DIA 2025 Global Annual Meeting

Component Type: Tutorial
CE: ACPE 2.75 Application UAN: 0286-0000-25-502-L04-P; CME 2.75; IACET 2.75; RN 2.75

Pre-registration required and is an additional fee.

Already registered? Log in to DIA's My Account My Events.

This Short Course will be offered virtually – Join from anywhere!In this short course, participants will gain hands-on experience in applying Risk-Based Quality Management (RBQM) principles, grounded in the Quality by Design (QbD) framework, to real-world clinical trial scenarios. Working in small groups, participants will analyze a three-page real-life study synopsis, using guidance from ICH E6(R2/R3), to identify critical data, critical processes, and potential risks. Following an instructor-led introduction to key concepts like risk scoring and mitigation strategies, participants will identify and prioritize risks, create actionable risk statements, develop mitigation plans, define Key Risk Indicators (KRIs), and establish Quality Tolerance Limits (QTLs).With feedback from expert instructors, participants will refine their critical thinking and learn how to distinguish key data and processes in clinical trials. This approach emphasizes practical relevance, equipping attendees with tools to apply RBQM and QbD principles to their own protocols immediately. Through collaborative group work and actionable insights, attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how to embed ICH E6(R3)-aligned QbD strategies into their risk management practices.

Receive $50 off your Global Annual Meeting total purchase by registering for two or more Short Courses. Purchases must be made at the same time to receive the discount. Discounts will be reflected on the last page of the cart.
Receive $50 off your Global Annual Meeting total purchase by registering for two or more Short Courses. Purchases must be made at the same time to receive the discount. Discounts will be reflected on the last page of the cart.

Who should attend?

Professionals involved in or interested in clinical research, particularly risk managers, project managers, study managers, clinical data managers, statisticians, lead monitors, auditors, and those involved in risk-based quality management and risk-based monitoring activities.

Learning Objectives

• Identify critical data and critical processes, determine the risks and define a risk statement
• Evaluate the risks regarding likelihood, impact and detectability, and define suitable mitigation actions, KRIs and QTLs
• Evaluate compliance with ICH E6 R2/R3 and increase the potential for study success

Component Type: Tutorial
CE: ACPE 2.75 Application UAN: 0286-0000-25-503-L04-P; CME 2.75; IACET 2.75; PDU 2.75 PMI 2166LKA26P; RN 2.75

Pre-registration required and is an additional fee. *Please note: Short Courses are stand-alone events. Registration for the main conference, forum, etc. are not mandatory. Already registered? Log in to DIA's My Account My Events. This Short Course will be offered virtually – Join from anywhere!This short course provides a focused, in-depth exploration of how established project management frameworks, tools, and best practices can be applied specifically to the drug development process. Participants will begin by examining a range of methodologies—such as Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid approaches—to understand which strategies work best for managing the multifaceted challenges of clinical trials. Through guided instruction, attendees will learn how to adapt these methodologies to meet stringent regulatory requirements, handle complex demands, and maintain stringent quality standards. In addition to foundational methodologies, this course delves into practical tools and templates that streamline project planning, risk management, and communication. These tools help teams navigate the intricate timelines associated with bringing a drug to market, enabling participants to anticipate and mitigate risks before they become obstacles. By learning to identify common bottlenecks and implement effective contingency plans, attendees can keep projects on schedule and budget, ensuring that new therapies reach patients faster. A central component of the course focuses on enhancing cross-functional collaboration. Participants will learn strategies to improve communication among scientific, clinical, regulatory, and operational teams, ensuring that everyone shares a common understanding of project goals and responsibilities. This improved alignment not only accelerates decision-making but also fosters a more cohesive and productive working environment. To reinforce these concepts, the course provides real-world examples and case studies to give participants hands-on experience in applying project management principles, evaluating risk, adjusting timelines, and coordinating team efforts in real-world scenarios. In addition, advanced tools and techniques are introduced, equipping learners with cutting-edge resources that support informed decision-making and efficiency throughout the drug development lifecycle. By the end of this program, participants will have gained a practical, customizable toolkit they can immediately apply in their daily work. Participants will emerge with greater confidence in managing complex drug development and clinical research projects, ultimately improving trial outcomes and accelerating the delivery of innovative therapies to the patients who need them. Receive $50 off your Global Annual Meeting total purchase by registering for two or more Short Courses. Purchases must be made at the same time to receive the discount. Discounts will be reflected on the last page of the cart. Registered attendees for this virtual Short Course will receive access to the course recording for 2 full months post-course! This allows you to remain flexible with your schedule and not worry if you need to step out momentarily. Have a conflict with the dates of the course, but are interested in the content? Register anyway and you will receive access to the recording!

