AAPS Names Patrick Sinko Chief Science Officer Ahead of PharmSci 360 2026

The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) has named Patrick J. Sinko, PhD, RPh, FAAPS, as its chief science officer, ahead of the organization’s 2026 PharmSci 360 annual meeting in New Orleans.¹,² In the role, Sinko will set the association’s overarching scientific strategy, guide scientific programming across in-person and digital platforms, and steer the direction of AAPS’s portfolio of peer-reviewed journals.¹

“AAPS has long been the intellectual home for pharmaceutical scientists across academia, industry, and regulatory agencies,” Sinko said. “I am honored to step into the chief science officer role to help shape our scientific vision, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and deliver cutting-edge programming and publications that address the most urgent challenges in drug discovery and development.”¹

What will the chief science officer oversee?

According to AAPS, the chief science officer’s responsibilities span three areas: the organization’s scientific strategy, its scientific programming across in-person and digital formats, and its peer-reviewed journals.¹ AAPS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, represents more than 7,000 scientists and professionals working in academia, industry, regulatory agencies, and other pharmaceutical science research worldwide, and publishes four peer-reviewed journals.¹

The appointment comes as AAPS prepares for PharmSci 360, which runs October 25 to 28, 2026, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.²

Meena Subramanyam, PhD, AAPS immediate past president, pointed to Sinko’s focus on the field’s workforce. “Dr. Sinko’s unwavering commitment to advancing the pharmaceutical sciences, deep understanding of the scientific landscape, and passion for developing the next generation of scientists make him exceptionally well suited for this role,” she said.¹

Who is Patrick Sinko?

Sinko is a former AAPS president and long-standing member of the association, and AAPS said he brings decades of scientific leadership, academic rigor, and association governance experience to the role.¹ He will continue his academic appointment at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, where he is Distinguished Professor and the Parke-Davis Endowed Chair in Pharmaceutics at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy.¹

He is the editor of Martin’s Physical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and editor-in-chief of the MDPI journal Pharmaceutics, and he serves on the editorial advisory boards of numerous scientific journals.¹

Sinko also brings industry experience. He co-founded Navicyte and Theraport Biosciences, where he served as chief science officer, and was previously chief scientist at Trega Biosciences.¹ He is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, AAPS, the Controlled Release Society, and the National Academy of Inventors.¹

How has Sinko shaped AAPS programming before?

Sinko has spoken for AAPS on its scientific programming before. When AAPS agreed to provide scientific programming oversight for Interphex in 2022, Sinko, then serving as AAPS president, said the association would help create a “scientific experience at Interphex” with programming addressing both future trends and current problems, as BioPharm International® reported at the time.

He has also spoken for the association on the state of the profession. Commenting on AAPS’s 2023 salary survey, which found that pharmaceutical scientist pay had risen 6.7% since 2022, Sinko said in an AAPS statement that “pharmaceutical science is resilient in the face of layoffs,” BioPharm International reported.

What happens next?

Subramanyam said the organization expects to expand under Sinko’s scientific leadership. “Under his scientific leadership, AAPS will continue to broaden its reach, strengthen its core scientific offerings, and deliver substantial value to our global membership and the wider scientific community,” she said.¹

AAPS did not specify a start date for the role or describe specific programming changes for PharmSci 360 in its announcement.¹

References

1. American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. AAPS Names Patrick J. Sinko, Ph.D., R.Ph., FAAPS, as Chief Science Officer. Press release. Published October 13, 2026. Accessed October 20, 2026.
2. R&D World. AAPS names Patrick Sinko chief science officer. Published October 13, 2026. Accessed October 20, 2026.