Episodes
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Planning for 2025 doesn’t have to be overwhelming—it can be a powerful exercise in aligning your goals with your ideal lifestyle and long-term aspirations. In this episode, Alun Bedding provides actionable strategies and thoughtful insights to help you approach the year ahead with clarity and purpose. Whether you’re aiming to elevate your career, find balance, or simply refine your approach to goal-setting, this episode is packed with ideas you won’t want to miss. So, listen now and take the first step toward making 2025 your most impactful year yet. And if you found this episode valuable, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with friends and colleagues who could benefit from these transformative strategies!
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How do we find the right dose in immune-oncology trials?
Is the traditional “maximum tolerated dose” approach still enough, or should we also focus on efficacy?
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I talk with Teppo Huttunen, a seasoned statistician and co-founder of the boutique CRO, Estimeds. We uncover the shortcomings of the conventional three-plus-three design and explain how the Bayesian Optimal Interval (BOIN) design gives us more flexibility and better insights. Teppo shares practical tips on dose optimization and highlights the critical role statisticians play in shaping smarter, evidence-based decisions for phase two trials.
If you want to learn how we can balance safety, efficacy, and practical challenges in oncology studies, this episode is for you! -
Episodes manquant?
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Are you feeling stuck or overwhelmed in your work as a statistician?
Do you wonder how to stay sharp and maintain balance while tackling complex challenges?
In this Friday episode of The Effective Statistician, my co-host for, Alun Bedding, takes the lead to unpack the concept of "sharpening the saw," inspired by Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Alun dives into the art of continuous renewal—physical, mental, social, and spiritual—to help you stay proactive and effective. He shares practical tips, personal insights, and lessons from recent PSI webinars, offering actionable steps to improve focus and boost productivity.
Listen in and discover how small, intentional changes can sharpen your edge as a statistician! -
Welcome to this episode of The Effective Statistician! Today, I explore an exciting and rapidly growing field: digital health interventions.
Have you ever wondered how to define engagement with these tools?
Why does measuring engagement matter so much for their success?
And how can statisticians solve the unique challenges that come with this digital space?
I speak with Jack Elkes, a PhD researcher focused on digital health, to answer these questions. Together, we tackle the complexities of these interventions, their use in areas like mental health, and how tools like cluster analysis help make sense of multidimensional data. With over 10,000 mental health apps already on the App Store, this field expands rapidly, creating opportunities and challenges.
If you want to know how engagement in digital health connects to marketing strategies or how these tools reshape decentralized trials, you’ll find plenty of insights here. Let’s dive in! -
Have you ever thought about how clinical trials affect the environment?
I hadn’t, until I spoke with Annie Wright, a first-year PhD student at Imperial College who is passionate about greener research. In this episode, we uncover how clinical trials contribute to climate change, from travel emissions to operational inefficiencies. We dive into practical actions statisticians and researchers can take to reduce the carbon footprint of trials, like adopting decentralized approaches and streamlining study designs.
Join us as we explore how to transform clinical research into a more sustainable practice while still delivering valuable scientific outcomes. -
Have you faced the challenge of dealing with non-proportional hazards in survival analysis?
In this episode, I team up with Kaspar Rufibach, a statistical methodology expert, to break down what proportional hazards mean, why the assumption often fails, and how you can tackle these situations effectively.
We explain key concepts like hazard functions, discuss practical ways to analyze and visualize survival data, and share strategies for designing better clinical trials.
Whether you’re working on your first survival analysis or refining your approach, this episode will equip you with the tools to address non-proportional hazards confidently. -
Introduction to Episode: "How Real Leaders Help Their People Grow Professionally and Personally"
What does it take to be a great leader?
How do you build trust, inspire growth, and create real value for your team and organization?
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I sit down with Aziza Yormirzaeva and Klaus Breuer to answer these questions. Aziza shares how Klaus, her former manager, guided her to discover her passion for statistics and grow both as a professional and as a person. Klaus explains how he empowers his team, fosters trust, and creates a workplace culture that prioritizes learning and collaboration.
Their story is filled with practical lessons, inspiring moments, and insights that will challenge how you think about leadership and personal growth.
Let’s jump right into this fascinating conversation! -
What makes gene therapy so different from traditional drug development?
How do we address safety when each patient only receives a single dose?
And why are statisticians so essential in this process?
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I sit down with Oscar Segurado, an MD, PhD, an expert in gene and cell therapies, to answer these questions and more. Oscar draws on decades of experience in academia, med tech, and biopharma—including his work on the blockbuster drug Humira—to guide us through the complexities of clinical development in gene therapy. We discuss everything from early clinical trials to commercialization, uncovering the unique challenges of treating rare diseases like hemophilia A and spinal muscular atrophy.
Whether you’re a statistician, data scientist, or just curious about the future of medicine, this episode offers valuable insights into the clinical development of gene therapies and the vital role statisticians play in advancing these groundbreaking treatments. -
What if we could target genetic diseases at their root, offering lifelong cures instead of temporary solutions?
And what role do statisticians play in making this breakthrough possible?
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I dive into the fascinating world of gene therapy—an area packed with both promise and complexity.
I'm thrilled to finally cover this revolutionary field with two expert guests, Avery McIntosh from Pfizer and Alex Sverdlov from Novartis. Together, we break down the science behind gene therapies, explore the ethical and logistical challenges, and reveal how statisticians drive these life-changing treatments forward.
