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Type: 02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation clear filter
Monday, June 15
 

11:00am EDT

#404: Evidence-Based Insights Informing Participant Compensation Strategies
Monday June 15, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT
108B
Component Type: Session
Level: Advanced
CE: ACPE 1.25 Knowledge UAN: 0286-0000-26-512-L04-P; CME 1.25; RN 1.25

This session presents findings from a DIA–Tufts CSDD study examining how participant compensation strategies vary across trial phases and therapeutic areas and their impact on recruitment, retention, and enrollment outcomes, with implications for protocol design and trial execution

Learning Objectives

Describe how participant compensation strategies vary by trial phase and therapeutic area; Assess evidence linking compensation practices to recruitment, retention, and enrollment outcomes; Apply study insights to support consistent, ethical, and effective compensation decisions in protocol design and trial execution.

Chair

Kenneth Getz, MBA

Speaker

Panelist
Lindsay McNair, MD, MPH, MS

Panelist
Sabina Kineen

Panelist
Brittany Niland

Panelist
Elizabeth Smith Morris


Speakers
avatar for Kenneth Getz

Kenneth Getz

Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, Tufts University School of Medicine, United States
Ken Getz is the Executive Director and a Professor at the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, Tufts University School of Medicine. He is also the chairman of CISCRP – a nonprofit organization that he founded to educate and raise public and patient awareness of the clinical... Read More →
avatar for Sabina Kineen

Sabina Kineen

Lived Experience Expert, Fabry Support & Information Group, United States
Sabina Kineen is a dedicated patient advocate and speaker with a passion for equitable access to clinical trials and healthcare. As both a patient and caregiver, she brings a unique, lived perspective that drives her work in health literacy, patient engagement, and reducing disparities... Read More →
avatar for Lindsay McNair

Lindsay McNair

Principal Consultant, Equipoise Consulting, United States
Lindsay McNair, MD, MPH, MSB is Principal Consultant at Equipoise Consulting. She was previously the Chief Medical Officer for WCG. In this role she oversaw WCG IRB, and provided consultation to institutions and biopharma companies on a wide range of issues related to clinical protocol... Read More →
ES

Elizabeth Smith Morris

Director, Product Management, Patient Engagement, Suvoda, United States
avatar for Brittany Niland

Brittany Niland

Senior Director- Patient Engagement, Recruitment, Diversity & Retention, Eli Lilly and Company, United States
Brittany Niland is Senior Director of Patient Engagement, Recruitment, Diversity & Retention, leading global, patient-centered recruitment and retention strategies across the Oncology portfolio. She focuses on expanding equitable access to clinical trials, accelerating enrollment... Read More →
Monday June 15, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT
108B The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session

11:00am EDT

#403: Clinical Operations in Transition: Leadership Perspectives on AI, the Workforce, and the Future of Trial Execution
Monday June 15, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT
108A
Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate
CE: ACPE 1.25 Knowledge UAN: 0286-0000-26-511-L04-P; CME 1.25; RN 1.25

Clinical Operations leaders today are navigating one of the most dynamic periods in recent history. From managing AI-driven transformation to rethinking global outsourcing models and rebuilding teams in a post-layoff landscape, the challenges facing clinical operations executives are unprecedented — and so are the opportunities. This session brings together senior leaders from large, mid-size, and emerging biopharma companies for an unscripted fireside conversation exploring how the role of Clinical Operations has evolved over the past decade and where it’s heading next. Panelists will share candid insights on leading change, balancing innovation with execution, and maintaining resilience in the face of shifting talent models and regulatory expectations.

Learning Objectives

Discuss current trends, pressures, and innovations shaping Clinical Operations directly from industry leaders; Recognize operational strategies using benchmark data through real-world examples of how organizations are adapting their models, technologies, and teams; Identify emerging roles, skill requirements, and leadership priorities within the evolving ClinOps landscape to guide personal career planning and organizational development.

Chair

Joseph Dustin

Speaker

Panelist
Jennifer Sheller, MPH

Panelist
Nikki Amaratunge, MA, PMP

Panelist
Rosalie Filing

Panelist
Emily Walker, MBA


Speakers
avatar for Joe Dustin

Joe Dustin

Founder and Principal, Dauntless eClinical Strategies, United States
Joe Dustin is a recognized leader in the clinical trials industry with over 20 years of experience driving digital innovation in Life Sciences. Throughout his career, Joe has spearheaded transformative initiatives across pharma and technology companies, notably at, Medidata Solutions... Read More →
avatar for Joseph Dustin

Joseph Dustin

Founder and Principal, Dauntless eClinical Strategies, United States
Joe Dustin is a recognized leader in the clinical trials industry with over 20 years of experience driving digital innovation in Life Sciences. Throughout his career, Joe has spearheaded transformative initiatives across pharma and technology companies, notably at, Medidata Solutions... Read More →
RF

Rosalie Filing

Vice President, Clinical Operations, Keenova Therapeutics, United States
NA

Nikki Amaratunge, MA, PMP

Director Clinical Operations, Allergan, United States
avatar for Jennifer Sheller

Jennifer Sheller

Senior Vice President, Global Clinical Trial Operations, Merck & Co., Inc., United States
Jennifer Sheller is Senior Vice President and Head of Global Clinical Trial Operations at Merck, where she leads the global infrastructure responsible for the operational delivery of Merck’s clinical development portfolio. With more than 25 years of experience across pharma, biotech... Read More →
EW

Emily Walker

Vice President, Study Management, Alnylam, United States
Monday June 15, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT
108A The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session |   06: ProfDevelop-Program-PortfolioMgmt, Session
  • Audience Intermediate
  • Level Intermediate
  • format csv
  • Credit Type ACPE, CME, RN
  • Interest Area Project Management & Strategic Planning
  • Tags Session

11:00am EDT

#413: Health Canada Town Hall
Monday June 15, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT
112AB
Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate
CE: ACPE 1.25 Knowledge UAN: 0286-0000-26-520-L04-P; CME 1.25; RN 1.25

In this session, leaders from Health Canada will provide an update on regulatory priorities for Canada. The audience will be invited to submit questions of general interest.

Learning Objectives

Describe Health Canada’s regulatory initiatives and strategic priorities; Identify opportunities for engagement with the Canadian regulator.

