2025 ARCHIVES

Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s 7th Annual

Patient Engagement and Recruitment

Leveraging Data, Technology, and Community Engagement

14 - 15 October 2025 ALL TIMES CET (UTC +2h)

Patient recruitment remains one of the most significant challenges in clinical research, leading to costly delays and, more importantly, slowing the delivery of new therapies to patients in need. As sponsors, clinical researchers, study teams, and innovation leaders navigate the evolving landscape of hybrid and decentralised trials, they are also striving to better identify, understand, and engage diverse patient populations. The Patient Engagement and Recruitment conference explores strategies to enroll for global trials, leverage data analytics to improve recruitment, pathways to engage diverse populations, and how to leverage technology without losing sight of potential technology burden.

Monday, 13 October

13:00Registration Open

13:45– 15:15 WORKSHOP 1: Nuts and Bolts of AI Implementation: What to Avoid and What to Emphasise (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)

INSTRUCTORS:
Jonathan Crowther, PhD, Head, Operational Design Center, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
Prasanna Rao, Chief Products and Innovation Officer, Saama
This interactive workshop will provide a practical overview of key considerations for implementing AI in clinical operations and beyond. Topics will include ethical implications and regulatory updates such as the EU AI Act, a clear explanation of AI APIs and how they function, and best practices for effective prompt engineering. Attendees will gain valuable insights into common pitfalls to avoid and strategies to successfully integrate AI tools in a regulated environment.

15:00– 17:00 USER GROUP: Citeline Industry Roundtable (Invitation Only)

15:30– 17:00 WORKSHOP 2: Modernising Informed Consent: AI, Automation, and Ethics in Global Clinical Trials

INSTRUCTORS:

Pooja Bholanath Pagare, Manager, Clinical Development, ZS Associates

Kirstin Goldring, Senior Director/Head, HBS Compliance and Governance, AstraZeneca

Sofiane Nacia, Director, Senior Global Process Owner, Novartis

Hilde Vanaken, Head EFGCP eConsent Initiative, EFGCP – European Forum for Good Clinical Practice

Brenda Yanak, Former Vice President, Bristol Myers Squibb Co.; Founder, Clinical Transformation Partners LLC

As clinical trials grow in complexity and scale, the role of informed consent becomes more critical—and more challenging—than ever. This interactive workshop explores the evolving landscape of consent in the digital age, from the automation of consent form development to navigating global ethics and privacy regulations. We'll examine the responsibilities embedded in consent language, new international policies designed to uphold participant rights, and the use of AI-powered tools to review, manage, and search consent documents for transparency and compliance. Designed for the broader clinical operations community, this session will be especially valuable for professionals focused on consent processes, patient recruitment, study start-up, site activation, decentralised trials, clinical technology, and clinical data. Attendees will leave with actionable insights into how technology can safeguard ethics while streamlining consent workflows across diverse trial environments.

17:15– 18:45 WORKSHOP 3: Tackling Kit Wastage for Greener Clinical Trials (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)

INSTRUCTORS:

Michael J. Cohen, MSc, MBA, SEP, Senior Director, Lead, Environmental Sustainability, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thierry Escudier, Portfolio Lead, Pistoia Alliance
Celine Gervais, CEO, Quipment SAS 
Peter Morley, Clinical Sustainability Manager, Process Transformation & Digitalization, Novo Nordisk A/S
Diana Steinbuesch, Founding Member, Biospecimen Management Consortium (BMC); BioX Operations Portfolio Lead (Oncology), Roche

ESG (Environmental, Social, & Governance) Leaders in Pharma & Sustainable Trials Workshop at SCOPE. Join us for an insightful workshop on optimising clinical trial supply management. Discover strategies to minimise supply overage and kit wastage, while enhancing environmental sustainability. Learn from industry experts how to implement best practices that reduce waste, lower costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in clinical trials. This workshop is essential for professionals committed to improving efficiency and sustainability in clinical research.

