PPXRD-17 – XRD Training for the Pharmaceutical Scientist!
The Pharmaceutical Powder X-ray Diffraction Symposium is designed to create a forum for the exchange of knowledge and cutting-edge ideas among those interested in the combined fields of XRD and pharmaceutical sciences. It typically includes a full-day workshop, followed by several important sessions focused on practical applications of X-ray analysis in the study of pharmaceutical materials. Topics include patent and regulatory issues, formulation, product development, drug delivery, polymorphs, amorphous and nanomaterials, complimentary techniques, and much more.
Since 1999, ICDD has hosted 16 PPXRDs in various parts of the world. The host locations typically rotate and symposiums have been held in USA, Europe, and Asia. The abstracts from previous symposiums are publicly available as well as the presentations, except for the most recent event. The most recent presentations are available to attendees of that year’s event, for one year. After that time, they also become publicly available.

PPXRD-17
21-24 May 2023
ICDD Headquarters
12 Campus Boulevard
Newtown Square, PA, USA
PPXRD Information
PPXRD-17 (Pharmaceutical Powder X-ray Diffraction Symposium) will be held at ICDD Headquarters, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA, from 21-24 May 2023.
The technical program for PPXRD-17 will begin on Sunday, 21 May, with a one-day workshop on Fundamentals of Power X-ray Diffraction.
The program will continue Monday, Tuesday, and half-day Wednesday with technical sessions.
The complete Program and Schedule will be announced by early April 2023.
WORKSHOP – 21 May 2023
Fundamentals of Power X-ray Diffraction
Shawn Yin, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
Raj Suryanarayanan, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Simon Bates, Rigaku Americas, Houston, TX, USA
Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD) is one of the most powerful pharmaceutical solid state characterization techniques to help you to understand your materials, select best/better form, establish the product critical quality attribute (CQA), develop a “fit for purpose” method, and build the proper material strategy towards a robust drug product. This PXRD workshop will cover the basics of PXRD principles and fundaments; the instrumentation and sample requirements/preparations; data collection; data interpretation and the nuances. This workshop will then demonstrate PXRD pharmaceutical applications via some case studies to connect what you do daily to the techniques and the fundamentals. This is an interactive workshop, and you are encouraged to bring your non-confidential data and case to the workshop for discussion.
SESSIONS – 22-24 May 2023
Plenary Session: Intellectual Property
Tom Blanton, International Centre for Diffraction Data, Newtown Square, PA, USA
Critical Quality Attributes
Shawn Yin, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
This session will focus on PXRD pharmaceutical applications on:
- Pharmaceutical material characterization
- Crystal form screening and selection
- Qualitative and quantitative method development
- Sample testing per GXP standards
- Form and critical quality attributes
- Drug substance and product material strategies
API Phase Stability / Non-ambient Analysis
Raj Suryanarayanan, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Description coming soon.
Amorphous, Mesomorphous, Nano Materials
Simon Bates, Rigaku Americas, Houston, TX, USA
The combined influences of ever-increasing molecular complexity and the drive to increase inherent dissolution (and hopefully bioavailability) have led to a divergence of solid forms away from ideal bulk single crystals towards non-crystalline and nano-crystalline materials. To embrace this divergence of solid forms, powder diffraction characterization has also been forced to diverge away from the trusted Bragg and peak-based approaches to be more inclusive of alternate methodologies such as Total Diffraction Analysis, PDF, Reverse Monte Carlo Modeling, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning.
We encourage you to submit an abstract to this session and share your own experiences in the characterization of amorphous, mesoamorphous, and nanomaterials using powder diffraction.
