Date: Tuesday 12th January 2021 Time: Tues. 12th - 15:00-16:30 GMT Speakers: Melanie Wright (Novartis), Sue McKendrick (PPD), Nanco Hefting (Lundbeck), Rikke Mette Agesen (NovoNordisk), and Helle Lynggaard (NovoNordisk).
Who is this event intended for? Anyone working in clinical trials: Clinician, Regulator, Investigator, Academic, Ethics Committee, Statistician. What is the benefit of attending? Understand how to describe clinical objectives using the estimands framework, recognising the benefits of this approach.
Registration
You can now register for this event.
This event is free of charge to both Members and Non Members of PSI. Please note: this event takes place on both the 12th & 19th January, but will entail exactly the same content.
To register for the 12th January session, please click here.
To register for the 19th January session, please click here.
Overview
Bringing estimands to life through a real case study. A year on after the final ICH E9 estimands addendum was published, we bring estimands to life from a real example from protocol to press release. Members of the estimands Implementation Working Group (EIWG) will describe the background and study objectives, intercurrent events of interest and chosen estimands in the PIONEER study.
Speaker Details
Speaker
Biography
Melanie Wright Novartis
Melanie Wright is a Biostatistics Global Group Head at Novartis Pharma AG. She has an MSc in Biometry from University of Reading (UK) and started working in the pharmaceutical industry in 1996. Despite her background in statistics, Melanie describes herself as “an experienced drug developer with a focus on structured quantitative decision making”. Melanie has been leading many activities as part of the estimand workstream at Novartis for the last 3 years and from last year became involved in the EFSPI/EFPIA estimand working group.
Sue McKendrick PPD
Sue McKendrick is an Associate Statistical Science Director leading the cross-functional Estimand Working Group at PPD. In 1991, she graduated with an M.Sc. in Biometry from University of Reading, UK and has been a Chartered Statistician since 1998. Sue has over 25 years’ experience of statistical consultancy across drug development in both CRO and pharma companies, including collaborating with clinical colleagues on protocol development.
Nanco Hefting Lundbeck
Nanco Hefting is Chief Scientific Specialist in the Clinical Research – Psychiatry department at H. Lundbeck A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark. He has a Master of Science in pharmacy and pharmacist education from the University of Groningen, NL, 1991 and has worked since as a clinical scientist and clinical lead in Clinical Pharmacology and Clinical Development in various companies. Nanco has been involved in the EFSPI/EFPIA estimand working group and is Co-Chair of the EIWG.
Rikke Agesen Novo Nordisk
Rikke Mette Agesen is a Senior International Medical Manager in Global Development at Novo Nordisk. She graduated as a Medical Doctor in 2010 from the University of Copenhagen and has several years of clinical experience within Internal Medicine and Endocrinology. Rikke holds a PhD and a Postdoctoral position in Type 1 diabetes and hypoglycaemia. With a physician’s perspective Rikke represents Novo Nordisk in the EFPIA/EFSPI estimand implementation working group (EIWG).
Helle Lynggaard Novo Nordisk
Helle Lynggaard is a Principal Statistician in Global Development at Novo Nordisk. She obtained her MSc from the University of Aalborg in 1994 and her PhD in 2005 from the University of Copenhagen. She has worked with Novo Nordisk since 1994 in different statistical roles including being a Project Statistician. Since 2015 she has been working in a cross-project biostatistics department that provides support to statisticians in the clinical projects. Helle is a key driver in implementing estimands in Novo Nordisk studies, and is a member of the EFPIA/EFSPI estimand implementation working group (EIWG).
Scientific Meetings
PSI EIWG Webinar: PIONEERing estimands in Clinical Research (Session 1)
Date: Tuesday 12th January 2021 Time: Tues. 12th - 15:00-16:30 GMT Speakers: Melanie Wright (Novartis), Sue McKendrick (PPD), Nanco Hefting (Lundbeck), Rikke Mette Agesen (NovoNordisk), and Helle Lynggaard (NovoNordisk).