Tuesday, 14 October

06:45SCOPE Europe Fun Run

RUN COORDINATORS:

Bridget Kotelly, Senior Conference Director, Cambridge Healthtech Institute
Eileen Murphy, Conference Producer, Production, Cambridge Healthtech Institute
Join SCOPE’s Coordinators on Tuesday morning for our Rise and Shine Fun Run! Don’t forget to pack your sneakers. All of us at Cambridge Healthtech Institute recognizse the importance of integrating well-being and fitness into our work travel routines. We're excited to offer our support to faculty, sponsors, and attendees in fostering a culture of wellness. This is an easygoing, informal running (or walking) event. No time chips, running bibs, or energy bars—just a laid-back opportunity for a small group to start the day on a positive note. You can sprint, run, jog, walk, jog-and-talk, or walk-and-talk—the goal is to get up and get moving! Meet us in the front lobby near the concierge at 6:45 am sharp!

07:45Registration and Morning Coffee

08:50Organiser's Welcome Remarks

08:55 Chairperson's Remarks

Speaker to be Announced, Fortrea

09:00

Mining EHRs for Smarter, Faster Recruitment in Clinical Trials

Nadir Ammour, DDS, MBA, Global Lead Engagement & Strategic Collaborations, Sanofi R&D Clinical Operations

Clinical trial recruitment remains a significant challenge in drug development, particularly as advances in medical innovation and research introduce more complex eligibility criteria. Despite the widespread digitisation of healthcare, with over 90% of patient records now electronic, leveraging Electronic Health Records (EHRs) for data-driven decision-making in site selection and patient recruitment has seen limited progress. This presentation will explore Sanofi's initiatives in enhancing recruitment and patient matching methodologies through the use of EHR data. We will discuss early results, share lessons learned, and provide recommendations for broader adoption of these data-driven approaches.

09:25

Clinical Trial Experience Surveys as a Tool to Increase Patient, Caregiver, and Site Staff Satisfaction: Results from a Sponsor-Wide Implementation across Countries and Therapy Areas

Kimberley Kallsen, Head of Patient & Site Engagement, Global Clinical Development & Operations, Boehringer Ingelheim

Clinical trial experience survey templates were co-created with patients and site staff and implemented in all trials; across countries and therapy areas. Results can be tracked in real-time via a dashboard, with the opportunity to look at trial-, country-, and site-level. The first analysis is based on the first +3000 responses and identifies concrete actions to enhance patient and site staff satisfaction with clinical trials.

09:50

From Click to Clinic: Reinventing the Last Mile of Patient Recruitment for BMSClinicalTrials.com

Matt Walz, CEO, Business Operations, Trialbee

Marie Emms, Head, Patient Engagement & Enrollment, Bristol Myers Squibb Co

BMS is replacing legacy systems across their pipeline with a more connected infrastructure, the Trialbee Honey Platform, to ensure pre-qualification and ongoing management of interested patients resulting in faster follow-up, improved conversions, and transparent tracking of site activity. The early results include the ability to: Seamlessly route patients from BMSClinicalTrials.com to sites; Improve efficiency by sharing robust pre-qualification screening data; Empower sites with integrated communication tools; Remove roadblocks with real-time activity reports and performance insights; Make recruitment investments and ROI visible, measurable, and repeatable.

10:15

High-Realistic Simulation in Clinical Trials

Begonya Nafria Escalera, Patient Engagement & Research Coordinator, eYPAGnet, Sant Joan de Deu Barcelona Hospital

High-fidelity simulation enables the replication of clinical trial activities that may present challenges, within a secure environment, prior to the finalization of the study protocol or the initiation of the trial. This method of testing and piloting clinical research procedures can offer significant benefits for logistics and operations, and especially for the experience of patients and families as future participants in the clinical study.