Software, Database, Laboratory Instrumentation
Tom Blanton, International Centre for Diffraction Data, Newtown Square, PA, USA
Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) has historically been the analytical technique of choice for phase identification of crystalline materials. Today advances in radiation sources, including synchrotron, electron and neutron, instrumentation, optics and detectors allow scientists to use diffraction and scattering methods to probe beyond phase identification and extend studies to investigate material microstructure as well as nanostructure properties. Whether the material of interest being studied is crystalline or amorphous, randomly or preferentially oriented, inorganic or organic, powder or solid, there are many diffraction, scattering and spectroscopy methods that can be used to analyze a sample and help provide an understanding of how material formulation and processing affects material properties. The focus of this session will be 1) exploring what is new in diffraction and scattering instrumentation as well as other analytical techniques, including Raman and solid-state NMR, and 2) looking at new developments in software and databases and exploring how these synergistic capabilities help to provide an array of solid-state analysis tools applicable to the more advanced characterization of pharmaceutical materials.
Complementary and Emerging Techniques
Natalia Dadivanyan, Malvern Panalytical, Germany
Fabia Gozzo, Excelsus Structural Solutions sprl, Switzerland and Belgium
Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD) is a powerful analytical technique that allows scientists to get a great wealth of knowledge on the materials under investigation. Phase identification, ab-initio structure solution, microstructure analysis, quantitative analysis in mixtures of crystalline and/or amorphous phases, kinetic of transformation and phase diagrams are examples. Because combining PXRD with other analytical methods has proved the ability to further enhance the materials characterization by PXRD alone, we dedicate here an entire session to contributions focusing on application of both established and emerging techniques that complement PXRD.
Are you complementing your PXRD analyses with any of the following techniques? Are you complementing your PXRD analyses with any other technique the community has not yet thought about? Then, please submit your abstract for this session, which is certainly yours.
Complementary and emerging techniques:
- Single Crystal XRD (SC-XRD)
- Small-Angle and Ultra-Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS and USAXS)
- X-ray Computed Tomography (CT)
- Electron Diffraction (ED)
- Spectroscopy: X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), Raman, Infra-Red (IR)
- Thermal analysis (DSC, TGA)
- Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (SS-NMR)
For any questions, do not hesitate to contact us directly (fabia.gozzo@excelsus2s.com, natalia.dadivanyan@malvernpanalytical.com).
Structure Determination and Refinement
Arnt Kern, Bruker AXS GmbH, Karlsruhe, Germany
Structure determination and refinement from Bragg diffraction powder data are well-established methodologies for the structural characterization of novel molecular materials including polymorphs, salts, solvates, and co-crystals. Especially notable is the increasing size and complexity of the structures studied, which, at the time being, arguably are limited rather by data quality and computing power than by software functionality. The foundations for this were laid by the development of modern algorithms for structure solution in reciprocal space (such as direct and maximum entropy methods), direct space (global optimization methods), and dual space (charge-flipping). Generalized direct space algorithms now allow the use of both Bragg and pair-distribution function (PDF) data, opening up new possibilities for the (micro)structural characterization of disordered and amorphous materials.
Low Angle and Small Angle Scattering
Julien Giovannini, AstraZeneca R&D, Sweden
Description coming soon.
Digital PXRD
Graciela de Delgado, University de Los Andes, Merida, Venezuela
Simon Bates, Rigaku Americas, Houston, TX, USA
Description coming soon.
Poster Session
Tom Blanton, International Centre for Diffraction Data, Newtown Square, PA, USA
Posters on topics related to pharmaceutical analysis are welcome.
Abstracts are hereby solicited for any of the following oral sessions and poster session.
Deadline for Submission of Abstracts: 16 March 2023
SPECIAL SESSIONS
- Opening Plenary, Intellectual Property (invited talks only)
- Critical Quality Attributes
- API Phase Stability / Non-ambient Analysis
- Amorphous, Mesomorphous, Nano Materials
- Software, Database, Laboratory Instrumentation
- Complementary and Emerging Techniques
- Structure Determination and Refinement
- Low Angle and Small Angle Scattering
- Digital PXRD
GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING ABSTRACTS
Abstracts will be printed in the Symposium Book of Abstracts and will also be posted on the ICDD website. Abstracts must not exceed one page in length and must include the title, author(s), affiliation(s), and the text. To provide uniformity, it is recommended that abstracts be prepared according to the following guidelines:
- File format: The Abstract should be submitted as either a Microsoft® Word document (Word 2013 – Word 2021) or a PDF file (Portable Document File).