Chair

Alysha Croker, PHD

Speaker

Panelist
Sophie Sommerer


Speakers
avatar for Alysha Croker

Alysha Croker

Director, Strategic and Horizontal Policy, Health Canada, Canada
Dr. Alysha Croker is the Director of the Centre for Policy, Pediatrics and International Collaboration, Health Products and Food Branch, Heath Canada. In this position, Dr. Croker is responsible for developing ways to increase access to safe and effective health products for pediatric... Read More →
avatar for Sophie Sommerer

Sophie Sommerer

Director General, Marketed Health Products Directorate, Health Canada, Canada
Sophie Sommerer is the Director General of Health Canada’s Marketed Health Products Directorate. She is responsible for post-market surveillance of a range of health products, including pharmaceutical and biologic drugs, natural health products and medical devices. From 2016 to... Read More →
Monday June 15, 2026 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT
112AB The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  08: RegPolicy-Strategy-GlobalCollaboration, Session |   02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session

2:30pm EDT

#432: Industry Collaboration 2030: Head, Heart and Gut Perspectives
Monday June 15, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
108B
Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate
CE: ACPE 1.00 Knowledge UAN: 0286-0000-26-527-L04-P; CME 1.00; RN 1.00

No one can solve today’s R&D challenges alone. But are industry consortia fit for 2030? We examine the "head, heart, and gut" to re-imagine collaboration and explore what’s needed to accelerate co-creation and innovation.

Learning Objectives

Recognize the value of industry collaborations, analyze emerging trends and future innovation opportunities; Explain how to shift from patient-centric to patient-driven design thinking.

Chair

Sarah Tremethick

Speaker

Industry Collaboration 2030: Head Perspective
Adrian Hernandez, MD, MHS

Industry Collaboration 2030: Head, Heart and Gut Perspectives
Rebecca Vermeulen, RPH

Industry Collaboration 2030: Gut Perspective
Jeff Smith


Speakers
avatar for Adrian Hernandez

Adrian Hernandez

Professor of Medicine; Executive Director, Duke Clinical Research Institute , United States
Adrian Hernandez, MD, MHS, is Executive Director, Duke Clinical Research Institute, and Vice Dean of the Duke University School of Medicine. Dr. Hernandez has research interests in improving cardiovascular health and accelerating clinical evidence through outcomes research, clinical... Read More →
JS

Jeff Smith

The Curator, Smith and Jones Innovation, United States
avatar for Sarah Tremethick

Sarah Tremethick

Global Program Lead - Product Development Industry Collaborations, Roche, United Kingdom
A change catalyzer that connects biopharmaceutical innovators to tackle problems and drive industry disruption. Part of Roche’s Industry Collaborations group, which believes that common challenges in drug development can be solved through industry consortia. Almost 30 years’ experience... Read More →
avatar for Rebecca Vermeulen

Rebecca Vermeulen

Vice President, Global Patient Networks | PD Medical Affairs, Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group, United States
Rebecca Vermeulen, RPh, brings a variety of experiences to her role as VP of Strategy for Patients and Society, Product Development, at Hoffman La Roche. She has served in numerous functions including Medical Affairs, Clinical Research, Sales, Medical Communications, Medical Science... Read More →
Monday June 15, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
108B The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session

2:30pm EDT

#436: Aligning Strategy with Execution: Leveraging Integrated Program Plans, Project, Program, and Portfolio Management, and AI to Advance Drug Development
Monday June 15, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
202AB
Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate
CE: ACPE 1.00 Application UAN: 0286-0000-26-532-L04-P; CME 1.00; PDU 1.00 PMI 21665YGZQV ; RN 1.00

This seminar shows how life sciences teams can align strategy with execution through integrated program plans, AI-enabled planning, and P3M practices to accelerate time to market, foster innovation, and drive organizational transformation.

Learning Objectives

Distinguish how to align strategy with execution by integrating program plans (IPPs) across R&D, Clinical, CMC, Regulatory, and Commercial Leverage AI-enabled planning and P3M practices to enhance visibility, decision-making, and risk management, accelerating time to market; Discuss ways to adapt leadership approaches to drive organizational transformation, innovation, and compliance in an evolving life sciences landscape.

Chair

Christine Mears, MBA, PMP

Speaker

Aligning Strategy with Execution: Leveraging Integrated Program, Project and Portfolio management with AI to advance drug development
Philip M Zack, DVM, PHD

Panelist
Erin Mulrooney, MSC, PMP


Speakers
avatar for Christine Mears

Christine Mears

Executive Director, Portfolio Management, Generate BioMedicines, United States
avatar for Christine Mears

Christine Mears

Executive Director, Portfolio Management, Generate BioMedicines, United States
avatar for Christine Mears

Christine Mears

Founder, Lead Consultant, Premiere Consulting Services LLC, United States
Christine M. Mears is an enterprise program, portfolio, and operations executive with 25+ years of experience driving strategy execution and operational performance. Formerly at Eli Lilly in a COO-level capacity, she led global programs, launches, and transformations. As Founder of... Read More →
avatar for Erin Mulrooney

Erin Mulrooney

Director, Portfolio Analysis & Management, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., United States
Erin Mulrooney is a Director of Portfolio Management in the Global Project Management and Leadership group at Daiichi Sankyo. There she is responsible for portfolio prioritization and reporting to enable data-driven decision making. Before joining Daiichi Sankyo in August 2024, Erin... Read More →
avatar for Philip Zack

Philip Zack

Executive Life Sciences Consultant Portfolio, Program and Alliance Management, Self-Employed, United States
Phil Zack has 25 years experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and research. He has held Portfolio, Program and Alliance Management leadership positions within NeXstar, Gilead, Amgen, Vertex, and Myovant Sciences. He has experience in all phases of drug development, in multiple... Read More →
Monday June 15, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
202AB The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  06: ProfDevelop-Program-PortfolioMgmt, Session |   07: RegCMC-Product Quality, Session |   02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session

4:00pm EDT

#449: Study Participants Want to Know When AI is Processing Their Medical Data: Perceptions of AI and Operational Implications
Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
111AB
Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate
CE: ACPE 1.00 Knowledge UAN: 0286-0000-26-543-L04-P; CME 1.00; RN 1.00

This session shares insights from a global survey of 12,000+ respondents, highlighting patient comfort levels and receptivity to AI processing their medical information as part of a clinical trial.

Learning Objectives

Discuss patient comfort levels and receptivity to AI processing medical information as part of a clinical trial; Describe strategies to address patient preferences and comfort levels with AI analyzing medical data.