10:40

Patient Recruitment—A Multi-Stakeholder Approach for EU Program Success

Danny Den Hamer, Product Manager, myTomorrows

Christa Reefman, Senior Program Manager, myTomorrows

This co-presentation will focus on three key points: Learn how a platform model streamlines recruitment and engagement across stakeholders; Discover the impact of Patient Navigators in enabling cross-border referrals and improving trial access; Explore how biopharma can augment CRO workflows to build referral networks while improving protocol amendment cycles.

10:53Grand Opening Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall

The SCOPE Europe Exhibit Hall is the best place to fuel up with a mid-morning coffee while visiting with our many exhibitors. Learn about what’s new in the industry, connect with colleagues and partners, and make some new friends.

11:49

Grab Your Seat: Plenary Keynote Seat Raffle & Prize Giveaway!* 

Micah Lieberman, Executive Director, SCOPE, Cambridge Healthtech Institute; Co-Founder, ClinEco

*Must be present to win!

11:50

Welcome to SCOPE Europe—Who Is Here and Why?

Micah Lieberman, Executive Director, SCOPE, Cambridge Healthtech Institute; Co-Founder, ClinEco

11:55Chairperson’s Remarks: Reimagining Clinical Research: Why Innovation, Speed, and Collaboration Must Converge Now

12:00 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:

Transformative AI: Shaping the Future of Healthcare

James Weatherall, PhD, Vice President & Chief Data Scientist, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca

Artificial intelligence is transforming medicines development, paving the way for enhanced patient outcomes and organisational success. By deriving actionable insights from complex datasets, we are accelerating the discovery of novel targets, elucidating intricate disease mechanisms, and improving how we approach clinical trials. The vast and exciting future applications of AI will deliver the next frontier in healthcare, urging us to reimagine innovation and advance science, with the goal of bringing new, better medicines to patients, faster.

12:25

Meet Your Neighbor: What Is YOUR Biggest Technological or Operational Challenge Right Now?

Micah Lieberman, Executive Director, SCOPE, Cambridge Healthtech Institute; Co-Founder, ClinEco

12:30 KEYNOTE CASE STUDY CO-PRESENTATION:

Learning from Lightspeed Execution of the OCEANIC STROKE Program

Alexander Krupp, PhD, Vice President, Executive Clinical Program Excellence Lead, Bayer AG

Georgios Tsivgoulis, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology, National & Kapodistrian University Of Athens; President, Hellenic Neurological Society

More than 14 million patients experience a stroke every year. Preventing as many stroke events as possible will retain a high quality of life for patients, their caregivers, and society—and is therefore of high relevance. For Bayer’s OCEANIC program in stroke, we have established a product-centric operational model that has resulted in the competitor feedback: “You are killing us with excellence—how are you doing this?” In this keynote, we will explore how our industry can learn from high performance operating models to serve our patients faster, better, and at lower cost.

13:05 KEYNOTE PANEL DISCUSSION:

Closing the Gap between Protocol Development and Feasibility to Ensure Downstream Success with Sites and Patients

PANEL MODERATOR:

Ken Getz, Executive Director and Professor, Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, Tufts University School of Medicine

What are various companies doing to improve the gaps between protocol development, feasibility, and ops? Despite pharma companies' need to maintain their competitive edge, is there an opportunity for a collaborative industry feedback loop? Can this be collaborative/pre-competitive to improve efficiency and better serve sites and patients?

PANELISTS:

Bernhard Glombitza, Head, Clinical Operations EMEA and LATAM, Bayer

Christian Milliet, Head of Site & Healthcare Ambassadors, Clinical Development Operations, CSL Behring

Susana Ramos, PhD, Global Early Planning TA Lead, Clinical Sciences & Operations, Sanofi

Matthieu Ruffin, Head Study Leadership, SSO GCO Development, Novartis

13:35Join Your Peers for a Networking Luncheon in the Exhibit Hall

Take this opportunity to refresh and refuel with our Exhibit Hall lunch. Enjoy good food and even better conversation during our walk and talk luncheon.

