13th Annual Partnerships in Clinical Trials Congress
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The global outsourcing of the clinical trials industry is undergoing a period of rapid growth with research suggesting the market will reach $60.03 billion by 2018.[i] Key issues such as transparency, risk based monitoring (RBM) and disruptive innovation continue to drive change, meanwhile greater consolidation of CROs due to globalisation and a focus on cost efficiency are also shaping the future of clinical trial development.
At the Partnerships in Clinical Trials (PCT) Congress & Exhibition, which takes place this year on 5-6 November, professionals from across the globe will come together to discuss, debate, and share best practice in maximising resource and delivering pioneering clinical trials.
Throughout the congress delegates can hear from experts in their fields as they offer insight into topics ranging from patient recruitment and retention, collaboration between stakeholders and different outsourcing models. Alongside this, the exhibition gives visitors the opportunity to meet with more than 350 service providers operating in the global clinical trials sector to discuss potential new business partnerships.
The industry put into focus
The world-renowned two-day congress addresses the needs and concerns of clinical trial stakeholders to equip them with the information they require to develop first-class clinical trial programmes. Morning keynote presentations are followed by streamed sessions (four on each day) that allow delegates to select those sessions most relevant to their business needs.
TransCelerate, the not-for-profit organisation focused on advancing innovation in research and development by driving efficiencies in clinical trials, will host a number of sessions designed to demonstrate how its work and collaboration across 19 sponsor companies are delivering tangible benefits and impact to the industry.
On day one a keynote session – TransCelerate Panel: The Collaboration Between Major Stakeholders – brings together Dalvir Gill, CEO at TransCelerate, Thor Voigt, Senior Vice President Global Clinical Operations at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma, and Jonathan Zung, Vice President Global Clinical Sciences & Operations at UCB. They will share the mission of the organization, demonstrate the practical impact on pharmaceutical companies and other industry stakeholders of the work done by TransCelerate, and discuss latest progress of key initiatives (including the Shared Investigator Platform and newly launched 2014 initiatives).
In Stream C – dedicated to the topic of RBM – TransCelerate is hosting another panel debate which will examine its latest developments in the area, as well as offer an update on key findings from the latest pilot metrics . The organisation’s final panel discussion is on day two Stream H on the topic of “Working with Investigators”. A panel including Katrina Hugeneck at Eli Lilly Regional Operations Austria, Jackie Kent at Eli Lilly and Company USA, Hans Christian Hoeck, MD, PhD at CCBR Clinical Research, and Christine Gessmann at UCB will showcase the organisation’s efforts via Site Advocacy Groups to collaborate directly with the investigators in the development of various solutions such as Investigator Registry, Shared Investigator Platform, and Site Qualification & Training.
Other notable sessions in the conference include a dramatisation on day one where Jack Whelan, author, lecturer, cancer survivor and clinical trials patient, will facilitate an engaging session examining how issues such as heavy regulation and data sharing, and direct engagement tactics can affect patient perspectives; and a session on disruptive innovation where senior figures such as Hilde Vanaken of Janssen, Barbara Tardiff of Pfizer and Betsy Fallen of Merck will provide answers to questions surrounding the importance of disruptive innovation and give real life examples where this novel approach to clinical trial design has worked.
On day one delegates can also take advantage of Collaboration Zones. These industry-led lunchtime discussions go in-depth covering issues and trends highlighted in the conference. The four sessions are: Disruptive thinking around how to become more patient-centric, led by Alain Bindels at F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Implementing an effective change management strategy, led by Andy Lawton at Boehringer, Implementing effective global communications skills, delivered by Michael Zörer at AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals, and Training session: Talent management and retention across teams with John Faulkes at PPMLD and David Davis at Futura Medical.
Network and meet with your peers
Away from the conference sessions, delegates have the opportunity to meet with suppliers to the industry. More than 350 exhibitors are expected to attend with an estimated 15 per cent attending for the first time including leading cardiac core lab Cardiocore, innovative investigator training provider Trifector, single application and infrastructure for EDC and CDM provider Oracle, and imaging core lab Virtual Scopics.
Two Partnering Zones on the show floor also facilitate discussion. In advance of the show, delegates can contact other show attendees to set up one-to-one meetings using the partneringOne system, designed to ease the networking process so time can be maximised at show.
Rosie Bernard, Event Director for the 13th Annual Partnerships in Clinical Trials Congress, commented: “With so many external factors influencing the direction of clinical trial design, it’s vital the industry to stays up to date with key issues and developments. The Conference programme has been specially designed to tackle hotly debated topics and offer perspectives for improvement and ideas for the future that delegates can apply to current and potential projects. Our aim is to bring together all stakeholders involved in the development of clinical trials and we’re looking forward to opening the doors to another vibrant event that will be filled with discussion and debate.”
