DENTON (UNT), Texas — The University of North Texas (UNT) recently played host to the largest-ever Pharma Logistics Masterclass in North America, an influential gathering of industry experts addressing critical issues in pharmaceutical transportation. Held in partnership with Pharma.Aero, the University of Antwerp, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and the University of Texas at Arlington, the event marks its first time in the U.S., following successful runs across Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
The Pharma Logistics Masterclass, founded in 2021, brings together professionals from academia, logistics companies, and the pharmaceutical industry to tackle challenges in medicine delivery systems. Key topics at this year’s program included transportation methods, sustainable practices, artificial intelligence, and the role of drones in health care logistics.
Brian Sauser, chair of UNT’s Department of Supply Chain Management, and Clinton Purtell, Clinical Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the UNT Jim McNatt Institute for Logistics Research, were instrumental in bringing the event to UNT. Both Sauser and Purtell have been involved in planning since the initiative began. Sauser emphasized UNT’s role in advancing the life sciences logistics industry, particularly through its highly ranked supply chain management program, noted for its aviation logistics concentration.
As part of the masterclass, attendees experienced a live drone demonstration at UNT’s Advanced Air Mobility (UAAM) test facility, located at the university’s Discovery Park. The College of Engineering’s drone flight exhibition was a highlight, illustrating how unmanned aerial vehicles could be used in pharmaceutical logistics. Standing among the largest in the nation, the UAAM facility is positioned to be a key player in the future of transportation and mobility technologies.
“The masterclass allowed us to demonstrate UNT’s leadership in aviation logistics research and innovation,” said Purtell. “With the FAA’s recent approval for long-range drone deliveries in North Texas, it was an exciting opportunity to showcase these technologies to a global audience for the first time.”
The masterclass is another step in UNT’s broader agenda to engage globally with emerging technologies and position itself as a leading educational hub for logistics, supply chain, and advanced air mobility solutions.