- The PDF or Word doc of the abstract must include the title, author(s), affiliations(s), and text. The general information form that you complete does not automatically add the title and author information to the abstract.
- Size: The abstract should not exceed one page in length (8.5” x 11” page size); with a one-inch margin all around. This includes any figures or graphs (please keep them to a minimum).
- Font: Times or Times New Roman, 10 or 12 point.
- Title: Bold, Center, and Capitalize each word.
- Author(s), Affiliation(s), and Contact Author’s E-mail Address: Center directly under Title. Leave one blank line after Contact Author’s E-mail Address before the beginning text of the abstract.
- Text: Paragraphs should be flush left (do not indent); single-spaced; leave one blank line between paragraphs, space permitting.
- Characters, tables, formulae, figures, symbols, graphics: All must be embedded into your text. Please keep to a minimum, and limit the fonts to those that are available with the standard distribution of Microsoft® Word. Non-standard fonts will lead to errors in transmission.
SUBMISSION
Abstracts will only be accepted through the online submission process. You will be required to fill out a general information form, and then given a choice to either upload your abstract directly from your computer as a PDF file or e-mail your abstract as an attachment created in Microsoft® Word (Word 2013 – Word 2021). The information you upload on the general information form is not considered a part of your abstract. You must still include the title and author information in the actual abstract file.
CONFIRMATION
When submitting your abstract online, you will receive an automated e-mail confirmation. If you choose to e-mail your abstract as a Microsoft® Word document, then confirmation of your abstract may take up to one week. If you do not receive confirmation within one week of your submittal, please contact Stephanie Jennings: sjennings@icdd.com; 610-325-9814 ext. 163.
PPXRD-17 Registration is Now Open – Register before 12 May 2023 – Spots are Limited!
Online Registration is available through the ICDD eStore (click on the price options below) or by filling out a Registration Form.
Registration form and payment must be received by 12 May 2023 (unless attendance capacity is filled before this date) in order to be accepted for the symposium.
Registration will not be conducted onsite. All attendees must pre-register for the symposium.
Registration ends on 12 May 2023, unless attendance capacity is filled before this date.
PPXRD-17 Registration Type | Early Registration Discount (Until 20 April) |
Registration Fee (21 April – 12 May) |
Industry | $1,000 | $1,200 |
Academic | $700 | $900 |
Student (ID Required) | $350 | $450 |
Please note: Transportation, coffee breaks, and lunches are included in the registration fee.
*Student Registration
Student Identification is required. Students should fill out a Registration Form and submit it to ICDD with a copy of their Student Identification.
If registering through the ICDD eStore, please email Stephanie Jennings, sjennings@icdd.com, with a copy of your student identification.
Cancellation Policy
A 50% refund will be issued, if the cancellation is received by ICDD in writing no later than 12 May 2023
(Email: ppxrd@icdd.com). No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after that date; however, with advance notice, you may transfer your registration to a colleague.
PPXRD-17 (Pharmaceutical Powder X-ray Diffraction Symposium) will be held at ICDD Headquarters, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA, from 21-24 May 2023.
See the Open Bid Packet for more information about Exhibit Space & Sponsorship Opportunities.

Host Hotel Accommodations
A block of rooms is reserved for PPXRD-17 participants at the Best Western Plus Concordville Hotel • Route 322 & 1, Concordville, PA 19331
Tel: (610) 358-9400 • Fax: (610) 358-9381 • www.brandywinehotels.com
The special ICDD rate is $129.00 (plus 11% tax) USD and includes daily complimentary breakfast and daily transportation to and from ICDD. To make your reservation in the PPXRD room block, please follow the link below or call the Best Western Plus Concordville Hotel directly at (610)358-9400, ext. 0, and mention that you are with the PPXRD (ICDD) group. Travel and accommodations are not included in the registration fee.
The deadline for reservations is 20 April 2023. You will not be guaranteed a room after that time. Please check with the hotel for their room cancellation policy.