Chair

Annick De Bruin, MBA

Speaker

Panelist
T.J. Sharpe, PMP

Panelist
Shanelle Gabriel, MED


Speakers
avatar for Annick De Bruin

Annick De Bruin

Chief Research and Insights Officer, Research Services, Center for Information & Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP), United States
Annick de Bruin is the Chief Research and Insights Officer of Research Services at the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP). She is responsible for the design, implementation, analysis and reporting of a variety of CISCRP research studies including... Read More →
SG

Shanelle Gabriel

Patient Advocate, N/A, United States
SG

Shanelle Gabriel

Patient Advocate/Speaker/Poet, Building Constellations, LLC, United States
Shanelle Gabriel is an internationally touring poet, speaker, communications consultant, and lupus patient advocate. She has performed globally gracing stages from Carnegie Hall to the Vatican. As a creative strategist, she has crafted poetry on various themes for events and for campaigns... Read More →
avatar for Ellyn Getz

Ellyn Getz

Director, R&D Patient Engagement, CSL Behring, United States
Ellyn Getz, MPH is the Director of R&D Patient Partnerships at global biotech CSL, where she gathers input into clinical development and operations from patients, care partners, health care professionals, and researchers, and she develops strategies to support patient engagement and... Read More →
avatar for T.J. Sharpe

T.J. Sharpe

Patient Engagement Expert, Sharpe Patient Insights, United States
T.J. Sharpe is a keynote speaker, writer, and patient engagement leader who partners with life sciences companies and healthcare organizations to integrate meaningful patient perspectives into clinical research and healthcare innovation. He develops and leads patient engagement programs... Read More →
Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
111AB The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  03: Data-Tech-AI, Session |   02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session

4:00pm EDT

#455: Japan Town Hall
Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
115AB
Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate
CE: ACPE 1.00 Knowledge UAN: 0286-0000-26-551-L04-P; CME 1.00; RN 1.00

This session explores the benefits of drug development and approval in Japan, highlighting market size, development predictability, and regulatory support, with insights from administrative bodies and the international pharmaceutical industry.

Learning Objectives

Recognize misconceptions about Japan's drug development environment and learn the latest updates; Discuss the benefits of drug development in Japan from regulatory and industry perspectives.

Chair

Daisuke Koga, MS, MSC

Speaker

Panelist
Seiko Usami, PHD

Panelist
Yoshiaki Uyama, PHD, MS, RPH


Speakers
avatar for Daisuke Koga

Daisuke Koga

Director, Office of International Strategy and Planning, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), Japan
Mr. Daisuke Koga is the Director of the Office of International Strategy and Planning, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) of Japan. He started his career in 1996 at the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan. He worked in the Ministry on drugs, medical devices, food... Read More →
SU

Seiko Usami

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, Japan
avatar for Yoshiaki Uyama

Yoshiaki Uyama

Associate Executive Director, Regulatory Science Center, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), Japan
Dr Yoshiaki Uyama is currently Associate Executive Director, Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) of Japan. He is responsible for regulatory science researches in the agency. He has many experiences in new drug evaluation and real world data utilization, including the ICH... Read More →
Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
115AB The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  08: RegPolicy-Strategy-GlobalCollaboration, Session |   02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session

4:00pm EDT

#458: Regulatory and Industry Perspectives: Understanding the Significance and Impact of GCP Inspection Observations
Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
117
Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate
CE: ACPE 1.00 Knowledge UAN: 0286-0000-26-552-L04-P; CME 1.00; RN 1.00

Explore global GCP inspection outcomes featuring FDA’s 7-year data and international trends, highlighting compliance patterns, regulatory harmonization, and industry strategies for sustaining quality in complex global trials

Learning Objectives

Examine GCP inspection classification and outcomes across regulatory agencies, highlighting similarities and differences in enforcement; Identify common deficiency patterns and regulatory expectations across regions, emphasizing protocol adherence, recordkeeping, and data integrity; Recognize the impact of inspection observations on regulatory decisions; Discuss industry best practices.

Chair

Jenn Sellers, MD

Speaker

Overview of MHRA's GCP Inspections
Rachel Mead


Speakers
avatar for Rachel Mead

Rachel Mead

Senior GCP Inspector, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), United Kingdom
Rachel joined the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as a GCP Inspector in July 2019. She conducts a wide range of routine and triggered GCP inspections across both commercial and non commercial organisations, including Phase 1 units registered under the MHRA... Read More →
avatar for Jenn Sellers

Jenn Sellers

Chief, GCP Assessment Branch, FDA, United States
Dr. Sellers serves as Chief of the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Assessment Branch in the Office of Scientific Investigations at the U.S. FDA, where she leads the evaluation of GCP compliance and provides regulatory recommendations in support of marketing applications. She is a board-certified... Read More →
Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
117 The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  09: RD-Quality-Compliance, Session |   02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session
  • Audience Intermediate
  • Level Intermediate
  • format csv
  • Credit Type ACPE, CME, RN
  • Interest Area Quality Assurance / Control & CMC
  • Tags Session
 
Tuesday, June 16
 

8:00am EDT

#500: Transforming Obesity Patient Care: Past, Present, and Future Innovation in the Age of GLP-1 Therapies
Tuesday June 16, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
114
Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate

This plenary session will bring together first-hand perspectives from academic and pharmaceutical experts involved in the development of the GLP1 therapies that first achieved regulatory approval for the treatment of obesity. Speakers will reflect on the scientific and clinical journey that enabled these breakthroughs, while examining how innovation in this space continues to evolve. The session will also address the persistent access gap facing patients worldwide and explore how global companies are working closely with regulators to expand access in a sustainable and equitable manner. Key health policy implications will be discussed, setting the stage for subsequent sessions within the new Chronic Disease and Obesity Pathway.

Learning Objectives

Analyze the key scientific and clinical milestones that led to the first regulatory approvals of GLP-1 therapies for obesity using expert perspectives; Assess how innovation in GLP-1 therapies is evolving and consider its impact on future obesity and chronic disease treatment; Examine global access gaps to obesity therapies and identify policy and regulatory strategies to expand equitable and sustainable patient access.

Chair

Maria Vassileva, PHD

Speaker

Panelist
Robert M. Califf, MD

Panelist
Brad Jordan, PHD

Panelist
W. Scott Butsch, MD, MSC


Speakers
avatar for W. Scott Butsch

W. Scott Butsch

International Medical Vice President - Obesity, Novo Nordisk A/S, Denmark
avatar for Robert Califf

Robert Califf

Instructor, Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, United States
Dr. Robert Califf is an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Duke University and a practicing cardiologist. He served as FDA Commissioner (2016–2017) and Deputy Commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco. At Duke, he was Vice Chancellor for Clinical and Translational Research and... Read More →
avatar for Brad Jordan

Brad Jordan

Associate Vice President, Regulatory Policy and Strategy, Eli Lilly and Company, United States
Brad Jordan is the Associate Vice President of Regulatory Policy and Strategy at Eli Lilly, where he is responsible for the regulatory policy strategy for Lilly’s cardiometabolic and immunology therapeutic areas.
avatar for Maria Vassileva

Maria Vassileva

Chief Science and Regulatory Officer, DIA, United States
Dr. Vassileva has decades of experience with managing complex multi-stakeholder biomedical research programs. She spent most of her career in the nonprofit sector, leading the Science Team at the Arthritis Foundation, and working at the Foundation for NIH and the American Association... Read More →
Tuesday June 16, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
114 The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  00: Plenary, Session |   02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session |   08: RegPolicy-Strategy-GlobalCollaboration, Session

10:15am EDT

#507: Paying Fair: Regulatory and Ethical Challenges in Research Participant Compensation
Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
107AB
Component Type: Session
Level: Advanced
CE: ACPE 1.25 Application UAN: 0286-0000-26-557-L04-P; CME 1.25; RN 1.25

We will share case examples and trends from 24,000 records, analyze ethical challenges involved in paying participants, and discuss how protective policies or administrative practices can result in unjust treatment.

