinical research, innovation, and collaborative discussion through interactive breakout sessions. The day will conclude with expert insights and networking opportunities.

Day Two will focus on key takeaways from the breakout sessions, emerging innovations in paediatric drug development, and discussions on medical devices, global regulatory developments, and advances in rare diseases and cell and gene therapies.

The conference provides an opportunity to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and connect with experts and stakeholders from across the global paediatric development community.

Day 1 Programme

Day 2 Programme

Day 1

09:00 Welcome Coffee / Registration

10:00 Keynote: Evolution of ethical paradigms in paediatrics through the revised declaration of Helsinki

10:30 Challenges and opportunities for paediatric drug development in Heart diseases

11:30 Mechanism of Action – Impact for Paediatric Investigational Plans and children

12:45 Lunch Break

13:45 Advances in Europe’s Clinical Research Ecosystem

15:00 Coffee Break

15:20 Breakout sessions:

Implementation of new PIP requirements
Innovative approaches to develop age-appropriate formulations
Operational opportunities to bring trials to children

16:40 Coffee Break

16:50 Market Access / HTA – experience with Joint Clinical Assessment of paediatric medicines

18:00 Fireside chat with PDCO Chair

18:30 End of the Day

Day 2

08:15 Welcome Coffee / Registration

08:45 Break-out session reports

09:30 New Voices – what is new in paediatric drug research

10:30 Coffee Break

11:00 Achievements in rare diseases and Cell & Gene Therapies

12:00 Lunch Break

13:00 Global regulatory alignment and feedback from regulatory agencies

14:15 The future of paediatric Medical Devices, In-vitro Diagnostics, and Combination products

15:15 Wrap-up and Farewell

15:30 End of the Conference

29th September: Day 1

09:00-09:50 Registration

09:50-10:00 Welcome & Introduction of Conference

Join us for an opening address from Co-Chairs of the Programme Committee, Martine Dehlinger-Kremer and Begonya Nafria Escalera.

Meet the Speakers:

Martine Dehlinger-Kremer | UCB Biosciences

Dr. Martine Dehlinger-Kremer brings over 30 years of experience in the research industry, with a distinguished focus on global regulatory affairs, medical affairs, maternal-fetal medicine, and pediatric leadership. She has been actively involved in advancing pediatric research and drug development, supporting innovative solutions, and contributing to global regulatory strategies.

In December 2025, Dr. Dehlinger-Kremer joined UCB Biosciences as Senior Development Strategy Lead Paediatrics within the Department of Special Patient Populations. In this role, she will lead the design and implementation of comprehensive, cross-functional global strategies aimed at addressing unmet needs in special patient populations, with a particular focus on paediatrics.

Begonya Nafria Escalera | Barcelona Children’s Hospital, eYPAGnet & EFGCP

She is the Head of Patient Engagement in Research at Sant Joan de Déu Chidren’s Hospital (Spain). She has long experience in the field of the involvement of patients and families in research initiatives. She has also a personal story as a cancer patient, and as a caregiver and patient advocate because is the sister of a young adult with cerebral palsy.

Her areas of expertise are focused on paediatric patients involvement in research and specifically in the field of clinical trials and in health innovation. She is currently a PhD student in the patient involvement in paediatrics field, specifically in a thesis project about the rights of children and young people participating in clinical trials.

Meet the full Programme Committee

10:00-10:30 Keynote: Evolution of ethical paradigms in paediatrics through the revised declaration of Helsinki

Meet the Speakers:

Rieke van der Graaf	Tomasz Grybek
Julius Center, UMC Utrecht \| WHO Collaborating Center for Bioethics	Paediatric Committee (PDCO), European Medicines Agency \| EURORDIS – Rare Diseases Europe

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10:30-11:30 Challenges and opportunities for paediatric drug development in Heart diseases

Moderators: Claudio Fracasso (Hippocrates Research Srl), Thomas Severin (Novartis)

Meet the Speakers:

Covadonga Terol Espinosa de los Monteros Michal Odermarsky

Paediatric Medicines Office, European Medicines Agency Skåne University Hospital

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11:30-12:45 Mechanism of Action – Impact for Paediatric Investigational Plans and children

12:45-13:45 Lunch Break

13:45-15:00 Advances in Europe’s Clinical Research Ecosystem

15:00-15:20 Coffee Break

15:20-16:40 Implementation of new PIP requirements (Breakout)

15:20-16:40 Innovative approaches to develop age-appropriate formulations (Breakout)

Breakout Moderators: Donato Bonifazi (TEDD – European Network of Excellence for Paediatric research), Solange Corriol-Rohou (EFGCP)

Meet the Speakers:

Catherine Tuleu

EUPFI

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Frédéric Lallemand

Lallemand Conseil

Jana Lass

PFOEG Member

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Nicolas Micheaud

Paediatis Pharma SAS

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15:20-16:40 Operational opportunities to bring trials to children (Breakout)

16:40-16:50 Coffee Break

16:50-18:00 Market Access / HTA – experience with Joint Clinical Assessment of paediatric medicines

18:00-18:30 Fireside chat with PDCO Chair

18:30 End of Day 1

Meet the Speakers:

Martine Dehlinger-Kremer | UCB Biosciences

Dr. Martine Dehlinger-Kremer brings over 30 years of experience in the research industry, with a distinguished focus on global regulatory affairs, medical affairs, maternal-fetal medicine, and pediatric leadership. She has been actively involved in advancing pediatric research and drug development, supporting innovative solutions, and contributing to global regulatory strategies.

In December 2025, Dr. Dehlinger-Kremer joined UCB Biosciences as Senior Development Strategy Lead Paediatrics within the Department of Special Patient Populations. In this role, she will lead the design and implementation of comprehensive, cross-functional global strategies aimed at addressing unmet needs in special patient populations, with a particular focus on paediatrics.

