Plenary Keynotes
TUESDAY, APRIL 7
9:00 Organizer’s Opening Remarks
Micah Lieberman, Executive Director, Conferences, Cambridge Healthtech Institute (CHI)
9:05 Chairperson’s Remarks (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)
9:10 Digitalization of Clinical Trials: Breakthroughs in Technologies and Data
Peter Bergethon, MD, Vice President, Head of Digital and Quantitative Medicine, Biogen
Medicine as systems science characterizes the health state by measurable properties. Changes in state over time (dynamics) define trajectories through growth, health and disease. Dynamic transitions define trajectories between health, illness and therapeutic
interventions. Capturing time dependence is the power of digital technology. Herein lies the power of digital medicine. We will review specific cases showing how this paradigm is transforming our clinical trial landscape.
9:30 CO-PRESENTATION: The Role of Real-World Data in Creating New Pathways to Biopharma Industry Transformation
Alan Louie, PhD, Research Director, Life Sciences, IDC Health Insights
Charles Makin, Global Head, Real World Evidence Strategy, Biogen
In parallel to other industry best practices, the biopharmaceutical industry is embracing digital transformation as it seeks to better leverage data across the life science ecosystem. In conjunction with these efforts, increasingly available real-world
data (RWD) promises to bring new patient-specific data and insights to the industry, data which bring researchers closer to understanding patient-level treatment responses while also opening new channels to engagement. With strong support from regulators,
real-world evidence offers significant potential to accelerate new drug discovery and development, improve process efficiencies, and improve patient outcomes over the near term.
9:50 AI in Human Health – Connecting Data Modules from Discovery Biology to Clinical Development
Rangaprasad Sarangarajan, PhD, CSO & Senior Vice President, Clinical and Translational Sciences, Research & Development, BERG
Drug development programs in companies are predicated on biological insights supporting a hypothesis of target and its role in disease etiology. This presentation will focus on the data modules essential for linking discovery biology to early/late stage
clinical development and the leveraging of AI in the integration of the various dataflow to make data-driven informed decisions and ensure success. It will outline how to utilize data, AI analytics with RWD-based support for planning drug development
to propel products all the way through the clinic.
10:10 Grand Opening Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)
3:35 Organizer’s Opening Remarks
Marina Filshtinsky, MD, Executive Director, Conferences, Cambridge Healthtech Institute
3:40 Chairperson’s Remarks (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)
3:45 BEST CLI Trial: Lessons Learned From Execution Of A Complex Multicenter RCT
Alik Farber, MD, Chief, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Associate Chair for Clinical Operations, Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center; Professor of Surgery and Radiology, Boston University School of Medicine
The BEST-CLI trial is the largest RCT ever undertaken to evaluate strategies for treatment of critical limb ischemia (CLI). This study is an international, multispecialty, prospective, multicenter, randomized comparative effectiveness trial of endovascular
versus open surgical revascularization in patients with CLI who are candidates for both procedures. The study has been performed at 134 sites and has enrolled 1843 patients. Its execution had had multiple obstacles and challenges that the trial leadership
team has successfully navigated.
4:15 CO-PRESENTATION: What Causes Studies to Fail? Understanding Causal Drivers of Operational Success Using Machine Learning
Marcy Kravet, BS, MBA, Head, Operational Design Center (ODC), Global Clinical Operations, EMD Serono, Inc., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
Sylvia Marecki, PhD, Design Analyst, Operational Design Center (ODC), Global Clinical Operations, EMD Serono, Inc., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
It is currently unknown what drives successful study enrollment despite extensive analysis conducted across the industry, which largely has focused on correlations. The Operational Design Center at EMD Serono has leveraged causal machine learning to analyze
hundreds of variables across thousands of clinical trials with the objective of identifying causal drivers of enrollment success, which can be optimized to conduct faster, less expensive trials. Early insights will be shared.
