April 2022 • Archived Content

Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s 4th Annual

Clinical Data Strategy, Digital Endpoints and RWD

Data and Technology for Digital and Decentralized Trials

20 - 21 April 2022 CET

Digital technologies have the power to fundamentally transform clinical development, significantly increasing effectiveness of developing new therapies as well as enabling patient centricity in clinical trials. Implementing digital solutions is harder than it looks for several reasons such as regulatory constraints, long timelines to execute trials, clinical site resistance and others. This conference is designed to bring together thought leaders in the field of clinical innovation, and to discuss the latest technological advances, as well as implementation approaches to improve clinical trials. The gathering will be part of the Summit for Clinical Trials Operations Executives (SCOPE) Europe, a two-day event made up of shared plenary keynotes from biopharma thought leaders, 4 conference tracks focused on specific issues and functions within the clin ops, innovation and research enterprise, informal and interactive breakout discussion groups, and networking. Please join us at this year's "Clinical Data Strategy, Digital Endpoints and RWD" conference at SCOPE Europe, a hybrid conference in 2022 serving both in-person and virtual attendees

Wednesday, 20 April

06:30 Breakfast at the Hotel Restaurant, Arrel

Complimentary for SCOPE Europe Intercontinental Hotel Guests Only

07:30 Registration and Morning Coffee (Foyer)

ROOM LOCATION: Rossini 2

CLINICAL DATA STRATEGY IN NOVEL TRIALS

08:50 Welcome by Conference Organizer

Marina Filshtinsky, MD, Executive Director, Cambridge Healthtech Institute (CHI)

08:55

Chairperson's Remarks 

Giacomo Ricca, Lead, Data Processing Solutions, Janssen R&D
09:00

Data Tokenization to Link Clinical Trial and Real-World Data: Unlocking the Power of Real-World Evidence to Accelerate R&D and Drive Patient Impact

Sidharth (Sid) Jain, Head, Global Dev Data Science Strategy & Portfolio, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc

Tokenization, applied to multi-modal, real-world datasets (RWD), is enabling us to better understand the patient journey. This data is accelerating Long-Term Follow Up (LTFU), Enhanced Regulatory Grade Submissions through External Control Arms (ECAs), and Outcome Validation. Sid will share how Janssen has developed the data, operations, privacy and legal frameworks to leverage this innovative capability to accelerate real-world evidence generation and improve patient lives.

09:30

Novel Data Streams – The Next Challenge in Digital Health?

Giacomo Ricca, Lead, Data Processing Solutions, Janssen R&D

The usage of biosensors – as a subset of digital health capabilities - is becoming increasingly prevalent in Clinical Trials. These technologies allow for continuous data collection, offering a plethora of advantages over the traditional collection of discrete data points. That same continuous data collection also comes with several new questions and challenges: how do we ingest these large amounts of data and how do we best summarize, analyze, report, visualize and archive them?

Divya Babbar, Decision Analytics Manager, ZS
Graham Downing, Head of Clinical Data and Innovation, UCB

Standardization of clinical development data is a crucial enabler for many clinical activities, ranging from efficient clinical submissions to end-to-end study automation, and the reliability and reusability of study data. Yet, a strong clinical data standards strategy is often overlooked. In this talk we will cover what impact clinical data standards can drive and share our journey so far and vision for the future. 

Paul Ingram, PhD, Industry Leader, Supply Management, TCS ADD Connected Clinical Trials, TCS

Medications do not work if you don’t take them. Historically, medication adherence & processes have been a challenge. With the introduction of decentralized trial models, this has become even further convoluted. The need for introducing automation & smart medication technologies has never been more acute. In this session, the speaker will share easy and practical approaches to automate supply activities and provide personalized patient support across traditional, decentralized and hybrid models

10:30

Achieving Paperless Trials and Remote Monitoring - Reflections on a Proof-of-Concept of a Site Collaboration Solution

Michele de Gier Gustafsson, Product Owner, Clinical Operations Systems Transformation, Novo Nordisk AS

The missing link to complete ISF and TMF is the site-owned space that sponsors do not control. Providing a full ISF solution to investigators with no sponsor ownership has been an industry challenge. However, using AI capabilities and easy-to-use workflows provide the necessary tools and efficiencies for site staff to maintain an electronic ISF and selectively share source documents with sponsors.