Please note: If you are staying at the host hotel but did not book within our room block, you could be held responsible for your own transportation.
Transportation
The Best Western Plus Concordville Hotel and Kevin Smith Transportation will both be providing daily round-trip transportation between the hotel and ICDD. If you book your room outside of the ICDD room block, you could be held responsible for your own daily transportation. More information about transportation will be sent out to registered attendees closer to the start date.
Recommended Transportation from airport to hotel:
Ace Limousine & Airport Service – advance reservations required
www.acelimosvce.com • 610-494-6545
ICDD Headquarters is approximately a 20-minute drive from The Best Western Concordville Hotel.
Dr. Tom Blanton, Chair, International Centre for Diffraction Data, Newtown Square, PA, USA
Dr. Simon Bates, Rigaku Americas, Houston, TX, USA
Dr. Natalia Dadivanyan, Malvern Panalytical, Germany
Dr. Graciela C.D. de Delgado, University de Los Andes, Merida, Venezuela
Dr. Julien Giovannini, AstraZeneca R&D, Sweden
Dr. Fabia Gozzo, Excelsus Structural Solutions sprl, Switzerland and Belgium
Stephanie Jennings, International Centre for Diffraction Data, Newtown Square, PA, USA
Dr. Arnt Kern, Bruker AXS GmbH, Karlsruhe, Germany
Dr. Gregory A. Stephenson, Crystal Pharmatech Inc., Fishers, IN, USA
Dr. Raj Suryanarayanan, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Dr. Shawn Yin, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
PPXRD Date | Program | Location | Access |
---|---|---|---|
PPXRD-16 – 9-12 May 2019 | PPXRD-16 Program | Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland |
View Presentations or Search Abstracts |
PPXRD-15 – 18-20 August 2017 | PPXRD-15 Program | Hyderabad, India |
View Presentations or Search Abstracts/Presentations |
PPXRD-14 – 6-9 June 2016 | PPXRD-14 Program | Sanibel Harbour Marriott, Fort Myers, Florida, USA |
View Presentations or Search Abstracts/Presentations |
PPXRD-13 – 18-21 May 2015 | PPXRD-13 Program | Schwarzwald Panorama, Bad Herrenalb, Germany |
View Presentations or Search Abstracts/Presentations |
PPXRD-12 – 20-24 May 2013 | PPXRD-12 Program | Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China |
View Presentations or Search Abstracts/Presentations |
PPXRD-11 – 15-18 May 2012 | PPXRD-11 Program | Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa, Fort Myers, FA, USA |
View Presentations or Search Abstracts/Presentations |
PPXRD-10 – 16-19 May 2011 | PPXRD-10 Program | Lyon, France |
View Presentations or Search Abstracts/Presentations |
PPXRD-9 – 22–25 February 2010 | PPXRD-9 Program | Hilton Head Island, SC, U.S.A. | View Presentations or Search Abstracts/Presentations |
PPXRD-8 – 4-7 May 2009 | PPXRD-8 Program | Glasgow, Scotland, U.K |
Search Abstracts/Presentations |
PPXRD-7 – 25-28 February 2008 | PPXRD-7 Program | Orlando, FL, USA |
Search Abstracts/Presentations |
PPXRD-6– 19-22 February 2007 | PPXRD-6 Program | Barcelona, Spain |
Search Abstracts/Presentations |
PPXRD-5 – 14-16 February 2006 | PPXRD-5 Program | Somerset, NJ, USA |
Search Abstracts/Presentations |
PPXRD-4 – 21-24 February 2005 | PPXRD-4 Program | Barcelona, Spain |
Search Abstracts/Presentations |
PPXRD-3 – 23-25 February 2004 | PPXRD-3 Program | Hilton Head Island, SC, USA |
Search Abstracts/Presentations |
PPXRD-2 – 9-12 December 2002 | PPXRD-2 Program | Concordville, PA, USA |
Search Abstracts/Presentations |
PPXRD-1 – 27-29 September 1999 | PPXRD-1 Program | Newtown Square, PA, USA |
Search Abstracts/Presentations |