Who is this event intended for? Anyone working in clinical trials: Clinician, Regulator, Investigator, Academic, Ethics Committee, Statistician. What is the benefit of attending? Understand how to describe clinical objectives using the estimands framework, recognising the benefits of this approach.
Registration
You can now register for this event.
This event is free of charge to both Members and Non Members of PSI. Please note: this event takes place on both the 12th & 19th January, but will entail exactly the same content.
To register for the 12th January session, please click here.
To register for the 19th January session, please click here.
Overview
Bringing estimands to life through a real case study. A year on after the final ICH E9 estimands addendum was published, we bring estimands to life from a real example from protocol to press release. Members of the estimands Implementation Working Group (EIWG) will describe the background and study objectives, intercurrent events of interest and chosen estimands in the PIONEER study.
Speaker Details
Speaker
Biography
Melanie Wright Novartis
Melanie Wright is a Biostatistics Global Group Head at Novartis Pharma AG. She has an MSc in Biometry from University of Reading (UK) and started working in the pharmaceutical industry in 1996. Despite her background in statistics, Melanie describes herself as “an experienced drug developer with a focus on structured quantitative decision making”. Melanie has been leading many activities as part of the estimand workstream at Novartis for the last 3 years and from last year became involved in the EFSPI/EFPIA estimand working group.
Sue McKendrick PPD
Sue McKendrick is an Associate Statistical Science Director leading the cross-functional Estimand Working Group at PPD. In 1991, she graduated with an M.Sc. in Biometry from University of Reading, UK and has been a Chartered Statistician since 1998. Sue has over 25 years’ experience of statistical consultancy across drug development in both CRO and pharma companies, including collaborating with clinical colleagues on protocol development.
Nanco Hefting Lundbeck
Nanco Hefting is Chief Scientific Specialist in the Clinical Research – Psychiatry department at H. Lundbeck A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark. He has a Master of Science in pharmacy and pharmacist education from the University of Groningen, NL, 1991 and has worked since as a clinical scientist and clinical lead in Clinical Pharmacology and Clinical Development in various companies. Nanco has been involved in the EFSPI/EFPIA estimand working group and is Co-Chair of the EIWG.
Rikke Agesen Novo Nordisk
Rikke Mette Agesen is a Senior International Medical Manager in Global Development at Novo Nordisk. She graduated as a Medical Doctor in 2010 from the University of Copenhagen and has several years of clinical experience within Internal Medicine and Endocrinology. Rikke holds a PhD and a Postdoctoral position in Type 1 diabetes and hypoglycaemia. With a physician’s perspective Rikke represents Novo Nordisk in the EFPIA/EFSPI estimand implementation working group (EIWG).
Helle Lynggaard Novo Nordisk
Helle Lynggaard is a Principal Statistician in Global Development at Novo Nordisk. She obtained her MSc from the University of Aalborg in 1994 and her PhD in 2005 from the University of Copenhagen. She has worked with Novo Nordisk since 1994 in different statistical roles including being a Project Statistician. Since 2015 she has been working in a cross-project biostatistics department that provides support to statisticians in the clinical projects. Helle is a key driver in implementing estimands in Novo Nordisk studies, and is a member of the EFPIA/EFSPI estimand implementation working group (EIWG).
Training Courses
PSI EIWG Webinar: PIONEERing estimands in Clinical Research (Session 1)
Date: Tuesday 12th January 2021 Time: Tues. 12th - 15:00-16:30 GMT Speakers: Melanie Wright (Novartis), Sue McKendrick (PPD), Nanco Hefting (Lundbeck), Rikke Mette Agesen (NovoNordisk), and Helle Lynggaard (NovoNordisk).
Who is this event intended for? Anyone working in clinical trials: Clinician, Regulator, Investigator, Academic, Ethics Committee, Statistician. What is the benefit of attending? Understand how to describe clinical objectives using the estimands framework, recognising the benefits of this approach.
Registration
You can now register for this event.
This event is free of charge to both Members and Non Members of PSI. Please note: this event takes place on both the 12th & 19th January, but will entail exactly the same content.
To register for the 12th January session, please click here.
To register for the 19th January session, please click here.
