Programme
Tuesday 29th January
Chair: Sarah Beeby, SVP Life Sciences, Clinithink
 
08:45   Registration & Coffee
 
09:15   Updates on Implementation of GDPR and Impact on Clinical Research
Speaker: Dr Lincoln Tsang, Partner, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP
09:45   Questions and Discussion
 
09:55   Big Data in Healthcare: A case study in Cardiovascular Imaging
Speaker: Dr Nay Aung, Clinical Research Fellow, William Harvey Research Institute
The past decade has seen a tremendous growth in the utility of large multi-omics and multi-modal datasets to create decision-support tools, risk stratification models and targeted therapeutic regimens in healthcare. Cardiac imaging plays an instrumental role in diagnosis and guiding treatment for a vast majority of cardiovascular diseases. Current approaches in the cardiac image analysis involve manual measurements which consume costly human and time resources, and introduce imprecisions due to inter-observer variability. Delegation of the manual tasks to an automated tool would not only save physicians’ time but also enhance the efficiency and reproducibility of imaging reports, thereby, improving the standard and timeliness of patient care. This presentation will focus on the implementation of automated image analysis pipeline for more than 20,000 cardiac MRI studies currently available from a mega population study known as the UK Biobank. Potential future applications of advanced machine learning techniques using large datasets for derivation of novel imaging biomarkers, identification of pathologies and image quality control will also be discussed briefly.
 
10:25   Questions and Discussion
 
10:35   COFFEE
 
11:00  

The Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes
Speaker: Dr Elizabeth Robertson, Director of Research, Diabetes UK
 
11:30   Questions and Discussion
 
11:40   Re-inventing Randomised Trials for the 21st century
Speaker: Professor Martin Landray, Professor of Medicine & Epidemiology and Deputy Director, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford
 
12:10   Questions and Discussion
 
12:20   Lunch
 
13:30   EHR-Driven Clinical Trials - Experience so far
Speaker: Dr Mark Wright, Clinical R&D Principal and Director, Clinsci Services
So-called Real World Data (RWD) - and derived Real World Evidence - is increasingly seen as the ‘new kid on the block’ offering opportunistic panacea for cost and relevance the perceived ails of what has been considered the gold standard of Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs), the traditional clinical trial route for medicines development. The increasing digitalisation of healthcare data for example Electronic Healthcare Records (EHR) from UK primary care has enabled re-purposing from records to research for use in observational and now increasingly interventional research. Observational and Interventional Research territories have been in separate co-existence for years with different skillsets addressing different targets. Is this changing? Are there hybrid approaches? Whilst on the surface this is a splendid ‘disruptive’ approach what are the lessons to be learned to enable efficient and interpretable progress for healthcare? This talk sets out to explore this.  
 
14:00   Questions and Discussion
 
14:10   Elevating Clinical Research - An Innovative Approach to Data Collection, Patient-centricity and Clinical Oversight
Speaker: Shiyan Caan, BD and Marketing Coordinator, SQN Clinical
We are in an age of rapid innovation. Adoption of new technology across a range of sectors has improved processes and efficiencies in a huge way. The clinical space is acknowledging that technology can have an impact on data quality, reduced timelines and save on costs. With a push for patient centricity, data collection has to adapt to meet an ever changing generation in a compliant manner. Though with cloud technology, all this data is available real time to view in a more comprehensive manner, with drill down and cross comparison, impacting clinical and trial oversight.​
 
14:40   Questions and Discussion
 
14:50   COFFEE
 
15:15   100000 Genomes Project: Laying the Foundation for the NHS Genomics Medicine Service
Speaker: Professor Louise J Jones, Professor of Breast Pathology, QMUL
 
15:45   Questions and Discussion
 
15:55   Understanding the phenotype – how we wear our Genes
 Speaker: Dr Calum Yacoubian, Partner Success Lead, Life Sciences, Clinithink
As genetic testing becomes more readily available, the need for a better and deeper understanding of our phenotype is needed to compliment this. Talking about his experience in using AI to support clinicians in genetic diagnosis, Calum will explore the role of the phenotype in genetics, and advances in technology in this field.
 
16:25   Questions and Discussion
 
16:35   Summary of Day 1 and Day 2 Agenda Preview
 Speaker: TBC
 
17:15   Close
 

Wednesday 30th January
 

Chair: TBC
 
08:30   Registration & Coffee
 
09:00   Welcome and Introduction
Speaker: Chair
 
09:10   The Importance of Clinical Research post Brexit: A Government View
Speaker: TBC
 
09:30   The Latest Developments on Brexit: The Impact on Clinical Research
Speaker: Dr Lincoln Tsang, Partner, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP
 
10:00   Questions and Discussion
 
10:10  

Perspective from UK CROs: Early Phase, Full Service SME and a Global CRO
Speaker: Simon Lee, Chief Compliance Office, Quotient Sciences
Speaker: Dr Ignazio Di Giovanna, VP Eurpoean Operations, Atlantics Research Group
Speaker: TBC
 
10:40   Questions and Discussion
 
10:50   COFFEE
 
11:15   Preparing for Brexit: Issues Identified and Planning in Place
Speaker: Jonathan Mogford, Director of Policy, MHRA
Speaker: Dr Tony Soteriou, Deputy Director – Research Faculty, Infrastructure and Growth, Department of Health and Social Care 
 
12:10   Questions and Discussion
 
12:40   LUNCH
 
13:30   Looking to the Future of Clinical Research: Where do the UK's Strengths Lie Post Brexit
Speaker: Dr Matt Hallsworth, Head of External Relations, NOCRI
 
14:00   Questions and Discussion
 
14:10   Life Sciences Sector Deal 2: Opportunities for Clinical  Research
 Speaker: Emma Lowe, Research Policy Senior Manager, Industry Relations & Growth, DHSC
The Life Sciences Sector Deals are an important part of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy and build on the UK’s strengths to implement the bold vision of the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy.

The Life Sciences Sector Deal 2 sets out plans to further improve the UK clinical research environment, driving the speed and efficiency of research and building on UK strengths in innovative and novel clinical trials. It also announces investments in the infrastructure needed to support the expansion of digitally-enabled clinical research, including real-world studies, to make the UK the home of data-driven life sciences research, coupled with major new commitments to develop a first-of-its-kind, world-leading cohort of healthy participants and a commitment to sequence 1 million whole genomes in the UK within the next 5 years. This session will explore the significant opportunities Life Sciences Sector Deal 2 offers for CROs conducting clinical research in the UK.
 
14:40   Questions and Discussion
 
14:50   The Clinical Research Network - Strengthening UK Plc in the Global Research System
 Speaker: Dr Matt Cooper, Business Development & Marketing Director, NIHR CRN
 
15:20   Questions and Discussion
 
15:30   COFFEE
15:55   Increasing the Speed and Efficiency of Clinical Research
 Speaker:  Dr Martin O’Kane, Head of Clinical Trials Unit, MHRA
Speaker: Dr Janet Messer, Director of Research Systems, Standard & Approval Programme, HRA
 
16:25   Questions and Discussion
 
16:35   Panel Discussion
 Speakers joined by: TBC
 
17:10   Summing up
Dr Matt Hallsworth
 
17:20   CLOSE