Learning Objectives

Explain the ethical considerations that govern payment to research participants; Evaluate the potential for institutional and administrative policies to inadvertently create unjust treatment of research participants; Apply the Belmont Principles of Beneficence and Justice to real-world cases involving payment to research participants and propose strategies for ethical decision-making.

Chair

Kelly Fitzgerald, PHD

Speaker

Panelist
Karla Childers, MS

Panelist
Wenora Johnson

Panelist
Sam Whitaker

Panelist
Robin Kuprewicz, MA


Speakers
avatar for Karla Childers

Karla Childers

Vice President, Bioethics, Policy & Partnerships, Johnson & Johnson, United States
Karla Childers is Vice President, Bioethics, Policy & Partnerships in the Johnson & Johnson Office of the Chief Medical Officer. Her primary responsibility is leading and coordinating various bioethics-based, science policy projects since 2013. Her longest running responsibility has... Read More →
avatar for Kelly FitzGerald

Kelly FitzGerald

Executive IRB Chair and Vice President of IBC Affairs, WCG , United States
Kelly FitzGerald is the IRB Executive Chair and Vice President of IBC Affairs at WCG IRB where she oversees the operation of both the IRB and several hundred institutional IBCs. Kelly is a certified IRB professional and holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of New... Read More →
avatar for Wenora Johnson

Wenora Johnson

Administrative Support & Research/Patient Advocate, United States
avatar for Robin Kuprewicz

Robin Kuprewicz

Clinical Trials Director, Georgetown University, United States
Robin Kuprewicz is the Clinical Trials Director for the Georgetown University Huntington's Disease Care, Education and Research Center. She holds a Masters in Medical Anthropology and has ten years of experience in clinical trials. She has helped Huntington's Disease participants... Read More →
SW

Sam Whitaker

Founder & CEO, Mural Health, United States
Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
107AB The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session

10:15am EDT

#515: Leveraging Federated AI and Open Data to Transform Oncology Research and Development
Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
112AB
Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate
CE: ACPE 1.25 Knowledge UAN: 0286-0000-26-566-L04-P; CME 1.25; RN 1.25

This session covers the importance of data sharing and the new tools that might enable that pooling and integration in order to facilitate progress in personalized medicine and ensure faster access to treatments for the oncology patients who need them the most.

Learning Objectives

Discuss the present landscape, opportunities, and challenges of oncology data pooling efforts and the advancements offered by AI that can allow faster integration; Describe emerging programs and global initiatives designed to facilitate faster oncology drug development; Assess various considerations and strategies that are meaningful to both physicians and patients.

Chair

Alberto Grignolo, PHD

Speaker

Panelist
Beth Meagher, MA

Panelist
Sean Khozin, MD, MPH

Panelist
Stacy Hurt, MBA, MHA

Leveraging Federated AI and Open Data to Transform Oncology Research and Development
Maria Vassileva, PHD

Panelist
Joseph Kannarkat, MD


Speakers
avatar for Alberto Grignolo

Alberto Grignolo

Editor-in-Chief, DIA Global Forum, United States
Alberto Grignolo, Ph.D. FDIA formerly served as Corporate Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Thought Leadership at Parexel, and established the Company's Japan Regulatory Consulting Services during a two-year assignment in Tokyo. He is a champion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion... Read More →
avatar for Joseph Kannarkat

Joseph Kannarkat

Physician, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States
Joseph is a physician with a deep interest in drug regulatory policy and has previously published articles in venues like The New England Journal of Medicine, The Journal of the American Medical Association, and The Brookings Institution. His research interests include studying the... Read More →
avatar for Sean Khozin

Sean Khozin

CEO, Roundtable on Cancer (CEORT) and Project Data Sphere (PDS), United States
Dr. Khozin is the Chief Executive Officer of CancerLinQ, LLC, and Executive Vice President of ASCO. He has more than a decade of leadership experience in health technology, regulation, clinical research, and data science, including the application of artificial intelligence and machine... Read More →
avatar for Beth Meagher

Beth Meagher

Principal, Deloitte Consulting, United States
Beth Meagher is a Deloitte Consulting LLP principal and leader of the Federal Monitor Deloitte Strategy practice. She started and leads Deloitte's Translational Medicine, which bring strategy, informatics, clinical, and research capabilities together on collaborative teams. Beth focuses... Read More →
avatar for Stacy Hurt, MBA, MHA

Stacy Hurt, MBA, MHA

Chief Patient Officer, Parexel, United States
Stacy is a globally recognized advocate in patient communities, ensuring patients/caregivers voice their experience & feedback at early stages to improve drug development. She promotes clinical research accessibility for people with disabilities and equal access to better treatments... Read More →
avatar for Maria Vassileva

Maria Vassileva

Chief Science and Regulatory Officer, DIA, United States
Dr. Vassileva has decades of experience with managing complex multi-stakeholder biomedical research programs. She spent most of her career in the nonprofit sector, leading the Science Team at the Arthritis Foundation, and working at the Foundation for NIH and the American Association... Read More →
Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
112AB The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session |   03: Data-Tech-AI, Session

10:15am EDT

#510: The Trials and Virtues of Founder Led Selling: Rapid Discovery and Validation of Product-Market Fit for ClinTech
Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
103A
Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate

Many clinical research technology founders rush to build and fundraise before understanding how sponsors and sites make buying decisions. This session explores how to perform streamlined customer discovery to build a winning go to market strategy.

Learning Objectives

Design and execute a streamlined customer discovery process to validate unmet needs, buying triggers, and budget ownership before finalizing a go-to-market strategy; Translate insights into a sales learning roadmap that tests positioning, pricing, compliance, and objections to reduce commercial risk before raising capital; Align GTM and fundraising with validated demand to present a credible revenue story.