Overview
Bringing estimands to life through a real case study. A year on after the final ICH E9 estimands addendum was published, we bring estimands to life from a real example from protocol to press release. Members of the estimands Implementation Working Group (EIWG) will describe the background and study objectives, intercurrent events of interest and chosen estimands in the PIONEER study.
Speaker Details
Speaker
Biography
Melanie Wright Novartis
Melanie Wright is a Biostatistics Global Group Head at Novartis Pharma AG. She has an MSc in Biometry from University of Reading (UK) and started working in the pharmaceutical industry in 1996. Despite her background in statistics, Melanie describes herself as “an experienced drug developer with a focus on structured quantitative decision making”. Melanie has been leading many activities as part of the estimand workstream at Novartis for the last 3 years and from last year became involved in the EFSPI/EFPIA estimand working group.
Sue McKendrick PPD
Sue McKendrick is an Associate Statistical Science Director leading the cross-functional Estimand Working Group at PPD. In 1991, she graduated with an M.Sc. in Biometry from University of Reading, UK and has been a Chartered Statistician since 1998. Sue has over 25 years’ experience of statistical consultancy across drug development in both CRO and pharma companies, including collaborating with clinical colleagues on protocol development.
Nanco Hefting Lundbeck
Nanco Hefting is Chief Scientific Specialist in the Clinical Research – Psychiatry department at H. Lundbeck A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark. He has a Master of Science in pharmacy and pharmacist education from the University of Groningen, NL, 1991 and has worked since as a clinical scientist and clinical lead in Clinical Pharmacology and Clinical Development in various companies. Nanco has been involved in the EFSPI/EFPIA estimand working group and is Co-Chair of the EIWG.
Rikke Agesen Novo Nordisk
Rikke Mette Agesen is a Senior International Medical Manager in Global Development at Novo Nordisk. She graduated as a Medical Doctor in 2010 from the University of Copenhagen and has several years of clinical experience within Internal Medicine and Endocrinology. Rikke holds a PhD and a Postdoctoral position in Type 1 diabetes and hypoglycaemia. With a physician’s perspective Rikke represents Novo Nordisk in the EFPIA/EFSPI estimand implementation working group (EIWG).
Helle Lynggaard Novo Nordisk
Helle Lynggaard is a Principal Statistician in Global Development at Novo Nordisk. She obtained her MSc from the University of Aalborg in 1994 and her PhD in 2005 from the University of Copenhagen. She has worked with Novo Nordisk since 1994 in different statistical roles including being a Project Statistician. Since 2015 she has been working in a cross-project biostatistics department that provides support to statisticians in the clinical projects. Helle is a key driver in implementing estimands in Novo Nordisk studies, and is a member of the EFPIA/EFSPI estimand implementation working group (EIWG).
Journal Club
PSI EIWG Webinar: PIONEERing estimands in Clinical Research (Session 1)
Date: Tuesday 12th January 2021 Time: Tues. 12th - 15:00-16:30 GMT Speakers: Melanie Wright (Novartis), Sue McKendrick (PPD), Nanco Hefting (Lundbeck), Rikke Mette Agesen (NovoNordisk), and Helle Lynggaard (NovoNordisk).
Who is this event intended for? Anyone working in clinical trials: Clinician, Regulator, Investigator, Academic, Ethics Committee, Statistician. What is the benefit of attending? Understand how to describe clinical objectives using the estimands framework, recognising the benefits of this approach.
Registration
You can now register for this event.
This event is free of charge to both Members and Non Members of PSI. Please note: this event takes place on both the 12th & 19th January, but will entail exactly the same content.
To register for the 12th January session, please click here.
To register for the 19th January session, please click here.
Overview
Bringing estimands to life through a real case study. A year on after the final ICH E9 estimands addendum was published, we bring estimands to life from a real example from protocol to press release. Members of the estimands Implementation Working Group (EIWG) will describe the background and study objectives, intercurrent events of interest and chosen estimands in the PIONEER study.
