The 2025 Conscience Symposium on Open Drug Discovery took place in Montreal on April 7 and 8, 2025, at the Society for Arts and Technology—and we’re proud to share that it was a great success!
126 valued members of our community from across academia, industry, and non-profit sectors, gathered for two dynamic days of panels, workshops, and discussions showcasing how open science is already driving the discovery of new medicines. The program was carefully designed to reflect Conscience’s mission: to support teamwork, the open sharing of knowledge and tools, the use and improvement of artificial intelligence, and the development of policies that help break down barriers in traditional drug development.
Following an engaging opening keynote by renowned scientist and author Derek Lowe, we were proud to spotlight the work of our program participants, including CACHE Challenge teams and grantees of our Developing Medicines through Open Science program, as well as members of our broader network whose efforts align with our shared goals. The flash talk session showcased the diverse range of projects our community members are working on and created space for presenters to connect with potential collaborators during the discussions that followed.
The presence of patient advocates and organizations, as well as an inspiring collection of art from the Rare Artist program by the EveryLife Foundation, reminded us all why we do this work: to ensure that no one is left behind. The session led by Linda Lafontaine and Jason Karamchandani, which focused on how patients can be a driving force in enabling and accelerating research, was especially well received.
Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Many highlighted the variety and quality of topics—from machine learning and intellectual property to benchmarking and patient engagement—as well as the wide range of expertise and backgrounds of the audience. Attendees appreciated the event’s diverse program, excellent time management, and the opportunity for active participation and rich discussion. The strategic networking and discussion sessions in the Café space reflected the energy and enthusiasm of our community, drawing strong participation and sparking meaningful conversations throughout the event.
Perhaps most powerfully, several attendees shared that the Symposium changed their perspective on open science: “I didn’t believe open could work. Now I see that it can.” Many others noted that they made meaningful connections they never would have made without Conscience—a testament to the value of bringing people together around a shared vision and the high caliber of the audience.
To our generous sponsors, inspiring speakers, dedicated staff, and all who participated—Thank You! Your enthusiasm, ideas, and commitment made this event a resounding success. As our board chair, Anke Mueller-Fahrnow put it, we were truly “inspired by the energy present in the room”. We look forward to welcoming you back at our next event!
Check back soon for recordings of the sessions, which will be made available on our website and YouTube channel for anyone to watch.
Photos are licensed CC BY 4.0 and were taken by Tiah Coxon/Cine-Cast for Conscience.
This event was made possible by our sponsors: Enamine, Astrazeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, UCB, Molecular Forecaster, Acceleration Consortium, and Valence Labs.