So, how close are we to curing diseases through gene therapy? Let’s jump in and find out. -
What does it take to create an effective clinical development plan? How do our early decisions shape the path of a compound through clinical phases? And how can statisticians actively balance the demands of science, speed, and cost in drug development?
In this special 400th episode of The Effective Statistician, I dive into these questions with Carrie Li, a biostatistics expert whose career spans both big pharma and startups. Carrie shares how she builds clinical development plans from scratch, collaborates with cross-functional teams, and uses statistical expertise to create strategies that drive both scientific and commercial success.
Join us as we explore the impact statisticians have on the clinical development journey. -
Have you wondered how large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are transforming the way we work?
How can AI tools boost efficiency in statistics and pharmaceutical research?
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I talk with Pietro Mascheroni from Boehringer Ingelheim to answer these questions. Pietro, a physicist, shares how LLMs are being used in real-world applications, from simplifying document retrieval to enhancing data exploration and refining code.
We dive into why it’s crucial to maintain human oversight, how AI can improve team communication, and the challenges in validating these models.
If you're eager to learn how AI can revolutionize your work or help you stay ahead in this fast-paced field, tune in to this insightful episode! -
Are you a statistician looking to expand your career beyond the statistics department?
Do you want to know how your data expertise and strategic thinking can open new doors?
In this episode of The Effective Statistician podcast, I sit down with Swarna Khare, who made that leap and found success in strategic roles across the industry. We explore her journey, discussing how statisticians can leverage their skills to create a bigger impact outside of technical roles.
If you're ready to take your career to the next level, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you step beyond the statistics function and into new opportunities. -
Are you trying to boost your productivity and organize your tasks more efficiently?
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I talk with Taina Pereenniemi about how Notion can help you take control of your workflows. Taina shares how she transformed her own productivity by using Notion to manage tasks, projects, and collaboration all in one place.
We dive into how you can start using Notion right away to simplify your work and personal life.
Plus, get a preview of Taina’s upcoming workshop at the Effective Statistician conference, where she'll guide participants through setting up their own Notion systems. -
What can statisticians gain from the world of software engineering?
How can coding practices from companies like Google help us enhance the quality of statistical work in the pharmaceutical industry?
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I talk with Daniel Sabanés Bové to explore these questions. Daniel walks us through his career, from working as a biostatistician at Roche to becoming a data scientist at Google, and shares why he returned to healthcare. We discuss how applying software engineering principles—like clean coding, automation, and collaboration—can transform the way statisticians work.
If you want to improve your coding skills and efficiency using open-source tools and better workflows, this conversation with Daniel offers practical insights and a glimpse into his new consulting venture, RCONIS. -
Are you curious about how predictive models forecast future outcomes?
Or how do experts build and test these models to ensure they’re reliable?
In this episode, I sit down with Chantelle to explore these questions and dive deep into the world of predictive modeling. We break down the process, from analyzing the data to validating the final model, and discuss how these techniques are used, especially in healthcare.
If you're eager to understand how predictive models work and why they matter, this episode is for you. -
How can artificial intelligence simplify your daily work?
How do tools like GitHub Copilot streamline tasks for statisticians and data scientists?
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I explore these questions with Paolo Eusebi, who shares his direct experience using Copilot in R Studio. We dive into how AI can suggest accurate code, assist with data manipulation, and help you quickly learn new programming techniques. We also discuss the critical need to safeguard data privacy when using these tools in larger organizations.
Join us to see how AI can boost your productivity and transform how you work! -
Are you feeling nervous about delivering your next presentation? Do you dread the moment you step in front of an audience? You’re not alone.
But what if you could turn that anxiety into confidence and deliver your presentation like a pro? In this episode, I guide you through practical tips to help you feel more comfortable and in control. You’ll learn how to shift your focus to the audience, practice to build confidence and master your setup, whether in-person or virtual. I also show you how to use your voice effectively, incorporate gestures, and even film yourself to identify areas for improvement. Ready to transform your presentation skills? Let’s get started! -
In this episode, I dive into some key questions:
How does luck influence our careers?
How do we stay humble while continually learning and growing?
What can we learn from someone who has shaped the field of statistics for decades?
I’m thrilled to explore these topics with one of the most influential statisticians, Stephen Senn. Stephen shares his journey, revealing the pivotal decisions that guided his career and the insights he gained along the way.
Join me as we uncover the lessons that can inspire and guide statisticians at every stage of their careers. -
Do your slides overwhelm your audience with too much information?
Are they cluttered, and distracting from the message you want to deliver?
In this episode, I help you tackle these challenges by showing you how to craft better, more engaging slides. Building on the last two episodes about preparing presentations, I guide you through practical strategies to simplify your slides, focus on key takeaways, and enhance them with visuals and storytelling.
With these tips, you’ll create slides that captivate your audience and strengthen your overall presentation. -
Are you curious about how artificial intelligence is transforming clinical research?
Do you want to know how statisticians can use AI to improve healthcare outcomes?
In this episode, I explore these questions with Francois Vandenhende, a seasoned expert in the pharmaceutical industry with nearly three decades of experience. Francois shares his journey from using traditional statistical methods to pioneering AI and machine learning in clinical development. We dive into how AI is making a difference in areas like digital twins and the integration of structured and unstructured data. Francois also highlights how statisticians can leverage AI to shape the future of healthcare.
Join us as we uncover the exciting opportunities AI offers in clinical research and why it’s more than just a trend. - Montre plus