Speaker Details
Speaker
Biography
Melanie Wright Novartis
Melanie Wright is a Biostatistics Global Group Head at Novartis Pharma AG. She has an MSc in Biometry from University of Reading (UK) and started working in the pharmaceutical industry in 1996. Despite her background in statistics, Melanie describes herself as “an experienced drug developer with a focus on structured quantitative decision making”. Melanie has been leading many activities as part of the estimand workstream at Novartis for the last 3 years and from last year became involved in the EFSPI/EFPIA estimand working group.
Sue McKendrick PPD
Sue McKendrick is an Associate Statistical Science Director leading the cross-functional Estimand Working Group at PPD. In 1991, she graduated with an M.Sc. in Biometry from University of Reading, UK and has been a Chartered Statistician since 1998. Sue has over 25 years’ experience of statistical consultancy across drug development in both CRO and pharma companies, including collaborating with clinical colleagues on protocol development.
Nanco Hefting Lundbeck
Nanco Hefting is Chief Scientific Specialist in the Clinical Research – Psychiatry department at H. Lundbeck A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark. He has a Master of Science in pharmacy and pharmacist education from the University of Groningen, NL, 1991 and has worked since as a clinical scientist and clinical lead in Clinical Pharmacology and Clinical Development in various companies. Nanco has been involved in the EFSPI/EFPIA estimand working group and is Co-Chair of the EIWG.
Rikke Agesen Novo Nordisk
Rikke Mette Agesen is a Senior International Medical Manager in Global Development at Novo Nordisk. She graduated as a Medical Doctor in 2010 from the University of Copenhagen and has several years of clinical experience within Internal Medicine and Endocrinology. Rikke holds a PhD and a Postdoctoral position in Type 1 diabetes and hypoglycaemia. With a physician’s perspective Rikke represents Novo Nordisk in the EFPIA/EFSPI estimand implementation working group (EIWG).
Helle Lynggaard Novo Nordisk
Helle Lynggaard is a Principal Statistician in Global Development at Novo Nordisk. She obtained her MSc from the University of Aalborg in 1994 and her PhD in 2005 from the University of Copenhagen. She has worked with Novo Nordisk since 1994 in different statistical roles including being a Project Statistician. Since 2015 she has been working in a cross-project biostatistics department that provides support to statisticians in the clinical projects. Helle is a key driver in implementing estimands in Novo Nordisk studies, and is a member of the EFPIA/EFSPI estimand implementation working group (EIWG).
Webinars
PSI EIWG Webinar: PIONEERing estimands in Clinical Research (Session 1)
Date: Tuesday 12th January 2021 Time: Tues. 12th - 15:00-16:30 GMT Speakers: Melanie Wright (Novartis), Sue McKendrick (PPD), Nanco Hefting (Lundbeck), Rikke Mette Agesen (NovoNordisk), and Helle Lynggaard (NovoNordisk).
Who is this event intended for? Anyone working in clinical trials: Clinician, Regulator, Investigator, Academic, Ethics Committee, Statistician. What is the benefit of attending? Understand how to describe clinical objectives using the estimands framework, recognising the benefits of this approach.
Registration
You can now register for this event.
This event is free of charge to both Members and Non Members of PSI. Please note: this event takes place on both the 12th & 19th January, but will entail exactly the same content.
To register for the 12th January session, please click here.
To register for the 19th January session, please click here.
Overview
Bringing estimands to life through a real case study. A year on after the final ICH E9 estimands addendum was published, we bring estimands to life from a real example from protocol to press release. Members of the estimands Implementation Working Group (EIWG) will describe the background and study objectives, intercurrent events of interest and chosen estimands in the PIONEER study.
Speaker Details
Speaker
Biography
Melanie Wright Novartis
Melanie Wright is a Biostatistics Global Group Head at Novartis Pharma AG. She has an MSc in Biometry from University of Reading (UK) and started working in the pharmaceutical industry in 1996. Despite her background in statistics, Melanie describes herself as “an experienced drug developer with a focus on structured quantitative decision making”. Melanie has been leading many activities as part of the estimand workstream at Novartis for the last 3 years and from last year became involved in the EFSPI/EFPIA estimand working group.