Chair

Dan Sndyer

Speaker

Panelist
Peter Schaeffer, MBA, PMP

Panelist
Laura Hilty

Panelist
Jeff B Lee, MBA


Speakers
LH

Laura Hilty

Principal, HealthX Ventures, United States
JL

Jeff Lee

Board Director, Medstar Health Research Institute, United States
Jeff Lee is a seasoned entrepreneur, angel investor, and venture partner with a strong background in business development and entrepreneurship. He successfully founded/exited mProve Health and held leadership roles in several other startups with successful exits. Jeff also serves... Read More →
PS

Peter Schaeffer

Digital and Process Optimization Leader, GlaxoSmithKline, United States
Pete Schaeffer has worked in the Pharmaceutical industry for approximately 20 years in both the Pre-Clinical and Clinical areas. During this time, he has worked in roles to improve performance and decision making, led continuous improvement programs and collaborated with teams to... Read More →
DS

Dan Sndyer

The Playbook, United States
DS

Dan Sndyer

The Playbook, United States
Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
103A The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session |   03: Data-Tech-AI, Session |   18: Lift-Series, Session

10:15am EDT

#513: Advancing Chronic Disease Development: Insights from FDA, EMA, PMDA, and MHRA
Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
201AB
Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate
CE: ACPE 1.25 Knowledge UAN: 0286-0000-26-565-L04-P; CME 1.25; RN 1.25

Chronic Disease Town Hall spotlights emerging programs and global initiatives for chronic disease drug development, outlines the current landscape, explores opportunities and challenges, and assesses strategies to boost efficiency and accelerate therapeutic innovation.

Learning Objectives

Discuss the present landscape, opportunities, and challenges of chronic disease drug development; Describe emerging programs and global initiatives designed to facilitate development of chronic disease drugs; Assess various considerations and strategies to enhance the efficiency of chronic disease drug development.

Chair

Jingyu (Julia) Luan, PHD

Speaker

Panelist
Steffen Thirstrup, MD, PHD

Panelist
Alison Cave

Panelist
Maria Vassileva, PHD

Panelist
Ayaka Kubota, RPH


Speakers
avatar for Alison Cave

Alison Cave

Chief Safety Officer, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), United Kingdom
Dr Alison Cave is Chief Safety Officer at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with responsibility for the safety of medicines and medical devices in the UK. She holds a BSc (Hons) and PhD from the University of London and has extensive academic and regulatory... Read More →
avatar for Ayaka Kubota

Ayaka Kubota

Office of Safty II, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), Japan
She is a reviewer at the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) in Japan. She is involved in the scientific review of pharmaceuticals, primarily focusing on cardiovascular drugs and treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, with an emphasis on clinical evaluation and regulatory... Read More →
avatar for Jingyu (Julia) Luan

Jingyu (Julia) Luan

Executive Regulatory Science Director, AstraZeneca, United States
Dr. Luan is currently the Executive Regulatory Science Director at AstraZeneca (AZ), where she oversees all regulatory aspects of obesity and diabetes drug development and supports the research, development, and commercialization efforts in these disease areas. She also leads the... Read More →
avatar for Steffen Thirstrup

Steffen Thirstrup

Chief Medical Officer, European Medicines Agency, Netherlands
Dr. Steffen Thirstrup, MD, PhD, has been Chief Medical Officer at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) since June 2022. A specialist in clinical pharmacology, he has held leadership roles at the Danish Medicines Agency, served as a CHMP member at EMA, and co-chaired the European Commission’s... Read More →
avatar for Maria Vassileva

Maria Vassileva

Chief Science and Regulatory Officer, DIA, United States
Dr. Vassileva has decades of experience with managing complex multi-stakeholder biomedical research programs. She spent most of her career in the nonprofit sector, leading the Science Team at the Arthritis Foundation, and working at the Foundation for NIH and the American Association... Read More →
Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
201AB The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session |   08: RegPolicy-Strategy-GlobalCollaboration, Session

1:45pm EDT

#529: Early Outcomes and Strategic Learnings from the DIA Obesity Consortium’s Initial Collaborative Phase
Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
108A
Component Type: Session
Level: Advanced
CE: ACPE 1.25 Knowledge UAN: 0286-0000-26-654-L04-P; CME 1.25; RN 1.25

This session summarizes the work of the DIA Obesity Consortium with focus on the agreements that have been reached about which are the endpoints that should be included in Phase 3 clinical trials for the development of obesity drugs. The work is a result of the discussions among 10 companies, FDA, EMA, and many other advisors from patient advocacy organizations across the Americas and Europe.

Learning Objectives

Identify key clinically meaningful endpoints used in GLP-1 trials; Describe current opportunities and challenges in obesity drug development; Explain how the public private partnership led by Drug Information Association is advancing trial endpoint alignment.

Chair

Maria Vassileva, PHD

Speaker

Panelist
Katherin Ruiz

Panelist
Alison Matsui, MPH

Panelist
Brad Jordan, PHD

Panelist
Jingyu (Julia) Luan, PHD


Speakers
avatar for Brad Jordan

Brad Jordan

Associate Vice President, Regulatory Policy and Strategy, Eli Lilly and Company, United States
Brad Jordan is the Associate Vice President of Regulatory Policy and Strategy at Eli Lilly, where he is responsible for the regulatory policy strategy for Lilly’s cardiometabolic and immunology therapeutic areas.
avatar for Jingyu (Julia) Luan

Jingyu (Julia) Luan

Executive Regulatory Science Director, AstraZeneca, United States
Dr. Luan is currently the Executive Regulatory Science Director at AstraZeneca (AZ), where she oversees all regulatory aspects of obesity and diabetes drug development and supports the research, development, and commercialization efforts in these disease areas. She also leads the... Read More →
AM

Alison Matsui

Senior Principal PCOR Scientist, Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group, United States
KR

Katherin Ruiz

Consultant, Global Scientific Communications, Eli Lilly and Company, United States
avatar for Maria Vassileva

Maria Vassileva

Chief Science and Regulatory Officer, DIA, United States
Dr. Vassileva has decades of experience with managing complex multi-stakeholder biomedical research programs. She spent most of her career in the nonprofit sector, leading the Science Team at the Arthritis Foundation, and working at the Foundation for NIH and the American Association... Read More →
Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
108A The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session
  • Audience Advanced
  • Area Therapeutic Pathways
  • Level Advanced
  • format csv
  • Credit Type ACPE, CME, RN
  • Interest Area Clinical Development & Operations
  • Feature Topics Therapeutic Pathways
  • Tags Session

1:45pm EDT

#531: Tolerability in Immuno-Oncology: Patient Experience as a Core Element of Clinical Trials
Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
107AB
Component Type: Session
Level: Advanced
CE: ACPE 1.25 Knowledge UAN: 0286-0000-26-571-L04-P; CME 1.25; RN 1.25

Update on a DIA study advancing patient experience data to assess tolerability in immuno-oncology trials, highlighting conceptual model progress and stakeholder insights for regulatory decisions.

Learning Objectives

Describe recent developments from the DIA study integrating patient experience into immuno-oncology tolerability assessments; Examine findings from literature and KOL interviews; Identify strategies for operationalizing a multidimensional tolerability framework; Recognize multistakeholder perspectives to support trial design, data collection, and benefit–risk evaluation.

