The 2026 edition of the Respiratory Drug Delivery conference, organized by RDD Online, will take place May 10-14 at the Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale, AZ, USA. RDD Online’s Richard Dalby says that organizers expect 450-500 OINDP experts to attend the conference, similar to the attendance at last year’s RDD Europe 2025. As always, Dalby adds, the conference will feature talks, workshops, and posters on the latest in inhaled and nasal drug delivery science; a technology exhibition; and plenty of networking opportunities.
According to Dalby, RDD 2026 will also mark the 70th anniversary of the invention of the pressurized metered dose inhaler during the presentation of the annual Charles G. Thiel Award. The award was established in 2006 to mark the 50th anniversary of the invention of the MDI by Thiel and his colleagues George Maison and Irving Porush at Riker Laboratories (later 3M Drug Delivery Systems, now Kindeva). Dalby notes that several former recipients of the “Charlie” will be on hand to mark the occasion.
The scientific program, which will soon be available on the RDD 2026 site, is based around 7 “knowledge spaces”:
- Focus on Therapeutics: Emerging Therapies and Clinical Advances
- Aqueous Advantages
- Inhalation Innovation: AI and Data Driven Design
- Nasal Spotlight: Advances in Systemic and Nose-to-Brain Delivery
- RegSciTech: Evolving Regulatory Science and Technology
- Building a Sustainable Future: Beyond New Propellants
- Inspiring Dry Powder Inhalation: Formulation Science & Device Design
Dalby points to the Regulatory Science and Technology knowledge space as one that is drawing a lot of interest, in part due to the LGWP MDI propellant transition and also because speakers from the FDA are expected to discuss the regulatory implications of research related to OINDP development that has been funded by the agency.
In addition to regulatory issues, Dalby notes the issue of automated / connected inhalation devices as an area of interest, and he expects the program to include discussion of why such devices have failed in the marketplace when there is an apparent unmet need. The program will include discussion of scientific and business challenges in development of those types of devices, he says, as well as the potential role of AI in dealing with analysis of the large amounts of data generated.
As for DPIs, Dalby mentions hot topics such as high payload delivery of dry powder antibiotics and biologics, including via the nasal route, and novel particle engineering techniques for DPI formulations. The program also includes a Posters on the Podium session, with the presentation of the VCU RDD Peter R. Byron Graduate Student Award, and a workshop session.