4:45 Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)
5:45 End of Day
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8
11:45 Find Your Table and Meet Your Moderator
11:50 Interactive Breakout Discussion Groups
Concurrent breakout discussion groups are interactive, guided discussions hosted by a facilitator or set of co-facilitators to discuss some of the key issues presented earlier in the day’s sessions. Delegates will join a table of interest and become
an active part of the discussion at hand. Bring your pharma, biotech, CRO, site, hospital or patient perspective to each of the discussions below. To get the most out of this interactive session and format please come prepared to share examples from
your work, vet some ideas with your peers, be a part of group interrogation and problem solving, and, most importantly, participate in active idea sharing.
12:30 pm Community Networking Lunch in the Exhibit Hall (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)
1:40 Transition to Plenary Keynote
1:45 Organizer’s Opening Remarks
Kaitlin Searfoss Kelleher, Senior Conference Director, Cambridge Healthtech Institute
1:50 Chairperson’s Remarks (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)
1:55 The Journey from Patient to Advocate to Leader: Changing the Clinical Research Game
Rob Long, Executive Director, Uplifting Athletes
I will talk about my journey from Division I football and top NFL prospect to cancer patient. My experience of undergoing chemo and radiation and fighting through a battle with brain cancer has enabled me to leverage my story to make a difference in the
lives of those affected by rare diseases. The attendees will gain insights into what it means to be a volunteer at the front lines of oncology research and clinical trials. New approaches to partnering with advocates, disease communities and young
researchers will be shared. In addition, we will discuss the future of rare disease research and outreach and illustrate where industry and the patient community can go together in collaboration.
Read an article published about Rob Long's journey,
Ex-Syracuse punter Rob Long takes on cancer, survival and what comes next
NOTE: Uplifting Athletes and Cambridge Healthtech Institute are proud to include some new young researchers in rare disease at this conference. They are our future partners. Advocacy groups interested in nominating young researchers for the Uplifting
Athletes Young Investigator Draft can submit to: https://www.upliftingathletes.org/rare-disease-research; Nominations open on November 21, 2020.
Click
here for additional information on applying for a guest pass directly.
2:10 PATIENT CO-PRESENTATION: The Patient’s Point of View: Clinical Trial Perceptions and Experiences
Annick de Bruin, MBA, Director, Research Services, Center for Information & Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP)
Phyllis Kaplan, Trial Volunteer and Patient with T1D
Results from a large-scale global study conducted in 2019 among patients and the public offer robust insights into the latest perceptions of clinical research and enrollment barriers, as well as patient engagement preferences (exploring patient receptivity
to virtual trial models and the latest technologies). The 2019 CISCRP Perceptions & Insights study is the largest global study of its kind (over 12,400 responses from around the world, including experiences of 3,600+ prior study participants),
offering robust global insights that audience members can directly apply within their own organizations. Learn what information is critical to support the participation decision-making process from the patient’s point of view. Identify key participation
elements which matter most to patients and their support network. Determine which convenience-enhancing solutions create the biggest impact on overall experiences.
2:30 CASE STUDY CO-PRESENTATION: Co-Creating with Patients to Create a Better Clinical Trial Experience
Jackie Zimmerman, Patient Advocate
Maura Snyder, MBA, Global Head, Clinical Trial Engagement, Clinical Insights and Experience, Janssen Pharmaceuticals
Janssen, in partnership with one of our patient advocates, will co-present on an initiative established in 2019 to bring the global patient perspective and input into the Janssen patient engagement plans in immunology. While it’s important to hear
about the strides that the industry is making in the areas of patient engagement – it’s more important to hear directly from the patients about their perspective on this. This discussion will provide the audience practical, tangible ways
to approach patient engagement. There are a variety of methodologies to approach this patient voice work and we will share one way that we have found to be very beneficial and successful.
2:55 Closing Remarks
Micah Lieberman, Executive Director, Conferences, Cambridge Healthtech Institute
3:00 Close of Conference