14:35

Chairperson's Remarks

Amy Froment, Head of Study Start-Up & Feasibility, Jazz Pharmaceuticals

14:40

Aligning Patient Engagement with Corporate Branding: Best Practices and Innovations

Olivier Flexas, Digital Product Line Owner, Patient Experience & Data Capture, Sanofi

Sarah McClure, Global Data Engagement Lead, Feasibility Management, R&D, Sanofi

This discussion addresses the fragmented landscape of clinical trial recruitment, where siloed digital outreach diminishes participant experience. We demonstrate how unified branding creates a seamless patient journey, enabling individuals researching health conditions to naturally discover relevant clinical trials. This integration transforms disconnected touchpoints into a cohesive ecosystem, enhancing trust and recognition while providing value through contextually-relevant trial opportunities that align with patients' existing health information–seeking behaviours.

15:05

Fast-Tracking Recruitment and Data-Driven Engagement: A Sponsor-Aligned, Patient-First Strategy

Zoltan Varga, Vice President, Global Head Patient Recruitment & Enablement, Clinical Operations, IQVIA

Antonia Cardew, Director, Head of Project Delivery and Enablement, IQVIA

Recruitment is a persistent challenge in clinical research, and expanding access to sites and patients is key. In this session, IQVIA shares how a sponsor-aligned, patient-first model blending data science, digital innovation, and site enablement is redefining recruitment to accelerate enrolment and improve trial outcomes. This approach ensures that, once enrolled, participants receive tailored content to enhance their experience, driving stronger retention and more meaningful results.

15:30

Patient and HCP Inspired Solutions that Improve the Participant and Site Experience—Case Study

Annie Gilbert, Lead, Global Patient & Site Engagement, Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd.

The presentation will explore innovative strategies that improved the patient and site experience in a Phase 3 trial. Central to this approach was a trial simulation, and critical to the success of it was the involvement of patient and site advisors, whose input was instrumental in adjusting the trial protocol and conduct. These adjustments led to significant outcomes, including fast recruitment, retention figures meeting targets, and excellent trial experience survey results.

15:55

Accelerating Recruitment through Community-Based Health Screening

Seyed Khaligh-Razavi, Head of Scientific Research and Publications, Global Expansion and Study Operations, Care Access

Care Access’s Future of Medicine Program is a community-based health screening and awareness program that can address critical clinical trial recruitment challenges through personalized participant education, in-depth prescreening, and warm referrals.

Since its inception, Future of Medicine has provided over 200,000 health screenings across North America, South America, and, more recently, Europe.

Due to the quality of the referrals emerging from this program, partnering sites have a 38% reduction in workload, sponsor costs for screenings are down by 26%, and screen-failure rates have improved by 53%. The Program has improved demographic representation and provided sustained, portfolio-wide efficiencies, accelerating patient access to potentially life-saving therapies.

16:07

The Benefits of Building Trials, Focused on Participants, Delivered in Their Own Community

Helen Marks, Operations Director - Site & Patient Services, Medical Research Network

This presentation examines the barriers to participation faced by participants and sites, exploring how decentralized clinical trial (DCT) elements, when strategically incorporated into trial designs, can alleviate those barriers. Using case studies and a global survey of clinical trial professionals, MRN further details how DCT elements, when effectively utilized, can increase enrollment and retention, as well as accelerate trial timelines, by bringing more trials directly into communities.

16:32

READI, the Public-Private Partnership to Increase Inclusiveness in Clinical Studies in Europe

Maria Dutarte, Executive Director, European Patients’ Academy on Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI); Project Partner and Workpackage Co-Lead, READI Project Consortium

Paloma Moraga, Researcher at Fundación para la investigación biomédica del Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ/SERMAS) - Coordinator of the READI Project Consortium

José Luis Narro, European Projects Coordinator, Fundación para la investigación biomédica del Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ) - Coordinator of the READI Project Consortium

Robina Weermeijer, Patient & Site Engagement Lead, Boehringer Ingelheim

The READI project consortium https://ihi-readi.org/ is a large public-private 6-year undertaking jointly financed by the EU and industry, focusing on inclusiveness in clinical studies. This initiative brings together over 70 partners from Europe (and worldwide, also 8 patient organisations) to understand and overcome challenges in this area.