11:00 Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall (Verdi)

PLENARY KEYNOTE LOCATION: Vivaldi 1 & 2

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND EXPANDING ON INNOVATION LESSONS FROM COVID-19

11:45 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Chairperson's Remarks
Darcy Forman, Chief Delivery Officer, Science 37
Panelists:
Darcy Forman, Chief Delivery Officer, Science 37
Cristina De Juan, PhD, Innovation Lead, Global Clinical Sciences and Operations (GCSO), UCB
Sam Hariry, Global Head, Clinical Innovation, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research

The biopharma, medical device, digital medicine, healthcare and tech industries involved in clinical research are learning from one another, improving innovation, re-thinking business process, and expanding what used to be a much more siloed ecosystem. These are exciting times, but it is a very complex garden to navigate. How do we continue to innovate beyond pilots? How do we scale innovation and collaborate across departments, companies and industries to improve clinical trials and research?

12:20 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:

Digital Health in the Circular Economy, Novel Partnerships Required

Bert Hartog, PhD, Senior Director Clinical Innovation, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV

The talk will be about the environmental impact of digital health, and how circular economy principles can help minimize eWaste and maximize repurposing, reuse and recycling of digital health technologies.

12:30 KEYNOTE PANEL DISCUSSION:

What Can Clinical Innovation Teams Learn from Digital Health Startups?

Panel Moderator:
Francesca Wuttke, PhD, CEO and Founder, nen

Working with startups can provide the Pharma industry with the innovation capabilities required to accelerate the digital transformation of the company, while embedding a culture of experimentation where there is freedom to try and fail, through the exposure to and collaboration with young and risk-taking startups. Partnering with Startups offers Pharma access to solution-driven technology which allows them to accelerate their growth and drive strategy.

Panelists:
Andrea Coravos, CEO & Co-Founder, HumanFirst
Bert Hartog, PhD, Senior Director Clinical Innovation, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV
Nader Alaghband, Co-Founder & CEO, Ampersand Health
13:20 Join Your Peers for a Networking Luncheon in the Exhibit Hall (Verdi)

ROOM LOCATION: Rossini 2

AI IN CLINICAL RESEARCH

Ben McConnochie, Director, Strategic Development, Acorn AI, Medidata, a Dassault Systèmes company
14:55

Optimized Learning in Clinical Data Management: How DM Is Adopting AI

Ashley Howard, Associate Director, Asset Lead, Data Monitoring & Management, Oncology Global Biometrics & Data Management, Global Product Development (GPD) , Pfizer Ltd.

Clinical Research is evolving to be more technology driven. The Volume, Velocity and Variety of data are increasing rapidly. How can we leverage machines to not just perform repetitive data cleaning tasks but take on higher complexity activities in tandem with humans? In this session we will discuss how AI is transforming Clinical Data Management. We will review a practical DM use case which is adopting state-of-the art AI techniques.

15:25

Deriving Further Insight through the Application of Machine Learning to the Analysis of Clinical Trials

Fabrizio Messina, Senior Statistician, Manager, Bayer Pharmaceuticals

The talk will give an overview of artificial intelligence/machine learning methodologies that can be used for clinical data. The focus of the presentation will be on specific machine learning algorithms used to analyze clinical data, with particular interests in survival analysis. Different case studies involving random survival forest and clustering methodologies will be shown. An overview of the advantages will be presented.

Ben McConnochie, Director, Strategic Development, Acorn AI, Medidata, a Dassault Systèmes company

Clinical Trial (CT) and Real World Data (RWD) have been siloed - until now. New advancements are enabling sponsors to link trial patients to their RWD and to accelerate clinical development through better evidence generation across the clinical development lifecycle. Attend this session to learn how and why organizations are “future-proofing” their trials to gain better insights into the patient journey, without sacrificing data security or operational efficiency.

16:25 Interactive Discussions

Interactive Discussions are informal, moderated discussions, allowing participants to exchange ideas and experiences and develop future collaborations around a focused topic. Each discussion will be led by facilitators who keep the discussion on track and the group engaged. To get the most out of this format, please come prepared to share examples from your work, be a part of a collective, problem-solving session, and participate in active idea sharing. Please visit the Interactive Discussions Page for a complete listing of topics and descriptions.

