(6a) Extending a Legacy: Bridging Reaction Engineering and Pharmaceutical Process Innovation

This talk reflects on the enduring impact of Professor Merlin Albert Vannice's contributions to chemical engineering, particularly in catalysis and reaction engineering. Building on foundational training under his guidance, I will highlight how core principles have shaped process development across the pharmaceutical industry- from traditional small molecule API development and manufacturing to oligonucleotide process design, modeling and PAT implementation. His influence continues through the application of rigorous, mechanism-based thinking to emerging technologies and complex systems.