16:57Reception in the Exhibit Hall with Beer, Wine, and Tapas

Wind down at the end of a busy session day with colleagues, beer, wine, and tapas. Have a drink with your favorite exhibitor and take a chance at winning a fabulous raffle prize (must be present to win)!

18:00Close of Day

Wednesday, 15 October

08:15Registration and Morning Coffee

08:45

Chairperson's Remarks

Robina Weermeijer, Patient & Site Engagement Lead, Boehringer Ingelheim

08:50

Representation in Global Lung Cancer Trials

Emily Avent, Senior Account Director, Langland

Gracia Hyatt, Clinical Trial Manager, Boehringer Ingelheim

Robina Weermeijer, Patient & Site Engagement Lead, Boehringer Ingelheim

Designing global clinical trials that reflect all patient needs is complex due to varying healthcare systems and experiences. This presentation highlights a collaboration between global and country-based teams, focusing on demographic insights across countries and a deep dive into lived experiences of Black and South Asian communities in the UK to inform more inclusive trial design.

09:15

Easing the Patient & Site Experience with Unified Trial Technology

Heather Horville, Solutions Consultant, Suvoda

This session will explore the complexities of the patient journey in clinical trials, from expenses and travel to scheduling and remote completion of tasks, and the critical role innovative solutions play in overcoming the ever-evolving hurdles faced by patients, sites, sponsors and CROs.  

We will dive into:   

Key patient engagement trends and challenges in clinical trials today
By the numbers -- the need for advancement
Real-world examples: The positive impact of technology

Explore how, together, through a unified platform, we can further connect the dots across the patient journey.

09:40

Patient Engagement Approaches in Research and Development

Laura Risueño Ayerbe, R&D Patient Officer – Global Patient Affairs, Servier

Patient-centered strategies are increasingly recognized as essential in shaping successful research and development programs. This presentation will explore how integrating patient perspectives throughout the drug development process can enhance clinical trial design, inform medical communications, and optimize treatment outcomes. Drawing on real-world examples and practical initiatives, we will discuss approaches for meaningful patient engagement, collaboration across multidisciplinary teams, and strategies for translating patient insights into actionable outcomes.

10:05

SPUR: A Behavioural Profiling Solution to Optimise Engagement, Adherence, and Retention in Clinical Trials

Nicholas Alp, MD, PhD, FACC, CMO, Clinical ink

Adherence and engagement in study protocols are critical for clinical trial success. SPUR is a validated behavioural profiling solution. SPUR evaluates the key determinants of the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours for every research participant. An electronic questionnaire feeds into the SPUR analysis, which provides bespoke feedback to the participant. The investigator receives a participant profile, predicting the risk of poor adherence, an analysis of the drivers of that risk, and personalised communication guidance proven to improve engagement and adherence.

10:17Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall

More coffee, more exhibitors, more networking, and some delicious snacks. What’s not to love?

11:00

Networking Game, SCOPE Quiz & Prize Giveaway!

Micah Lieberman, Executive Director, SCOPE, Cambridge Healthtech Institute; Co-Founder, ClinEco

11:05Chairperson's Remarks

11:10 KEYNOTE PANEL DISCUSSION:

Embracing the Power of Networks to Expand Pharma's Research Footprint and Improve Recruitment

PANEL MODERATOR:

Terttu Haring, MD, Global Head, Engagement Strategy (Sites & Patients), Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine

In today’s complex clinical research landscape, strategic partnerships and connected networks are key to expanding reach and accelerating recruitment. This keynote panel brings together leaders from pharma, oncology, cardiology, and hospital networks across Europe to share how collaborative models are breaking down silos, improving patient access, and enabling faster, more inclusive trials. Panelists will discuss real-world examples of network-driven innovation and offer practical insights for scaling clinical research efficiently and equitably.