Sue McKendrick PPD
Sue McKendrick is an Associate Statistical Science Director leading the cross-functional Estimand Working Group at PPD. In 1991, she graduated with an M.Sc. in Biometry from University of Reading, UK and has been a Chartered Statistician since 1998. Sue has over 25 years’ experience of statistical consultancy across drug development in both CRO and pharma companies, including collaborating with clinical colleagues on protocol development.
Nanco Hefting Lundbeck
Nanco Hefting is Chief Scientific Specialist in the Clinical Research – Psychiatry department at H. Lundbeck A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark. He has a Master of Science in pharmacy and pharmacist education from the University of Groningen, NL, 1991 and has worked since as a clinical scientist and clinical lead in Clinical Pharmacology and Clinical Development in various companies. Nanco has been involved in the EFSPI/EFPIA estimand working group and is Co-Chair of the EIWG.
Rikke Agesen Novo Nordisk
Rikke Mette Agesen is a Senior International Medical Manager in Global Development at Novo Nordisk. She graduated as a Medical Doctor in 2010 from the University of Copenhagen and has several years of clinical experience within Internal Medicine and Endocrinology. Rikke holds a PhD and a Postdoctoral position in Type 1 diabetes and hypoglycaemia. With a physician’s perspective Rikke represents Novo Nordisk in the EFPIA/EFSPI estimand implementation working group (EIWG).
Helle Lynggaard Novo Nordisk
Helle Lynggaard is a Principal Statistician in Global Development at Novo Nordisk. She obtained her MSc from the University of Aalborg in 1994 and her PhD in 2005 from the University of Copenhagen. She has worked with Novo Nordisk since 1994 in different statistical roles including being a Project Statistician. Since 2015 she has been working in a cross-project biostatistics department that provides support to statisticians in the clinical projects. Helle is a key driver in implementing estimands in Novo Nordisk studies, and is a member of the EFPIA/EFSPI estimand implementation working group (EIWG).
Careers Meetings
PSI EIWG Webinar: PIONEERing estimands in Clinical Research (Session 1)
Date: Tuesday 12th January 2021 Time: Tues. 12th - 15:00-16:30 GMT Speakers: Melanie Wright (Novartis), Sue McKendrick (PPD), Nanco Hefting (Lundbeck), Rikke Mette Agesen (NovoNordisk), and Helle Lynggaard (NovoNordisk).
Who is this event intended for? Anyone working in clinical trials: Clinician, Regulator, Investigator, Academic, Ethics Committee, Statistician. What is the benefit of attending? Understand how to describe clinical objectives using the estimands framework, recognising the benefits of this approach.
Registration
You can now register for this event.
This event is free of charge to both Members and Non Members of PSI. Please note: this event takes place on both the 12th & 19th January, but will entail exactly the same content.
To register for the 12th January session, please click here.
To register for the 19th January session, please click here.
Overview
Bringing estimands to life through a real case study. A year on after the final ICH E9 estimands addendum was published, we bring estimands to life from a real example from protocol to press release. Members of the estimands Implementation Working Group (EIWG) will describe the background and study objectives, intercurrent events of interest and chosen estimands in the PIONEER study.
Speaker Details
Speaker
Biography
Melanie Wright Novartis
Melanie Wright is a Biostatistics Global Group Head at Novartis Pharma AG. She has an MSc in Biometry from University of Reading (UK) and started working in the pharmaceutical industry in 1996. Despite her background in statistics, Melanie describes herself as “an experienced drug developer with a focus on structured quantitative decision making”. Melanie has been leading many activities as part of the estimand workstream at Novartis for the last 3 years and from last year became involved in the EFSPI/EFPIA estimand working group.
Sue McKendrick PPD
Sue McKendrick is an Associate Statistical Science Director leading the cross-functional Estimand Working Group at PPD. In 1991, she graduated with an M.Sc. in Biometry from University of Reading, UK and has been a Chartered Statistician since 1998. Sue has over 25 years’ experience of statistical consultancy across drug development in both CRO and pharma companies, including collaborating with clinical colleagues on protocol development.