Begonya Nafria Escalera | Barcelona Children’s Hospital, eYPAGnet & EFGCP

She is the Head of Patient Engagement in Research at Sant Joan de Déu Chidren’s Hospital (Spain). She has long experience in the field of the involvement of patients and families in research initiatives. She has also a personal story as a cancer patient, and as a caregiver and patient advocate because is the sister of a young adult with cerebral palsy.

Her areas of expertise are focused on paediatric patients involvement in research and specifically in the field of clinical trials and in health innovation. She is currently a PhD student in the patient involvement in paediatrics field, specifically in a thesis project about the rights of children and young people participating in clinical trials.

Meet the full Programme Committee

30th September: Day 2

08:15-08:35 Registration

08:35-08:45 Welcome & Introduction to Day 2

Meet the Speakers:

Martine Dehlinger-Kremer | UCB Biosciences

Dr. Martine Dehlinger-Kremer brings over 30 years of experience in the research industry, with a distinguished focus on global regulatory affairs, medical affairs, maternal-fetal medicine, and pediatric leadership. She has been actively involved in advancing pediatric research and drug development, supporting innovative solutions, and contributing to global regulatory strategies.

In December 2025, Dr. Dehlinger-Kremer joined UCB Biosciences as Senior Development Strategy Lead Paediatrics within the Department of Special Patient Populations. In this role, she will lead the design and implementation of comprehensive, cross-functional global strategies aimed at addressing unmet needs in special patient populations, with a particular focus on paediatrics.

Begonya Nafria Escalera | Barcelona Children’s Hospital, eYPAGnet & EFGCP

She is the Head of Patient Engagement in Research at Sant Joan de Déu Chidren’s Hospital (Spain). She has long experience in the field of the involvement of patients and families in research initiatives. She has also a personal story as a cancer patient, and as a caregiver and patient advocate because is the sister of a young adult with cerebral palsy.

Her areas of expertise are focused on paediatric patients involvement in research and specifically in the field of clinical trials and in health innovation. She is currently a PhD student in the patient involvement in paediatrics field, specifically in a thesis project about the rights of children and young people participating in clinical trials.

Meet the full Programme Committee
08:45-09:30 Breakout Session Reports
09:30-10:30 New Voices – what is new in paediatric drug research

Moderators: Angeliki Siapkara (AstraZeneca), Begonya Nafria-Escalera (Barcelona Children’s Hospital, eYPAGnet & EFGCP), Mark Turner (Conect4children Stichting)

Join experts for an overview of the latest progress in paediatric drug research, including current challenges, innovations and future priorities.

Asha Willis

J&J Innovative Medicine

Elisa Barbi

University Hospital Meyer

Lluís Cassou Arnaiz

Sant Joan de Déu Hospital

10:30-11:00 Coffee Break

11:00-12:00 Achievements in rare diseases and Cell & Gene Therapies

12:00-13:00 Lunch Break

13:00-14:15 Global regulatory alignment and feedback from regulatory agencies

Moderators: Angelika Joos (Science & policy expert, EFGCP), Mette Due Theilade Thomsen (PIP Adviser ApS)

Meet the Speakers:

Franca Ligas

European Medicines Agency

Lynne Yao

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Martina Penazzato

World Health Organisation

14:15-15:15 The future of paediatric Medical Devices, In-vitro Diagnostics, and Combination products

15:15-15:30 Wrap up & Farewell

Meet the Speakers:

Martine Dehlinger-Kremer | UCB Biosciences

Dr. Martine Dehlinger-Kremer brings over 30 years of experience in the research industry, with a distinguished focus on global regulatory affairs, medical affairs, maternal-fetal medicine, and pediatric leadership. She has been actively involved in advancing pediatric research and drug development, supporting innovative solutions, and contributing to global regulatory strategies.

In December 2025, Dr. Dehlinger-Kremer joined UCB Biosciences as Senior Development Strategy Lead Paediatrics within the Department of Special Patient Populations. In this role, she will lead the design and implementation of comprehensive, cross-functional global strategies aimed at addressing unmet needs in special patient populations, with a particular focus on paediatrics.

Begonya Nafria Escalera | Barcelona Children’s Hospital, eYPAGnet & EFGCP

She is the Head of Patient Engagement in Research at Sant Joan de Déu Chidren’s Hospital (Spain). She has long experience in the field of the involvement of patients and families in research initiatives. She has also a personal story as a cancer patient, and as a caregiver and patient advocate because is the sister of a young adult with cerebral palsy.

Her areas of expertise are focused on paediatric patients involvement in research and specifically in the field of clinical trials and in health innovation. She is currently a PhD student in the patient involvement in paediatrics field, specifically in a thesis project about the rights of children and young people participating in clinical trials.

Meet the full Programme Committee

Join us in Amsterdam

Be part of the gathering in Amsterdam and help build the future of medicines for children.

Taking place 29th-30th September 2026, don’t miss your chance – register now.

Registration Options

Anette Solli Karlsen	Ellen Koekoeckx
CTA/PDCO Representative	Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics

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Chrissi Pallidis	Gloria Garcia-Palacios
European Medicines Agency	Sanofi

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Ingrid Klingmann	Maria Baselga-Iturzaeta
EFGCP	Patient representative

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Sabine Scherer	Sylvie Benchetrit
PDCO Chair	PDCO Vice-chair

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Joana Claverol Torres	Lise Carle-Empereur
Sant Joan de Déu Research Foundation	UCB Pharma

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Covadonga Terol Espinosa de los Monteros	Michal Odermarsky
Paediatric Medicines Office, European Medicines Agency	Skåne University Hospital

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