PANELISTS:

Javier Carmona, PhD, Head of Scientific Strategy & Translational Programs, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO); CSO, Cancer Core Europe

Astrid Schut, Managing Director, WCN (Werkgroep Cardiologische centra Nederland)

11:40 KEYNOTE PANEL DISCUSSION:

AI in Clinical Trials: Where Science Meets Systems—Bridging Operational Expertise with Technical Innovation

PANEL MODERATOR:

Allison Proffitt, Editorial Director, Bio-IT World and Clinical Research News

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how clinical trials are designed, executed, and analysed—offering new efficiencies and deeper insights across the research continuum. This keynote panel will explore the intersection of scientific innovation and operational execution, highlighting how AI is being integrated into clinical development to enhance trial design, streamline data analysis, and support strategic decision-making. Expert panelists will discuss real-world applications, common implementation challenges, and the organizational shifts required to fully realise AI’s potential. Attendees will gain a clear view of how leading organisations are bridging the gap between advanced technologies and clinical operations to drive smarter, faster trials.

PANELISTS:

Jonathan Crowther, PhD, Head, Operational Design Center, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Janie Hansen, Business Systems Transformation, Global Development Information Management, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.

Francis Kendall, Head of Statistical Programming, Digital and Data Sciences, Biogen

James Weatherall, PhD, Vice President & Chief Data Scientist, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca

12:10Join your Peers for a Networking Luncheon in the Exhibit Hall

Join us again for lunch in the Exhibit Hall. Last chance to visit with exhibitors you missed and to enter our final raffle!

13:10 Chairperson's Remarks

Eliana Rivera - Burke, VP, Global Sales, Commerial, mdgroup

13:15

Bridging the Gap—Shaping the Future of Individual Data Return in Clinical Trials

Ivet Aldabo, Customer Strategy Lead, Bayer

Josephine Scrofani, Customer Strategy Lead, Bayer

Join us for an insightful session on the benefits and challenges of returning individual data to clinical trial participants. Discover how a patient-centric approach empowers individuals to own their health information. We’ll discuss identifying valuable data, presenting it in user-friendly formats, ensuring regulatory compliance, assessing infrastructure needs, and engaging with patient advocacy groups. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance participant experiences and improve the overall impact of clinical trials.

13:40 PANEL DISCUSSION:

From Insight to Impact: Reframing Clinical Development through Patient Preference

PANEL MODERATOR:

Emma Sutcliffe, Chief Patient Officer, ISPEP

As clinical programmes and trial designs grow in complexity, the gap between protocol intent and patient reality is widening. Traditional engagement often stops at “patient voice” for validation. But without translating insights into preference to drive practical change, impact remains limited. This panel brings forward the patient and industry voices, discussing challenges and solutions based on what trial participants experience, what's needed for success, and what’s still missing – with insight into the “why” and not just the “what.” Through a discussion anchored in real-world experience, the panel will explore how reframing clinical development around patient preference and requirements will drive success, support regulatory & compliance requirements, and build trust. Learning from perspectives from leaders in clinical development, patient engagement professionals, communication experts, and patients themselves, attendees will gain practical takeaways to build programmes that are not only patient-informed, but truly patient-ready, supporting both better outcomes in today’s complex research environment.

PANELISTS:

Steve Clark, Patient Advocate, Strive for Five and Beyond

Stacey Davidson, Head of Content & Strategy, Cuttsy & Cuttsy

Peter DiBiaso MHSA, Patient Advocate, Life Sciences Principal Consultant

Melissa Harris, Global Head, Patient Recruitment & Engagement, Fortrea

14:05

Do You Know What Clinical Trial Participants Really Need and Want from Their Engagements with You?