Chair

Devin Peipert, PHD

Speaker

Panelist
Efrat Dotan, MD

Panelist
Maria Paula Bautista Acelas, MSC

Panelist
Lia Ridout


Speakers
avatar for Maria Paula Bautista Acelas

Maria Paula Bautista Acelas

Scientific Program Manager, Research Partnerships, DIA, United States
Maria Paula offers expert guidance in scientific content development and project management for DIA’s global research partnerships, meetings, and programs. She is dedicated to advancing impactful, patient-centric scientific content that generates evidence to support the integration... Read More →
avatar for Efrat Dotan

Efrat Dotan

Executive Medical Director, Ann B Barshinger Cancer Institute, Lancaster General, Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation, United States
DP

Devin Peipert

Professor of Health Outcomes Measurement, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
Prof Peipert holds a 125th Anniversary Chair in the Department of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Birmingham, where he is affiliated with the Centre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research (CPROR) and the Birmingham Health Partners Centre for Regulatory Science and Innovation... Read More →
avatar for Lia Ridout

Lia Ridout

Patient Advocate, -, United States
Lia Ridout is a passionate survivor advocate in the lung cancer community. Diagnosed with stage 3b ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer in 2017, despite having no known risk factors, she became dedicated to advocating for patients. In recent years, she has expanded her focus to include... Read More →
AR

Angela Rylands

Global Head of Patient Centred Outcomes, Kyowa Kirin, United Kingdom
Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
107AB The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session

1:45pm EDT

#530: The Synthetic AI Patient Persona: Augmenting Patient Centricity in Clinical Trials
Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
108B
Component Type: Session
Level: Basic
CE: ACPE 1.25 Knowledge UAN: 0286-0000-26-570-L04-P; CME 1.25; RN 1.25

This pilot explored using synthetic AI patient personas to review clinical trial materials when real patient input was challenging due to time pressure. Alignment with actual patient feedback and potential for scalability was demonstrated.

Learning Objectives

Describe how synthetic AI patient personas can augment real patient input to personalize and improve patient trial experience; Identify the data requirements and limitations for building synthetic AI personas.

Chair

Robina Weermeijer

Speaker

Panelist
Jason Binder, MA

Panelist
Himanshu Manchanda, PHD

Panelist
Sabina Kineen


Speakers
JB

Jason Binder

Founder & CEO, Ember, United States
Jason Binder is the Founder and CEO of Ember, building the first continuous, real-world dataset of patient and caregiver decision-making in oncology. A former pharma data and clinical strategy leader with experience at AstraZeneca, Genentech, and Merck, he focuses on integrating AI... Read More →
avatar for Sabina Kineen

Sabina Kineen

Lived Experience Expert, Fabry Support & Information Group, United States
Sabina Kineen is a dedicated patient advocate and speaker with a passion for equitable access to clinical trials and healthcare. As both a patient and caregiver, she brings a unique, lived perspective that drives her work in health literacy, patient engagement, and reducing disparities... Read More →
HM

Himanshu Manchanda

Machine Learning Scientist, Bayer, Germany
RW

Robina Weermeijer

Boehringer Ingelheim, Netherlands
Robina Weermeijer is a Trial Patient & Site Engagement Lead within Global Clinical Development Operations, based in Amsterdam. With a strong focus on enhancing patient and site experiences in clinical trials, she works to elevate patient and site voices. In addition, she plays a key... Read More →
Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
108B The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session |   03: Data-Tech-AI, Session

4:15pm EDT

#548: Clinical Research Training for Community Cancer Centers: A Pilot to Extend Clinical Trials into Diverse Catchment Areas
Tuesday June 16, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
108A
Component Type: Session
Level: Basic
CE: ACPE 1.00 Knowledge UAN: 0286-0000-26-584-L04-P; CME 1.00; RN 1.00

This pilot project aimed to upskill community cancer centers to carry out clinical trials. ACCC and ACRP identified needs and provided self-study and instructor-led training that improved learner knowledge and confidence.

Learning Objectives

Describe the challenges faced by research-naïve and low trial capacity programs at community cancer centers in conducting clinical research; Recognize the role of professional training in preparing community cancer centers to implement clinical trials; Integrate learnings from a training pilot that helped advance foundational knowledge and confidence among clinic healthcare staff.

Chair

David Vulcano Landis, MBA

Speaker

Panelist
Ruma Bhagat, MPH

Panelist
Pete Fronte, MBA


Speakers
avatar for Ruma Bhagat

Ruma Bhagat

Process Excellence Leader, Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group, United States
avatar for Pete Fronte

Pete Fronte

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Altura, United States
Pete Fronte, MBA is President/CEO of Altura. During the past 30 years Mr. Fronte has been a leader in developing technology and services to expand clinical study participation for patients and building quality-based research centers within primary care organizations and community... Read More →
avatar for Susan Landis

Susan Landis

CEO, Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP), United States
Susan Landis serves as the Executive Director for the Association of Clinical Research Professionals. Prior to joining the Association, Susan led Strategic Engagement & Marketing Communications for the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI). While at Duke, Susan established and led... Read More →
avatar for David Vulcano Landis

David Vulcano Landis

CEO, Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP), United States
David is a well-known thought leader and change agent in the clinical research industry through numerous associations, boards and initiatives. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals and previously served as the Vice... Read More →
Tuesday June 16, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
108A The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session
  • Audience Basic
  • Level Basic
  • format csv
  • Credit Type ACPE, CME, RN
  • Tags Session

4:15pm EDT

#559: China Town Hall
Tuesday June 16, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
202AB
Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate
CE: ACPE 1.00 Knowledge UAN: 0286-0000-26-592-L04-P; CME 1.00; RN 1.00

In this session, speakers from NMPA, Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) and Center for Food and Drug Inspection (CFDI) will present and discuss the latest information on regulatory policy, drug review and approval, and international collaboration.

Learning Objectives

Recognize the latest information on the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) activities in drug regulation, supporting innovation and international collaboration; Describe the recent update on the progress in drug review, inspection and approvals in China; Discuss the issues on drug regulation with NMPA officials.

