From the 2nd to the 5th of June 2026, Valamar Lacroma Dubrovnik hosted the 34th Annual Meeting of PAGE (Population Approach Group in Europe), Europe's leading scientific conference dedicated to pharmacometrics, population modelling, quantitative pharmacology and model-informed drug development. Organised through a collaboration between the international PAGE organisation and the local organising committee led by Professor Robert Likić, the event brought together scientists, researchers, pharmaceutical industry representatives and regulatory authorities from across Europe and beyond.
More than 850 participants took part in an intensive four-day scientific programme featuring plenary lectures, oral presentations, poster sessions, educational workshops and demonstrations of specialised software solutions. The main themes of this year's meeting focused on the latest advances in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics modelling, the development of innovative methodologies, and the growing application of artificial intelligence and computational modelling in the development of new medicines.
The Latest Advances in Precision Medicine
For decades, the PAGE Meeting has been one of the world's most important gatherings for experts developing methods to make new therapies more effective, safer and faster to bring to patients. This year's edition in Dubrovnik once again demonstrated the rapid progress being made in personalised pharmacotherapy and precision medicine.
Particular emphasis was placed on the use of advanced mathematical models and artificial intelligence to better understand how medicines work and to optimise treatment strategies. Discussions also explored the future role of modelling in regulatory decision-making, clinical practice and the development of personalised approaches to patient care.
One of the key conclusions of the conference was that advanced modelling techniques and artificial intelligence are set to become indispensable tools in modern drug development, with an increasingly important role across the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare systems and regulatory agencies worldwide.
A World-Class Scientific Programme
The PAGE Meeting 2026 scientific programme opened with a keynote lecture by Professor Iñaki F. Trocóniz, one of the world's leading experts in pharmacometrics, who discussed the challenges of applying modelling techniques in oncology and new drug development. Throughout the conference, researchers presented numerous examples of advanced modelling in cancer research, infectious diseases, paediatric medicine, biological medicines and the development of new therapeutic approaches.
Particular attention was given to educational sessions and methodological lectures by internationally recognised experts including Monica Simeoni, Matt Zierhut, Charlotte Kloft, Lena Friberg, Gilbert Koch and Emmanuelle Comets, who presented the latest developments in model-based meta-analysis, quantitative pharmacology and innovative statistical methods for clinical research. The programme also featured the traditional Stuart Beal Methodology Session and the newly introduced Lewis Sheiner Student Session, dedicated to supporting young researchers and the next generation of leaders in pharmacometrics.
The final day of the conference focused on biomarkers, artificial intelligence and machine learning in pharmacometrics. Presentations explored the use of large language models (LLMs), deep learning and neural networks in pharmacokinetic modelling and clinical decision-making, highlighting how artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the key drivers of future pharmaceutical innovation and personalised medicine.
Dubrovnik Showcases Its Strength as a Global Conference Destination
Alongside the scientific programme, participants had the opportunity to experience Dubrovnik's unique cultural, historical and natural heritage. The event included a formal welcome reception, networking events and informal gatherings that encouraged international collaboration and the exchange of knowledge.
The successful hosting of the PAGE Meeting 2026 is another example of Dubrovnik attracting high-value international events that bring together experts from around the world while delivering long-term benefits for the destination. Conferences of this calibre help position Dubrovnik as an international centre for knowledge and innovation, while promoting Croatia as a competitive destination for hosting major global scientific and professional events.