Who should attend?

Professionals working in or interested in drug development who seek to improve their project management knowledge and skillset. Roles that would benefit from this course include project managers, clinical research associates, data managers, regulatory specialists, and clinical operations staff, amongst others, who aim to streamline processes and deliver projects on time and on budget to accelerate the development of new therapies.

Learning Objectives

• Identify key project management methodologies and tools to improve efficiency in drug development
• Discuss drug development timelines by learning strategies to manage risks, streamline timelines, and overcome bottlenecks
• Apply Cross-Functional Collaboration to ensure smoother project execution and faster delivery of therapies

Component Type: Tutorial
CE: ACPE 2.75 Application UAN: 0286-0000-25-504-L04-P; CME 2.75; IACET 2.75; RN 2.75

Pre-registration required and is an additional fee. *Please note: Short Courses are stand-alone events. Registration for the main conference, forum, etc. are not mandatory. Already registered? Log in to DIA's My Account My Events. This Short Course will be offered virtually – Join from anywhere! Cell and Gene Therapies (CGTs) are a rapidly expanding area in the pharmaceutical sector, offering the potential to address serious unmet medical needs in many indications. Yet some of the conceptual frameworks in this field differ dramatically from those of traditional pharmaceutical medicines, specifically with regard to CMC, Non-clinical and Clinical requirements and Health Authority expectations. This short course will help those who have pharmaceutical sector experience but are newcomers to the CGT field ‘get into the right frame of mind’ to think about CGT development. Participants will be introduced to requirements for each of the major disciplines for regulatory submissions: CMC, Non-clinical and Clinical. The course will also explain the rationale behind the CMC approach to CGT manufacture and basic CMC regulatory expectations for CGT products, including process and product characterization, comparability and process validation. Biological mechanisms for CGTs will also be discussed, with a focus on how mechanistic understanding can inform the design of in vitro and animal studies to provide non-clinical evidence of safety and efficacy. Key principles for clinical development of CGTs will be presented, with an emphasis on clinical study design elements that are critical for Health Authority evaluation of benefit-risk. Case studies of recent FDA approvals will be showcased to highlight key clinical considerations and changes in the regulatory environment for CGTs. The course features ex-Health Authority Regulators presenters who have a combined 20 years of experience at the FDA and EMA. Receive $50 off your Global Annual Meeting total purchase by registering for two or more Short Courses. Purchases must be made at the same time to receive the discount. Discounts will be reflected on the last page of the cart. Registered attendees for this virtual Short Course will receive access to the course recording for 2 full months post-course! This allows you to remain flexible with your schedule and not worry if you need to step out momentarily. Have a conflict with the dates of the course, but are interested in the content? Register anyway and you will receive access to the recording!

Who should attend?

Professionals involved in or interested in gaining an understanding of the basics of cell and gene therapy development, including regulatory personnel, clinical operations personnel, researchers and investigators, medical writers, and commercial specialists.

Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate why cell and gene therapies (CGT) require a different and very specialized regulatory approach compared to small molecules and biologics
• Develop knowledge of CGT-specific considerations and requirements for CMC, Non-Clinical, and Clinical development
• Analyze important regulatory considerations for CGT development programs

Component Type: Tutorial
CE: ACPE 7.50 Application UAN: 0286-0000-25-509-L04-P; CME 7.50; RN 7.50

Pre-registration required and is an additional fee. *Please note: Short Courses are stand-alone events. Registration for the main conference, forum, etc. are not mandatory. Already registered? Log in to DIA's My Account My Events. This Short Course will be offered virtually – Join from anywhere!Patient experience data, through patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and other clinical outcome assessments (COAs) are an increasingly important component of regulatory drug submissions and health technology assessments (HTAs). Instructors will take participants on an in-depth evaluation of the key topics important in successful ePRO implementation, including:

• Selecting, adapting and developing patient-reported outcome measures to meet protocol objectives
• The case for ePRO – when to select an electronic approach, and when paper might suffice
• ePRO implementation best practices to ensure good measurement science
• Migration validity considerations and evidentiary requirements
• Language, translation and licensing considerations
• Implementation steps including vendor selection and user acceptance testing (UAT) best practices
• Modality choices – web vs app, and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) considerations
• Hot topics such as data change processes, mixing modes, special populations, etc.
• Q&A – discussion of participants' own hot topics.

Receive $50 off your Global Annual Meeting total purchase by registering for two or more Short Courses. Purchases must be made at the same time to receive the discount. Discounts will be reflected on the last page of the cart. Registered attendees for this virtual Short Course will receive access to the course recording for 2 full months post-course! This allows you to remain flexible with your schedule and not worry if you need to step out momentarily. Have a conflict with the dates of the course, but are interested in the content? Register anyway and you will receive access to the recording!

Who should attend?

Professionals who have experience in clinical trials and patient engagement and wish to develop their skills on how PRO measurement is best implemented in clinical drug development programs.

Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate when to select electronic capture, when to use web vs app, and when to enable patients to use their own devices (BYOD)
• Apply industry best practices to ePRO implementation, translations and other processes such as PRO data changes
• Describe the implementation steps, possible bottlenecks and mitigations, and user acceptance testing best practices

Component Type: Session
Level: Basic

Digital health technologies are advancing drug development, aligning with FDA's PDUFA VII commitments. This session explores their impact, featuring perspectives from academia, industry, and FDA.

Learning Objectives

Describe the evolving application and impact of digital health technologies in clinical research; Identify best practices for integrating digital health technologies with traditional clinical outcome assessments; Discuss the challenges and regulatory considerations associated with the use of digital health technologies.

Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate

Go beyond platitudes and qualitative advice on planning, deploying, and measuring the success of your recruitment campaign. Enjoy this Master Class in Recruitment Campaign Management from some of the industry's best minds

Learning Objectives

Build an evidence based forecast for centralized patient recruitment campaigns; Optimize channel mixes, vendor management, performance models, technology selection; Measure and optimize campaign performance and ROI.

Chair

Joseph Kim, MA, MBA

Component Type: Forum
Level: Intermediate

A basket trial (BT) investigates one treatment across many conditions by recruiting patients with shared biological factors. Applying BTs to CGTs can streamline clinical and regulatory processes to speed delivery to patients with rare diseases.

Learning Objectives

Identify barriers to and solutions for leveraging basket trials to study CGTs for rare disease.

Chair

Nancy Myers, JD

Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate

In this session, speakers from industry, academia, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will discuss innovative use cases, experiences, and challenges of implementing linkage of traditional clinical trial data to RWD.

Learning Objectives

Discuss use cases of trial linkage to RWD and the benefits for patients, decision makers and sponsors; Explain requirements and best practices in implementing trial linkage to RWD; Describe current scientific and operational challenges and strategies to overcome them; Identify areas in need of further development to support the design and execution of global hybrid pragmatic studies.

Chair

Mehdi Najafzadeh, PhD, MA, MS

Component Type: Forum
Level: Advanced

This forum will provide information regarding new requirements for Diversity Action Plans. A panel of experts will describe details of these requirements, implementation challenges for rare genetic diseases, and strategies to address these challenges.

