Answering Your Frequently Asked Questions
We've collated some of the most frequently asked questions about the Ion Channel-Targeted Drug Development Summit. If you have any additional questions, please contact the team at info@hansonwade.com.
The Ion Channel-Targeted Drug Development Summit is the first industry-led meeting dedicated to advancing ion channel therapeutics across modalities and disease areas. The summit brings together scientists and drug developers working across ion channel drug discovery, translational science, preclinical development, clinical development, electrophysiology, structural biology, gene therapies, biologics, and nucleic acid-based approaches.
The meeting is designed to help attendees overcome key challenges around selectivity, safety, translatability, and clinical success while accelerating the development of next-generation ion channel therapeutics.
The summit will take place on September 23–24, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Hotel Commonwealth.
Located near leading academic institutions, biotech companies, and pharmaceutical innovation hubs, Boston provides an ideal setting for scientific discussion, collaboration, and partnership development within the ion channel therapeutics community.
Advances in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), automated electrophysiology, structural biology, machine learning, and computational modelling have significantly improved researchers' ability to understand and target ion channels.
At the same time, growing clinical validation across pain, CNS disorders, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, oncology, and rare diseases has renewed industry investment in ion channel-targeted therapeutics, making this one of the fastest-evolving areas of drug discovery and development.
Most drug discovery conferences cover ion channels as one of many therapeutic areas. This summit is uniquely dedicated to ion channel therapeutic development across the entire pipeline, from target identification and screening through translational science and clinical validation.
Attendees benefit from highly focused discussions, specialist networking opportunities, and practical insights from leaders who are actively advancing ion channel programs.
For scientists and drug developers working in ion channel therapeutics, this summit offers a rare opportunity to gain highly specialised insights unavailable at broader drug discovery conferences.
Attendees leave with practical strategies for improving selectivity, reducing translational risk, evaluating emerging modalities, strengthening development decisions, and building new relationships with peers across the ion channel community.
For organisations investing in ion channel drug discovery, the summit provides both scientific value and strategic networking opportunities that can accelerate programme success.
Scientific & Industry Content
The summit covers a wide range of scientific and drug development topics including:
- Ion channel pharmacology
- Automated electrophysiology
- Structural biology and cryo-EM
- Translational science
- Biomarker development
- Target selectivity
- Toxicity and safety assessment
- Small molecule ion channel therapeutics
- Antibody therapeutics
- Gene therapies
- Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs)
- Epigenetic gene editing
- Clinical development strategies
The program is designed to support researchers advancing ion channel therapeutics from discovery through clinical proof-of-concept.
Yes. The agenda includes content relevant to researchers across the drug development lifecycle.
Discovery scientists can learn about target validation, electrophysiology platforms, screening strategies, and emerging modalities. Development and translational teams can explore human-relevant models, biomarkers, clinical case studies, and regulatory considerations that help improve translation into human efficacy.
Absolutely.
Beyond traditional small molecule approaches, the summit features presentations on:
- Monoclonal antibodies
- Antibody-toxin conjugates
- Gene regulation technologies
- Gene therapies
- Antisense oligonucleotides
- Epigenetic gene editing
- Nucleic acid-based ion channel modulation
These sessions provide a unique perspective on how emerging technologies are expanding opportunities across previously difficult-to-drug ion channel targets.
Yes.
One of the central themes of the summit is improving translation from preclinical models to human outcomes. Sessions focus on human-relevant models, biomarker development, electrophysiology interpretation, patient stratification, and strategies to reduce attrition during development.
This makes the summit particularly valuable for teams working to bridge discovery and clinical development.
Yes.
Attendees will hear clinical case studies featuring therapeutic programs advancing in areas such as chronic pain, chronic cough, neurological disorders, and other diseases where ion channel modulation plays a critical role.
These sessions offer insight into clinical proof-of-concept, safety considerations, efficacy outcomes, and lessons learned from development programs.
Audience & Attendees
The summit is designed for professionals working in:
- Drug discovery
- Pharmacology
- Electrophysiology
- Structural biology
- Translational medicine
- Neuroscience
- Medicinal chemistry
- Preclinical development
- Clinical development
- Gene therapy
- Computational biology
- R&D leadership
It is especially relevant for those working on ion channel therapeutics or evaluating ion channels as a target class.
The audience includes biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical organizations, academic institutions, technology innovators, and specialist research groups involved in ion channel drug discovery and development.
Confirmed attendee and speaker organizations include companies and institutions such as Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Lundbeck, GSK, Novartis, Harvard Medical School, Brown University, University of Iowa, Maxion Therapeutics, Quiver Biosciences, Navega Therapeutics, Xenon Pharmaceuticals, Encoded Therapeutics, Nocion Therapeutics, and many others.
The summit attracts a highly senior audience.