Nanco Hefting Lundbeck
Nanco Hefting is Chief Scientific Specialist in the Clinical Research – Psychiatry department at H. Lundbeck A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark. He has a Master of Science in pharmacy and pharmacist education from the University of Groningen, NL, 1991 and has worked since as a clinical scientist and clinical lead in Clinical Pharmacology and Clinical Development in various companies. Nanco has been involved in the EFSPI/EFPIA estimand working group and is Co-Chair of the EIWG.
Rikke Agesen Novo Nordisk
Rikke Mette Agesen is a Senior International Medical Manager in Global Development at Novo Nordisk. She graduated as a Medical Doctor in 2010 from the University of Copenhagen and has several years of clinical experience within Internal Medicine and Endocrinology. Rikke holds a PhD and a Postdoctoral position in Type 1 diabetes and hypoglycaemia. With a physician’s perspective Rikke represents Novo Nordisk in the EFPIA/EFSPI estimand implementation working group (EIWG).
Helle Lynggaard Novo Nordisk
Helle Lynggaard is a Principal Statistician in Global Development at Novo Nordisk. She obtained her MSc from the University of Aalborg in 1994 and her PhD in 2005 from the University of Copenhagen. She has worked with Novo Nordisk since 1994 in different statistical roles including being a Project Statistician. Since 2015 she has been working in a cross-project biostatistics department that provides support to statisticians in the clinical projects. Helle is a key driver in implementing estimands in Novo Nordisk studies, and is a member of the EFPIA/EFSPI estimand implementation working group (EIWG).
Upcoming Events
PSI Introduction to Industry Training (ITIT) Course - 2025/2026
An introductory course giving an overview of the pharmaceutical industry and the drug development process as a whole, aimed at those with 1-3 years' experience. It comprises of six 2-day sessions covering a range of topics including Research and Development, Toxicology, Data Management and the Role of a CRO, Clinical Trials, Reimbursement, and Marketing.
Joint PSI/EFSPI Visualisation SIG 'Wonderful Wednesday' Webinars
Our monthly webinar explores examples of innovative data visualisations relevant to our day to day work. Each month a new dataset is provided from a clinical trial or other relevant example, and participants are invited to submit a graphic that communicates interesting and relevant characteristics of the data.
PSI Webinar: Methodology and first results of the iRISE (improving Reproducibility In SciencE) consortium
This 1-hour webinar will be an opportunity to hear about the methodology and first results of the iRISE consortium. iRISE is working towards a better understanding of reproducibility and the interventions that work to improve it. At the end of the presentation there will also be the opportunity to ask questions.
One-day Event: Change Management for Moving to R/Open-Source
This one-day event focuses on the comprehensive management of transitioning to R/Open-Source, addressing the challenges and providing actionable insights. Attendees will participate in sessions covering essential topics such as training best practices, creating strategic plans, making the case to senior management, and managing both statistical and programming aspects of the transition.
PSI Book Club - The Art of Explanation: How to Communicate with Clarity and Confidence
Develop your non-technical skills by reading The Art of Explanation by Ros Atkins and joining the Sept-Dec 2025 book club. You will be invited to join facilitated discussions of the concepts and ideas and apply skills from the book in-between sessions.
This course is aimed at biostatisticians with no or some pediatric drug development experience who are interested to further their understanding. We will give you an introduction to the pediatric drug development landscape. This will include identifying the key regulations and processes governing pediatric development, a discussion on the needs and challenges when conducting pediatric research and a focus on the ways to overcome these challenges from a statistical perspective.
This networking event is aimed at statisticians that are new to the pharmaceutical industry who wish to meet colleagues from different companies and backgrounds.
EFSPI/PSI Causal Inference SIG Webinar: Instrumental Variable Methods
The webinar is targeted at statisticians working in the pharmaceutical industry, and the objective is to 1) provide a basic understanding of IV methodology including how it relates to causal inference, and 2) present two inspirational pharma-relevant applications.
This networking event is aimed at statisticians that are new to the pharmaceutical industry who wish to meet colleagues from different companies and backgrounds.
This is an exciting, new opportunity for an experienced Statistician looking to take the next step in their career. Offered as a remote or hybrid position aligned with our site in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.