IN-PERSON INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION: Advanced Analytics and Artificial Intelligence in Clinical Trials

Marcin Makowski, PhD, Head, Centralized Monitoring & Data Analytics, GlaxoSmithKline
Abhinav Uppal, Decision Analytics Manager, ZS
Niraj Vyas, MD, AVP and Head, TCS ADD Analytics and Insights, TCS
  • AI applications in clinical data management 
  • Advanced analytics and AI capabilities driving quality compliance 
  • Machine learning techniques that are in production in various organizations that are adding value and accelerating clinical development 
  • How to pick an AI/ML use case and move it from idea to implementation quickly​
17:05 Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall with Beer, Wine and Tapas (Verdi)
18:00 Close of Day

Thursday, 21 April

06:30 Breakfast at the Hotel Restaurant, Arrel

Complimentary for SCOPE Europe Intercontinental Hotel Guests Only

08:30 Registration and Morning Coffee (Foyer)

ROOM LOCATION: Rossini 2

RWD TO TRANSFORM CLINICAL TRIALS

09:00

Chairperson's Remarks 

Mats Sundgren, PhD, Director, Health Data Science, AstraZeneca R&D
09:05

Seeing Value in What’s “Real”: How Real-World Data Can Support Drug Development

Xia Wang, PhD, Head of RWE Early Solution, Global Real World Evidence and Digital Sciences, UCB

The widely known challenges associated with the planning and execution of trials have been partly exacerbated by the global pandemic, placing additional demands on researchers to identify innovative ways to accelerate and reduce the cost of trials. In this presentation, I'll be reviewing some of the latest thinking behind the use of real-world data in response to this challenge, including the role of electronic healthcare data in “decentralised trials.”

09:35

‘Faster and Better’: Automating data between Electronic Health Records and Electronic Data Capture Systems at Hospitals

Mats Sundgren, PhD, Director, Health Data Science, AstraZeneca R&D
Dan Hydes, CEO & CoFounder, IgniteData
Sinéad Callinan, Executive Director, Head of Delivery EMEA, THREAD Research

In this session, Sinéad Callinan, Executive Director, Head of Delivery EMEA at THREAD will share her perspectives and best practices focused on scaled adoption of decentralized clinical trial approaches. Topics will include global implementation, the convergence of DCT technology and real-world data, the use of analytics to prove out the DCT value proposition, and the importance of working closely with research ambassador teams, participants, and sites to enable change management.

PLENARY KEYNOTE LOCATION: Vivaldi 1 & 2

SPECIAL CATALAN ECOSYSTEM PANEL: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND CLINICAL TRIALS

10:35 PANEL DISCUSSION:

Reimagining Clinical Trials: The Digital Transformation in Catalonia

Panel Moderator:
Montse Daban, Director, Scientific and International Relations, Biocat

The healthcare community agrees on the need to foster digital transformation throughout the entire healthcare value chain, including the framework for the clinical validation of innovative technologies, i.e., the evidence for real-world positive and significant health outcomes for patients and society. The final objective is to accelerate technology adoption, provide support for the validated ideas, and improve their market access. The session will share perspectives of actors connecting clinical research and industry in a comprehensive way and it will highlight the successful coordination in clinical trials key stakeholders in Catalonia.

Panelists:
Montserrat Barcelo Riera, MD, Vice President, Europe, Veristat
Xavier Cañas, Director, Promotion and Development of Clinical Research, Vall d’Hebron Hospital
Alessandro Monterosso, Director, Digital Health Solutions, Alira Health
Oriol Penon, PhD, Business Account Director, ASPHALION
11:05 Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall (Verdi)

ROLE OF HEALTH DATA EXCHANGE & IMPLEMENTING HYBRID/DECENTRALIZED TRIALS

11:50 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:

Chairperson's Remarks

Elke Van Mol, R&D Global Functional Lead Clinical Trial Managers, Clinical Operations, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV
11:55 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:

Harnessing the Power of Real-World Data for Clinical Research: European Initiatives

Dipak Kalra, PhD, President, European Institute for Health Records & President, European Institute for Innovation through Health Data

Real World Data has historically been regarded as siloed within healthcare provider systems (and therefore fragmented, difficult to access at scale), with patchy coverage and often of poor quality - so not very reliable for research. A further barrier is data protection legislation, in Europe with the GDPR. Large-scale research infrastructure initiatives are now being established across Europe to tackle these issues and to make RWD more available for observational data studies and the reuse of EHRs for clinical trials. This talk will present this exciting landscape, including the Commission proposals for a European Health Data Space, and explain how some of the perceived issues with RWD are being tackled, including winning public support for the use of RWD by industry.

12:15 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:

Hybrid and Decentralized Trials: The Future Is Here

Panel Moderator:
Elke Van Mol, R&D Global Functional Lead Clinical Trial Managers, Clinical Operations, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV

Covid-19 has played an extreme catalyst role in implementing existing digital and remote clinical trial solutions and has been the engine behind rapid evolution of a few new capabilities. Some of these newly deployed capabilities are quick fixes for the emergency that COVID brought to our day-to-day trial operations, while many will benefit from the catalyst effect and will probably be the new standard even after COVID. Today, we have the chance to continue driving adoption of decentralized clinical trials – and innovating to advance the benefits DCTs offer to patients, sites and sponsors.

