PDA Universe of Pre-Filled Syringes and Injection Devices Conference 2026

Team Consulting attended PDA UPFS (PDA Universe of Pre-Filled Syringes and Injection Devices) – an event that explored the intersection of science, technology, patient experience and sustainability in injectable combination products.

Chris Hurlstone, John Burke, Thomas Grant and Alastair Willoughby were in attendance discussing how to develop complex, innovative and award-winning drug delivery devices.

Location
Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, CA

Date
6th – 7th October 2026

Attending
Chris Hurlstone
John Burke
Alastair Willoughby
Thomas Grant

Investigating imaging modalities to characterize injection deposition for LVSC device design

John Burke, Managing Consultant – Drug Delivery at Team, presented alongside Alex Lyness, Head of Applied Research and Innovation Strategy at SHL Medical.

As subcutaneous (SC) delivery advances toward larger injection volumes and higher flow rates, there remains a fundamental need to empirically understand fluid distribution within SC tissue and the associated evolution of tissue resistance. Their presentation gave insight into:

The need for fit-for-purpose imaging methodologies when studying large-volume subcutaneous delivery (LVSC) fundamentals
How ex vivo tissue models can be used to explore device–tissue interactions prior to in vivo evaluation
The relative utility, practicality and limitations of visual sectioning, ultrasound and micro-CT imaging for LVSC studies
Key device parameters, including volume, dispense rate and contact force, that warrant systematic investigation to inform LVSC autoinjector development

From outsourcing to partnership: lessons from a strategic partnership in combination product development

Thomas Grant, Senior Digital Health Specialist at Team, presented alongside Alasdair Young, Senior Director of Device Engineering at Gilead Sciences.

As pharmaceutical companies increasingly outsource combination product device development, success depends not only on technical capability, but on the quality of collaboration between internal teams and external partners. This presentation provided insight into:

How complementary expertise across pharmaceutical and development organisations can be aligned to deliver complex combination product programmes
The factors that enable outsourced development relationships to evolve into effective strategic partnerships
Practical approaches for managing geographically distributed teams, clarifying ownership and maintaining engagement across organisations
How governance structures, communication frameworks and “one team” behaviours can improve efficiency while maintaining quality, regulatory confidence and patient focus

How can we support you?

At Team Consulting, we have over 40 years of expertise in developing drug delivery products covering injection devices, implantable technologies, connected devices and more.

Contact us to discuss how we can address your device development challenges.