Galenos Alumni – continuing the success story!

Alumni and Friends of the Galenos Network e.V.

It was in the beginning of the year 2008 when the fellows of the Galenos network decided to found a club that would allow them to go on and “live” Galenos even when the financing through the 6th framework of Marie-Curie terminates. When the idea was first discussed a few years before the actual founding, all other members (supervisors and other staff of the universities) of the network directly supported the initiative of the students by helping to develop the idea.

The idea of a Galenos alumni association was born in 2006th during the 6th “cell course” in Saarbrücken, Germany. It was not only the great scientific experience but also the social component of Galenos, which made the fellows think of keeping this spirit alive even after a possible end of the financing through the European Marie-Curie program. A core team of 5 fellows started immediately to check on possibilities on how one could put this association into a legal construction that was suitable. Unfortunately no such thing as a European regulation for those projects existed at that time. Hence, it was decided to found the club according to German law. That had the advantage of having the “Galenos headquarter” and the association situated in the same place (i.e. Saarland University in Saarbrücken)
Just two years later, during the 7th cell the inauguration meeting of the club was held. The bylaws were discussed and voted on and finally the board of governors was elected (see table). It represents the prefect collaboration of fellows and professors in the network since it is composed of members from both “sides”.

Right from the start the association has had around 40 members with the number growing constantly. The members are not only fellows and supervisors of the Galenos network but also “friends”, which are scientists that heard about the idea and decided to join and support the organization.
The board of members has a lot of plans for the future of their club: Annual meetings are planned which give the opportunity to further build up the network, to exchange scientific ideas and to keep in contact with each other.
Furthermore a web page is set up which provides news on Galenos and a platform for offering jobs and internships to the highly qualified Galenos fellows and alumni.

Up to now the Galenos network was a big success story in the field of drug delivery. Members and the board of directors of the Galenos alumni association will do their best to repeat it for their club.

Compostition of the board of directors of “Alumni and Friends of the Galenos Network e.V.” in 2008

Chairman 
Marc Muchow, Nancy, France, PhD student

Vice Chairman
Dr. Marjan Fretz, Utrecht, The Netherlands, Post-Doc

Secretary 
Dr. Hakon Sigurdson, Assistant professor, Kopavoguv, Island

Treasurer
 Ana Melero, Valencia, Spain

Assessor Prof.
Elias Fatal, Paris, France

Assessor Prof.
Claus-Michael Lehr, Saarbrücken. Germany

Assessor Prof.
Rogério Gaspar, Lisbon, Portugal

Assessor Dr.
Ben Forbes, London, U.K.