Panelists:
Dipak Kalra, PhD, President, European Institute for Health Records & President, European Institute for Innovation through Health Data
Cristina De Juan, PhD, Innovation Lead, Global Clinical Sciences and Operations (GCSO), UCB
Kavita Rattan, PhD, Lead, AI-Data Sciences & RBM, Data Monitoring & Management, Pfizer Inc.
Lisa Moneymaker, Senior Vice President, Clinical Operations Technologies, Medidata, a Dassault Systèmes company
Sidharth (Sid) Jain, Head, Global Dev Data Science Strategy & Portfolio, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc
12:55 Join Your Peers for a Networking Luncheon in the Exhibit Hall (Verdi)

ROOM LOCATION: Rossini 2

RWD TO TRANSFORM CLINICAL TRIALS (CONTINUED)

Gaurang Majmudar, Senior Director Global Patient Centric Services, Marken
14:30

Transforming the Way We Do Clinical Trials: Pragmatic Trials Combined with EHR Enabled Services

Mats Sundgren, PhD, Director, Health Data Science, AstraZeneca R&D
Dipak Kalra, PhD, President, European Institute for Health Records & President, European Institute for Innovation through Health Data

Clinical research needs to make much better use of real-world data, for a diversity of use cases including better optimization and efficiencies in clinical trials design and conduct. Healthcare also needs to make much better use of its own (real world) data. Various health initiatives that are scaling up data reuse and they are facing challenges that need to be overcome for success. This co-presentation will feature some of the initiatives and projects that have pioneered unlocking the real world data opportunity over the past several years as well as a future outlook for real world data in clinical trials.

Gaurang Majmudar, Senior Director, Global Patient Centric Services, Marken

Two years into the pandemic, it's clear that decentralized clinical trials are here to stay. In this presentation I’ll be exploring the rapid transformation of virtual health solutions, industry trends, operational obstacles and the importance of real world data in the evolving patient journey. Together we will examine components of a patient-focused, flexible supply chain strategy, and how sponsors and investigator sites can benefit from pandemic-era lessons learned.

15:15

How Can Blockchain Transform Health Data Exchange and Lead to Better Experiences and Outcomes? A Real-Life Digital Transformation Case Study 

Robert Kroes, International Associate Director TA Analytics , Marketing Analytics, Lilly Nederland BV

In the presentation I will demonstrate a real case example on how Lilly co-created a blockchain solution with a start-up company. I will walk through the steps taken and summarize the outcomes on getting real time data and share key learnings.

Geoff Gill, President, Shimmer Americas, Shimmer Research

Most of the applications of wearable sensors have focused on wrist-worn devices.  A whole new world of applications can be developed if the raw data is accessible and the sensors can be placed in different locations.  The presentation describes three novel “off-wrist” applications that are trials today

PLENARY KEYNOTE LOCATION: Vivaldi 1 & 2

16:35 Close of Conference
16:00 PANEL DISCUSSION:

The Role of Patients, Data, and Patient-Facing Technologies in Clinical Trial Design: Lessons from COVID-19 Pandemic

Panel Moderator:
Marina Malikova, PhD, Executive Director, Surgical Translational Research, Operations and Compliance, Boston University School of Medicine

Patient centricity has been discussed in industry circles for quite some time now, with sponsors connecting it to either reduced protocol assessments or increased use of technology in trials. The industry still has a lot to learn about patient-centric trials, but having patients’ input will help to gain their perspective and better understand their concerns during and after COVID-19. This session will provide a large inventory of countermeasures to offset challenges brought on by COVID-19 pandemic, including: clinical trial design from a site perspective, patient-centric digital solutions, creating an inclusive/equitable environment, collaborating within regulatory affairs.

Panelists:
Mats Sundgren, PhD, Director, Health Data Science, AstraZeneca R&D
Robert Kroes, International Associate Director TA Analytics , Marketing Analytics, Lilly Nederland BV
Florin Sirzen, MD, PhD, Senior Director, Medical Affairs, F. Hoffmann-La Roche
Alicia Staley, Vice President, Patient Engagement, Medidata, a Dassault Systèmes company
Hilde Vanaken, PhD, Head Industry Leaders, Life Sciences and Healthcare, TCS
16:30 Closing Remarks

Marina Filshtinsky, MD, Executive Director, Cambridge Healthtech Institute (CHI)