Jon Hume, Commercial Director, Cuttsy & Cuttsy

Stacey Davidson, Head of Content & Strategy, Cuttsy & Cuttsy

We surveyed 700 clinical trial participants and asked them exactly this. Driven to be able to better understand what clinical trial participants need and want from their trial experiences, we conducted in-depth quantitative and qualitative research to shed light on this vital aspect of participant engagement. We’re looking forward to discussing the challenge and sharing our findings with you in this thought-provoking, engaging, and high-value session.

14:17

Built-In Data Advantage: Integrating Data & Feasibility for a Tailored Patient Recruitment Strategy That Scales

Lindsay Stahl, Vice President & Global Head, PE&R, Citeline

Skye Hodson, VP Clinical Solutions, Clinical Solutions, Citeline

This session explores how combining holistic, independent data with precision feasibility strategies transforms site enablement and patient recruitment. By using real-world data to map patient journeys, identify top-performing sites, and guide last-mile engagement, sponsors can reach diverse populations, improve participation, and drive faster, more successful clinical trials gage patients and facilitate trial participation—is what truly moves the needle.

14:30Session Break

14:35

Grab Your Seat: Plenary Keynote Seat Raffle & Prize Giveaway! (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)

Micah Lieberman, Executive Director, SCOPE, Cambridge Healthtech Institute; Co-Founder, ClinEco

14:40

CLINICAL RESEARCH NEWS' BEST-OF-SHOW AWARD:

Recognising Exceptional Innovation in Technologies Used by Clinical Research Professionals

Allison Proffitt, Editorial Director, Bio-IT World and Clinical Research News

Sponsored by Clinical Research News & ClinEco
The 2025 Best-of-Show Awards offer exhibitors of the SCOPE Summit Europe an exclusive opportunity to distinguish and highlight their products, including innovative applications, technologies, tools, and solutions. The SCOPE community is invited to identify exceptional innovation in technologies used by life-science professionals, voting on the most impactful new products of the year. Submit your entry! https://www.scopesummiteurope.com/sponsor-exhibitor/best-of-show-awards

14:45 KEYNOTE FIRESIDE CHAT:

Trials Are Leaving Europe—Can We Bring Them Back?

Moe Alsumidaie, Chief Editor, Editorials, Clinical Trial Vanguard

Adama Ibrahim, Vice President, Digital Strategy & Change Management, Novo Nordisk

Tero Laulajainen, Vice President, Head of Global Clinical Operations, UCB

This keynote panel will address the decline in clinical trial activity across the European Union and what it will take to reverse the trend. Topics will include ethics review fragmentation, trial startup delays, cost pressures, site performance, and underrepresentation of EU citizens in global clinical trial data. The panel will explore how regulatory guidance, public-private collaboration, and ACT EU can collectively restore Europe's competitiveness in clinical development.

15:15 KEYNOTE FIRESIDE CHAT:

Patient Engagement to Shape Trial Design and Operations around Unmet Patients’ Needs

Alfonso Aguarón, Patient Advocate; Patient Engagement Director, Patvocates

Gonzalo Linares, Senior Director & Global Head, Patient Advocacy & External Engagement R&D, Johnson & Johnson AG

This dynamic session brings together the voices of industry and patients to explore how meaningful patient engagement can transform clinical trial design and execution. A pharma leader and a patient advocate will share real-world examples of collaboration that led to more inclusive protocols, improved recruitment, and enhanced trial experiences. Attendees will gain practical insights into embedding patient perspectives early and often to address unmet needs and drive better outcomes. Join us to learn how co-creating with patients is not just the right thing to do—it’s a strategic imperative.

15:40

Closing Remarks and Next Steps

Micah Lieberman, Executive Director, SCOPE, Cambridge Healthtech Institute; Co-Founder, ClinEco

15:45Close of Conference