This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 956146.

Henriette Hummler

The development of patient-centred dosage forms is key to successful pharmaceutical treatment. Given the steadily increasing ratio of the older population, which is often subject to polypharmacy due to multimorbidity, medicinal products that fit patients’ needs are of major importance. As a pharmacist by training, I am honoured to work on innovative formulations for this important patient group as part of AGePOP.

ESR 1: The oral formulations swallowability and esophageal transit in older populations

Host institution: F. Hoffmann- La Roche AG, Switzerland
Supervisors: C. Stillhart (Roche), S. Page (Roche), W. Weitschies (UG; secondment)

Research project in AGePOP

With a focus on developing more patient-centric oral drug therapies, the aim of this research project is to determine the preferred type and size of oral drug formulations in geriatric patients and the elderly. Henriette Hummler assesses the swallowing capability and esophageal transit characteristics in the older population. The results of these studies, combined with new in vitro tools simulating esophageal transit, will enable the design of oral dosage forms with improved swallowing properties.

Scientific background

Henriette Hummler studied pharmacy at the University of Freiburg, Germany, from 2014 to 2019, including one year abroad at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. As Pharmacist Trainee she performed research on thermosensitive liposomes as drug delivery systems for Doxorubicin at the University of Toronto, Canada. Her work was done in cooperation with the University of Freiburg, Germany, where she obtained the degree of Diplom Pharmacist in June 2020. In December 2020, Henriette Hummler became a Licensed Pharmacist. In May 2021, she started her PhD at F. Hoffmann – La Roche Ltd in Basel, Switzerland, in cooperation with the University of Greifswald, Germany.

About Henriette Hummler

Henriette Hummler was born and grew up in Southern Germany. Pharmacies and the drugs being sold there have always greatly interested her. During her studies she enjoyed the synergy of pharmaceutical sciences, combining chemistry, biology, pharmacology and technology, the latter two being her main interest. Her scientific work performed as Pharmacist Trainee reinforced her decision to pursue a PhD. Henriette Hummler is delighted to work in an international consortium, all while keeping the patients themselves at the heart of her research.