Learning Objectives

Describe how regulatory requirements for Diversity Action Plans might apply to orphan drug development; Plan regulatory strategy for inclusive and representative rare disease drug development; Identify challenges regarding compliance to Diversity Action Plan requirements in rare disease settings.

Chair

Mark Tobolowsky, JD

Component Type: Workshop
Level: Intermediate

Imagine a future where AI measures patient burden from provided inputs. In this interactive workshop, participants will design input logic for AI using mock data and protocols, then present their rationale to foster collaborative learning.

Learning Objectives

Define and categorize key factors affecting patient burden in clinical trials; Analyze patient-related data to design effective AI inputs; Evaluate and justify the role of human insight in enhancing AI-driven patient burden assessments for patient-centric trial outcomes.

Chair

Maya Zlatanova

Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate

This session will present multiple case studies illustrating the successful implementation of AI-driven RBQM solutions in real-world clinical trials. Attendees will gain insight into the practical applications of AI technologies.

Learning Objectives

Understand the key benefits and challenges of applying AI technologies in RBQM; Gain insights into real-world examples of AI's impact on clinical trial risk management; Explore strategies for integrating AI into existing RBQM frameworks to improve decision-making and compliance. Learn how AI enhances collaboration across clinical trial stakeholders and supports more proactive risk-based strategies.

Chair

Artem Andrianov, PhD, MBA

Component Type: Forum
Level: Intermediate

Our industry is still mired in failing to adopt proven technology solutions until it becomes a reg necessity or mainstay of core operations. Industry change agents will present evidence that demonstrates we typically operate with lagging efforts.

Learning Objectives

Identify emergent solutions and innovative business practices that can enhance clinical trial operations; Evaluate the impact of adopting decentralized trials in oncology using the Beat AML Master Trial as a case study; Discuss how risk-taking and cross-sector practices can accelerate clinical trial success and improve patient outcomes.

Chair

Len Rosenberg, PhD, RPh

Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate

This session will review the 2024 revision of the Declaration of Helsinki, one of the foundational codes of clinical research ethics, and the rationale and practical implications of the changes made in the current version.

Learning Objectives

Understand the history of the Declaration of Helsinki and its relevance and importance for the healthcare industry; Review the changes made in the 2024 version and how they will impact the conduct of biopharma clinical trials; Discuss multi-stakeholder efforts that are working towards operationalizing ethical principles in the DOH and where more collaboration and alignment is needed.

Chair

Melissa Heidelberg, MS

Speaker

Speaker
Karla Childers, MS

Component Type: Forum
Level: Intermediate

This panel will discuss the importance of end-to-end support systems that connect trial management, data collection, and patient engagement. This panel will discuss the importance of end-to-end support systems that connect trial management, data collection, and patient engagement. The session will address the challenges sites face in adopting new technologies, from budget constraints to staff resistance, and the challenge of integrating automation into existing workflows.

Learning Objectives

Explore how automation and integration reduce site burden and improve trial efficiency; Identify compliance challenges in implementing automated systems; Discuss best practices for overcoming barriers to technology adoption.

Chair

Denise N Bronner, PhD

Component Type: Forum
Level: Advanced

We present trends and insights from an analysis of participant payment language of more than 7,500 consent forms reviewed by a large, independent IRB and discuss the ethical implications of insufficient compensation for trial participants.

Learning Objectives

Explore trends and insights in clinical trial participant payments based on 7500 clinical trial ICFs collected and analyzed between 2019 and 2024; Examine the language used to describe payments and how that impacts participants; Discuss ethical issues and assumptions about IRB approval of participant compensation for research.

Chair

Kelly Fitzgerald, PhD

Component Type: Forum
Level: Intermediate

This session will share healthcare professionals' (HCP) perceptions about participating in clinical research as non-investigators. We will address the challenges and opportunities for HCP participation, aligned to the FDA guidance on DCTs as well as Point of Care Trials.