Chair

Ling Su, PHD

Speaker

Panelist
Wei Zhang

Panelist
Qinghua Wang, MD

Introduction
Hui Shi

Update on Drug Regulation in China
Huijuan Zhou

Evolution of clinical trial landscape enabling early clinical development
Xiaoyuan Chen, MD


Speakers
avatar for Xiaoyuan Chen

Xiaoyuan Chen

Professor, Tsinghua University School of Basic Medicine, China
Researcher Chen Xiaoyuan graduated with a bachelor's degree in clinical medicine in 1996 and a master's degree in clinical pharmacology in 2002. In 2010, he received a doctorate in pharmacology from Shanghai Jiaotong University. In 2002, he joined the drug evaluation center of the... Read More →
HS

Hui Shi

Director, Development Research Division, China Center for Food and Drug International Exchange, China
avatar for Ling Su

Ling Su

Research Fellow, Yeehong Business School, China
Dr. Ling Su is a Research Fellow in Shengyang Pharmaceutical University Yeehong Business School and a Venture Partner in Lilly Asia Ventures (LAV). He has 30 years of experience in drug regulatory and development. He had worked in various R&D management positions in the pharma industry... Read More →
QW

Qinghua Wang

Founder and CEO, Innogen Pharmaceuticals, China
Professor Qinghua Wang has dedicated over 30 years to translational research in metabolic diseases. He began his medical training in Shanghai, followed by graduate studies in Biochemistry in Antwerp. By 2000, he became an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto’s Department... Read More →
avatar for Wei Zhang

Wei Zhang

SVP, Head of Medicine, Greater China, Boehringer Ingelheim, China
HZ

Huijuan Zhou

Exchange Division, China Center for Food and Drug International Exchange, China
Tuesday June 16, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
202AB The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  08: RegPolicy-Strategy-GlobalCollaboration, Session |   02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session
 
Wednesday, June 17
 

10:15am EDT

#603.1: Case Studies on AI-Enabled and Analytical Practices and Solutions Reducing Site and Participant Burden in Clinical Trials
Wednesday June 17, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
108A
Component Type: Session
Level: Advanced
CE: ACPE 1.25 Application UAN: 0286-0000-26-598-L04-P; CME 1.25; RN 1.25

In this session, sponsor companies present use cases on strategies and solutions deployed (e.g., digitized protocols and AI-enabled tool) to simplify protocol design and reduce participant and site burden.

Learning Objectives

Discuss case examples profiling solutions and practices that sponsors have implemented to measure and reduce participant and site burden in clinical trials; Identify key factors driving burden in clinical trials; Describe approaches and experience with digitized protocol designs and AI-enabled protocol planning and design solutions.

Chair

Abigail Dirks, MS

Speaker

Panelist
Stephanie Christopher, MA

Panelist
Katrina Mateo, PHD, MPH


Speakers
avatar for Stephanie Christopher

Stephanie Christopher

Patient Engagement and Advocacy Lead, Pfizer, United States
Stephanie Christopher is a Patient Engagement and Advocacy Lead at Pfizer, where she supports clinical research teams to bring patient perspectives into the design and implementation of clinical trials and recruitment strategies. In this role, she supports Pfizer’s Breast, Genitourinary... Read More →
avatar for Abigail Dirks

Abigail Dirks

Senior Data Scientist, Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, United States
Abigail Dirks is a Senior Data Scientist at the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (Tufts CSDD) where she specializes in analyzing large datasets pertaining to all aspects of industry-funded drug development performance including protocol design complexity, investigative... Read More →
avatar for Katrina Mateo

Katrina Mateo

Associate Director, Development Innovation, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, United States
Katrina F. Mateo, PhD MPH, is a public health researcher, interventionist, and strategist bringing evidence-based, human-centered solutions to complex challenges. She leverages qualitative/mixed-method research methodology, human-centered design thinking, systems-thinking, behavioral... Read More →
Wednesday June 17, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
108A The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session |   03: Data-Tech-AI, Session

10:15am EDT

#613: FDA Rare Disease Town Hall
Wednesday June 17, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
201AB
Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate
CE: ACPE 1.25 Knowledge UAN: 0286-0000-26-609-L04-P; CME 1.25; RN 1.25

Senior FDA leaders will discuss evolving regulatory trends in rare disease development, including accelerated approval, innovative trial designs, patient engagement, and real-world evidence, followed by open Q&A with attendees.

Learning Objectives

Identify current FDA regulatory trends and scientific approaches shaping rare disease drug development; Apply FDA expectations around accelerated approval, surrogate endpoints, and innovative trial designs; Integrate patient voice and real-world evidence into development strategies to support benefit-risk assessment.

Chair

James Valentine, JD, MHS

Speakers
VK

Vijay Kumar

Acting Director OTP/CBER, FDA, United States
avatar for James Valentine

James Valentine

Director, Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, PC, United States
James Valentine advises medical product companies and patient advocacy organizations on regulatory strategy for the development and approval of drugs and biologics, with a focus on rare diseases. He has helped secure FDA approvals, and often works in areas without well-defined regulatory... Read More →
Wednesday June 17, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
201AB The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  08: RegPolicy-Strategy-GlobalCollaboration, Session |   02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session

10:15am EDT

#616: How to Accelerate Utilization of Decentralized Clinical Trial: What are Issues to Perform Decentralized Clinical Trial?
Wednesday June 17, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
117
Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate
CE: ACPE 1.25 Knowledge UAN: 0286-0000-26-611-L04-P; CME 1.25; RN 1.25

Share the gap of Decentralized Clinical Trial (DCT) regulation in the EU, US and Japan. The speakers also touch how to overcome them. The session is helpful for sponsor which plan the trials.

Learning Objectives

Explain DCT regulations in Japan, the US, and Europe and how to overcome their differences.

Chair

Junko Sato, PHD

Speaker

DCT in Japan
Ruri Matsumoto, RPH

Experiences and expactation to DCT
Rasmus Enggaard, MPHARM, MSC


Speakers
RE

Rasmus Enggaard

Therapy Area Head, CardioRenal/Liver/RareD, Novo Nordisk A/S, United States
Rasmus Enggaard is the Therapy Area Head for CardioRenal, Liver, and Rare Diseases in U.S. Clinical Development & Operations at Novo Nordisk, where he is responsible for execution of a broad and complex clinical trial portfolio. His work focuses on operational excellence, scalable... Read More →
RM

Ruri Matsumoto

Office of Non-clinical and Clinical Compliance I, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), Japan
avatar for Junko Sato

Junko Sato

Associate Executive Director, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), Japan
Dr. Sato joined the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) in 1998, and she is currently the Associate Executive Director. She has work experiences in new drug review for 11 yrs, risk management for 3 yrs, and international area for 11 yrs. She also worked in U.S. FDA as... Read More →
Wednesday June 17, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
117 The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  09: RD-Quality-Compliance, Session |   02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session

1:45pm EDT

#624: Optimizing Protocol Data Collection to Reduce Site and Patient Participation Burden
Wednesday June 17, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
108B
Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate
CE: ACPE 1.00 Application UAN: 0286-0000-26-613-L04-P; CME 1.00; RN 1.00

This session presents results of a recent TransCelerate–Tufts CSDD study highlighting trends, benchmarking protocol data collection practices, and offering new, practical strategies to simplify protocol designs and reduce participant and site burden.

Learning Objectives

Analyze new benchmarks on the distribution of protocol data across core, standard, and non-core endpoints; Identify procedures associated with non-core and non-essential endpoints and their contribution to patient and site burden; Discuss strategies to evaluate protocol data collection, simplify design and lower participation burden.