Participants include Chief Scientific Officers, Chief Medical Officers, Vice Presidents, Directors, Heads of Discovery, Principal Scientists, Translational Medicine leaders, and academic pioneers actively leading ion channel programmes and strategic decisions within their organizations.
This creates valuable opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and partnership development.
Yes.
Academic researchers play an important role in the ion channel ecosystem and contribute significantly to the program. The summit welcomes professors, principal investigators, postdoctoral researchers, and translational scientists working on ion channel biology, neuroscience, and therapeutic innovation.
The close interaction between academia and industry creates opportunities for collaboration and translational research discussions.
Yes.
The program includes discussions around computational modelling, predictive biology, assay design, and emerging technologies used to improve ion channel drug discovery and development.
Researchers interested in integrating computational approaches with experimental validation will find valuable insights throughout the program.
Speakers & Faculty
The speaker faculty includes experts from leading pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology organizations, and academic institutions.
Featured speakers represent organizations including:
- Harvard Medical School
- GSK
- Novartis
- Maxion Therapeutics
- Encoded Therapeutics
- Nocion Therapeutics
- Xenon Pharmaceuticals
- Navega Therapeutics
- Brown University
- University of Iowa
- Quiver Biosciences
- Dogwood Therapeutics
- Mabqi
- Mair Therapeutics
Yes.
The summit is intentionally designed as a highly interactive event with networking breaks, Q&A sessions, panel discussions, roundtable conversations, and social networking opportunities.
Attendees have multiple opportunities to engage directly with speakers and discuss scientific challenges in depth.
The program team welcomes proposals from scientists working on innovative ion channel research and therapeutic development.
Potential speakers can contact the event team with details of their research, development program, or case study for consideration at future editions.
Networking & Partnerships
Yes.
With more than six hours of dedicated networking opportunities, the summit is designed to facilitate meaningful conversations among drug developers, academics, technology providers, and investors working in ion channel therapeutics.
Networking sessions are specifically structured to encourage scientific collaboration and partnership discussions.
Networking opportunities include:
- Speed networking
- Extended coffee breaks
- Networking lunches
- Poster sessions
- Interactive workshops
- Panel discussions
- Informal networking receptions
These formats help attendees connect with peers facing similar scientific and development challenges.
Absolutely.
Organizations attend not only to learn about emerging science but also to identify collaborators, service providers, platform technologies, licensing opportunities, and strategic partnerships that can accelerate ion channel programs.
Attendees can expect to meet:
- Large pharmaceutical companies
- Emerging biotechs
- Gene therapy developers
- Neuroscience companies
- Computational biology firms
- Academic research groups
- CROs and technology providers
- Translational medicine specialists
This diversity creates valuable opportunities for new collaborations across the ecosystem.
Sponsorship & Exhibition
Yes.
The summit offers sponsorship, exhibition, speaking, branding, and networking packages tailored to organizations that support ion channel drug discovery and development.
Packages are designed to maximize visibility among senior scientific and business decision-makers.
The summit is particularly relevant for:
- Electrophysiology platform providers
- CROs and CDMOs
- Drug discovery technology companies
- Structural biology providers
- Translational research partners
- AI and computational biology companies
- Screening and assay technology developers
- Research tools providers
Exhibitors gain direct access to a focused audience of scientists actively working on ion channel research and therapeutic development.
The small, specialist nature of the meeting enables meaningful conversations and higher-quality interactions than many larger life sciences conferences.
Organizations interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact the partnerships team through the event website or email the sponsorship team directly to discuss available packages.
Registration & Logistics
The event is designed as an in-person summit and focuses heavily on face-to-face networking, discussion, and collaboration opportunities.
Prospective attendees should check the event website for the latest participation options.
Yes.
Discounts are available for multiple attendees registering from the same organization, making it easier for teams to attend and benefit from the full program together.
You can view the group discounts here.
Yes.
The summit includes a dedicated poster session where researchers can showcase their latest findings, discuss emerging data, and engage with fellow attendees.
Poster presentations provide excellent visibility and networking opportunities for both academic and industry researchers.
Cancellation and substitution policies are outlined during registration and on the event website. If an attendee can no longer attend, substitutions from the same organization are typically permitted.
For the latest terms and conditions, attendees should refer to the registration page.
Yes.
The summit takes place at Hotel Commonwealth in Boston, and attendees are encouraged to check the event website for any available room block or accommodation recommendations.
Booking early is recommended to secure convenient accommodation close to the event venue.
Explore the Agenda
Dive into cutting-edge ion channel strategies, from electrophysiology to clinical translation, across a data-packed program.
Partner With Us
Showcase your platforms, technologies, and services to senior decision-makers driving ion channel innovation.
Join Ion Channel Leaders
Connect with biopharma pioneers and scientific experts tackling selectivity, safety, and translational challenges head-on.