The BIR is delighted to announce the 2026 AGM and Presidential Address;
Date 12th November 2026
Time 1:30 - 4:00pm
Venue UCL Innovative Clinical Trials Unit, 90 High Holburn, WC1V 6LJ
Registration Details to be announced
Agenda
1:00 - 1:30 BIR AGM (BIR members only)
1:30 - 2:15 Jennifer Visser Rogers Presidential Address
2:15 - 2:30 Discussant - Max Parmar
2:30 - 3:00 Coffee
3:00 - 3:30 Sue Todd (University of Reading)
3:30 - 4:00 David Wright (Astra Zeneca)
Beyond the Divide: How Collaboration Shapes the Future of Medical Statistics
Statistics has always sat at the interface between scientific innovation and practical application. Yet academia and industry often operate in parallel rather than in partnership, each bringing different perspectives, incentives, and constraints. Academic statisticians are encouraged to innovate, question assumptions, and develop new methodology, while industry statisticians face the challenge of applying statistical science to support critical decisions in highly regulated environments.
Having worked on both sides of this divide, I will reflect on the similarities, differences, and shared challenges that unite statisticians across sectors. Through examples drawn from clinical trials, regulatory interactions, and methodological research, I will explore how ideas move from theory to implementation, why some innovations gain traction while others do not, and what each community can learn from the other.
At a time when clinical trials are becoming increasingly complex, with greater use of innovative designs, adaptive methodologies, Bayesian approaches, real-world evidence, and novel sources of data, collaboration between academic researchers, industry practitioners, and regulators has never been more important. This presentation will explore opportunities to strengthen these connections, ensuring that statistical innovation remains relevant, implementable, and focused on improving decision-making. By strengthening collaboration across sectors, we can accelerate methodological progress and increase the impact of our work on medical research and healthcare.