Chair

Kenneth Getz, MBA

Speaker

New Benchmarks on Clinical Trial Data Collection Practices and their Impact
Kenneth Getz, MBA

Frameworks and Tools Guiding Optimization of Protocol Data Collection
Jackie Cole, MS


Speakers
JC

Jackie Cole

Director, Design and Innovation, Clinical Operations, Gilead Sciences, United States
Jackie Cole is a clinical development innovator with more than two decades of experience across clinical operations and site engagement. At Gilead, she serves as Director of Design & Innovation, driving enterprise-wide innovation strategies that reshape how trials are designed and... Read More →
avatar for Kenneth Getz

Kenneth Getz

Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, Tufts University School of Medicine, United States
Ken Getz is the Executive Director and a Professor at the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, Tufts University School of Medicine. He is also the chairman of CISCRP – a nonprofit organization that he founded to educate and raise public and patient awareness of the clinical... Read More →
Wednesday June 17, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
108B The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session |   03: Data-Tech-AI, Session |   04: MedAffairs-SciComm, Session
  • Audience Intermediate
  • Level Intermediate
  • format csv
  • Credit Type ACPE, CME, RN
  • Interest Area Clinical Development & Operations,Data Management & Data Standards
  • Tags Session

4:00pm EDT

#645: Clinical Trial Experience Surveys: Sponsor Wide Implementation Across Countries and Therapy Areas
Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
108B
Component Type: Session
CE: ACPE 1.00 Application UAN: 0286-0000-26-631-L04-P; CME 1.00; RN 1.00



Speaker

Panelist
Lani Hashimoto

Panelist
Loriana Hernandez-Aldama

Clinical Trial Experience Surveys: Sponsor Wide Implementation Across Countries and Therapy Areas
Robina Weermeijer

Panelist
Mitch Herndon, MPH


Speakers
avatar for Lani Hashimoto

Lani Hashimoto

Consultant, Patient Experience, Hashimoto Consulting Services, United States
Dedicated to connecting patients to research, Lani's lived experience as a trial participant & as a caregiver further inspired her professional pursuits. She credits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as a key influence in her passion for patient experience & the importance of patient... Read More →
avatar for Loriana Hernandez-Aldama

Loriana Hernandez-Aldama

Patient Advocate|2x Survivor| Founder, ArmorUp for Life, Armorup Media, United States
Loriana is a 2x cancer survivor, international motivational speaker, award-winning journalist, podcast host, and author of "Becoming the Story: The Power of Prehab." Bold, transparent, and honest, Loriana has emerged as a game-changer in healthcare, advocating globally for transformative... Read More →
avatar for Mitch Herndon

Mitch Herndon

Head, Patient Experience & Recruitment, UCB Biosciences, United States
Mitch Herndon leads a global team at UCB in meeting study enrollment and improving the experience of clinical study participants. Mitch has 29 years of experience in partnering with patients including at a pediatric clinic, patient organization, CRO and pharma. He has served in a... Read More →
RW

Robina Weermeijer

Boehringer Ingelheim, Netherlands
Robina Weermeijer is a Trial Patient & Site Engagement Lead within Global Clinical Development Operations, based in Amsterdam. With a strong focus on enhancing patient and site experiences in clinical trials, she works to elevate patient and site voices. In addition, she plays a key... Read More →
Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
108B The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session
  • format csv
  • Credit Type ACPE, CME, RN
  • Tags Session

4:00pm EDT

#644: 50,000 Participants, Two Countries, One DCT: Oversight That Worked
Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
108A
Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate
CE: ACPE 1.00 Application UAN: 0286-0000-26-630-L04-P; CME 1.00; RN 1.00

50,000 participants across two African countries created oversight challenges no checklist could handle. Learn how operational design and informal KRIs shaped oversight—and dual perspectives from operations and quality.

Learning Objectives

Differentiate traditional monitoring from risk-proportionate oversight in mega-scale DCTs; Analyze how operational practices reflected RBQM and QbD principles without labels; Design fit-for-purpose monitoring approaches informed by informal KRIs and real-time signals.

Chair

Leslie Sam

Speaker

Panelist
Lisa Collins


Speakers
LC

Lisa Collins

Founder - Head Clinical Operations, Innomas Clinical Research (Africa), Nigeria
Lisa Ursella Collins is Co-Founder and CEO of Innomas Clinical Research and a global clinical operations and program leader. She works at the intersection of clinical execution, quality, and operational risk—translating development strategy into disciplined delivery. Through Innomas... Read More →
avatar for Leslie Sam

Leslie Sam

President, Leslie Sam and Associates, LLC, United States
With 30 years of clinical trial research and quality, leadership and six sigma black belt roles, Leslie Sam, President, Leslie Sam and Associates, LLC, collaborates with clients to transform their clinical quality management system design and implementation. She was sought out by... Read More →
Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
108A The Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
  02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation, Session |   09: RD-Quality-Compliance, Session
  • Audience Intermediate
  • Level Intermediate
  • format csv
  • Credit Type ACPE, CME, RN
  • Interest Area Quality Assurance / Control & CMC
  • Tags Session
 
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    Student and Early Career Pathway
    Therapeutic Pathways
    Trust and Responsible Innovation
  • Timezone
DIA 2026 Global Annual Meeting
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Monday, June 8
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102AB
103A
105AB
107AB
108A
108B
109AB
110A
111AB
112AB
114
115AB
115C
116
117
118AB
118C
119AB
201AB
202AB
203AB
204AB
Ballroom AB
Content Hub
Exchange
Innovation Theater 1
Innovation Theater 2
Innovation Theater 3
Spark Stage
TBD
Zone A
Zone B
  • 00: Plenary
  • 01: ClinSafety-PV-RM
  • 02: ClinicalTrialOps-Innovation
  • 03: Data-Tech-AI
  • 04: MedAffairs-SciComm
  • 05: PersonalizedMed-ComboProd-Diagnostics
  • 06: ProfDevelop-Program-PortfolioMgmt
  • 07: RegCMC-Product Quality
  • 08: RegPolicy-Strategy-GlobalCollaboration
  • 09: RD-Quality-Compliance
  • 10: Stats-EvidenceGeneration-RWE
  • 11: Spark Stage
  • 12: Content-Hubs
  • 13: Community-Rounds
  • 14: Posters
  • 15: Networking-Opportunities
  • 16: InnovationTheaters
  • 17: Short-Courses
  • 18: Lift-Series
  • Audience
  • Advanced
  • Basic
  • Intermediate
  • Area
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Biotech-ClinTech-Pathway
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Digital Enablement and Modernization
  • Ethics
  • Evidence Innovation
  • Global Alignment in Practice
  • Patient-Centered Design and Experience
  • Student and Early Career Pathway
  • Therapeutic Pathways
  • Trust and Responsible Innovation