Learning Objectives

Analyze healthcare professionals' (HCPs) perceptions, both positive and negative, about participating in clinical research; Evaluate which routine care trial assessments HCPs might conduct as part of trials and assess study fit; Identify key strategies to engage HCPs in trial participation without requiring them to become investigators; Share resources to assist teams in navigating regulatory documentation.

Chair

Jane Myles, MSc

Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate

Partnerships are crucial to overcoming the challenges clinical trials face in Africa. We will present the current landscape, provide key pointers on navigating it, and share case studies demonstrating the key importance of involving Africa in trials.

Learning Objectives

Recognize the importance of including Africa in clinical trials; Identify challenges of conducting clinical trials in Africa; Apply knowledge to successfully conduct global clinical trials in Africa.

Chair

Lynda Mante

Component Type: Forum
Level: Intermediate

This highlights the challenges of using real-world data (RWD) for patient referral in clinical trials, focusing on issues like data variability, lack of investigator training, and insufficient incentives. It proposes strategic solutions to overcome these barriers.

Learning Objectives

Identify innovative strategies for patient recruitment using RWD referrals that challenge existing practices; Propose new methods for integrating naïve sites into the clinical trial process to expand participation; Evaluate the potential impact of broader patient inclusion on clinical trial outcomes.

Chair

Sanghita Bhattacharya, PhD

Speaker

Patient Referral: Is It Hope or Hype?
Barbara Isquith Arone, MS

Patient Referral: Is It Hope or Hype?
Karen Correa, PhD

Patient Referral: Is It Hope or Hype?
Irfan A. Khan, MD

Component Type: Forum
Level: Advanced

The session will describe informed consent in research participants with cognitive decline, discussing behavioral cues and consent/assent requirements for ethical practices when participants lose the ability to provide informed consent during a study

Learning Objectives

Understand the ethical and operational challenges of engaging participants with cognitive impairment; Describe ethical options for retaining participants with cognitive impairment in clinical trials; Review best practices for informed consent/ caregiver consent/participant assent when the ability to give consent is lost during the course of a trial

Chair

Karla Childers, MS

Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate

Japan's regulatory authorities have enacted various measures to strengthen drug R&D and accelerate clinical development, particularly for regenerative medicine, pediatric, and orphan drugs, offering great prospects for biopharma/ biotech companies.

Learning Objectives

Examine PMDA's efforts to address Japan's drug lag and promote an accelerated clinical development environment; Evaluate the trial landscape and analyze the challenges in developing Regenerative Medicine, Orphan, and Pediatric drugs in Japan; Develop strategies for Japan to engage in multi-regional trials, considering the unique aspects of conducting clinical studies in the country.

Chair

Edward C. Ian, MBA

Component Type: Session
Level: Intermediate

This session will be based on a recent Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (CSDD) study that examined lung cancer studies to examine how and whether exclusion criteria could hinder the participation of racial minority patients. The panel will feature experts from the Tufts CSDD tea

Learning Objectives

Identify areas within a study protocol where bias can manifest to adversely exclude marginalized patient populations; Discuss approaches, strategies, and lessons-learned to help de-bias protocol design.

Chair

Jennifer Kim, PhD

Speaker

Overcoming Re-Design Efforts of Study Protocols
Kim Ribeiro, MS

Component Type: Forum
Level: Intermediate

A cross-functional panel of experts will role-play a risk review meeting discussion to identify, assess, categorize, and prioritize risks of a mock protocol DCT and outline potential mitigation activities.

Learning Objectives

Outline why risk identification is a fundamental consideration when planning a Decentralized/Hybrid Clinical trial; Define roles and responsibilities for key stakeholders to identify risks for Decentralized/Hybrid Clinical Trial; Identify who are the key stakeholders for a decentralized/Hybrid Clinical trial; Develop fit-for-purpose Oversight Plans.

Chair

Paula Horowitz