Date: Tuesday 2nd July 2024 Time: 14:00-15:30 BST | 15:00-16:30 CEST Location: Online via Zoom Speakers: Rachid Abbas, Angeliki Thanasopoulou, and Marcel Wolbers (Roche).
Who is this event intended for? Clinicians, Regulators, Investigators, Academics, members of Ethics Committees, Health technology assessors, Statisticians. What is the benefit of attending?
● To illustrate the purpose of each estimand attributes using simple language in a pivotal study in early Alzheimer's disease
● Recognize the benefits of following the estimand framework (ICH E9 (R1) addendum) in the context of a clinical trial, in order to:
- gain alignment on the question(s) of interest
- frame questions which may be of interest to different stakeholders
- be transparent when communicating trial results
Registration
This event is free to both Members of PSI and Non-Members. To register your place for this event, please click here.
Overview
The webinar will show how the estimand framework was applied in a Phase 3 trial in Alzheimer's disease.
GRADUATE I(NCT03444870) and GRADUATE II (NCT03443973) were two global, Phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled trials assessing the efficacy and safety of gantenerumab in early Alzheimer's disease. The GRADUATE studies were among the first pivotal trials in Alzheimer's Disease to adopt the estimand framework and to conduct a primary analysis which is fully aligned with the targeted estimand.
In this webinar we will review the key elements of the estimand framework through the experience of the Graduate study team. We will review how the Graduate study team interpreted the estimand framework and used its elements to cover the primary clinical question of interest. We will review the challenges we met and the solutions we implemented.
This webinar will be interactive. Questions will be raised at different points during the talk and we will end with 30 minutes dedicated to answer open questions.
Speaker details
Speaker
Biography
Rachid Abbas
Rachid Abbas is a statistician in Roche's Product Development department since 2020.
With a medical degree in public health and a Master’s in biostatistics, he has a strong interest in statistical issues in drug development. Rachid has held academic positions at Paris Diderot University and Gustave Roussy, contributing to clinical trials in geriatrics and neuro-oncology. At Roche, he supports late-phase Alzheimer's Disease programs. His research interests include the design and analysis of innovative clinical trials, including adaptive designs, estimands, and trial emulation.
Angeliki Thanaspoulou
Angeliki is a Senior Clinical Scientist in the Alzheimer’s Disease & Neurodegeneration Franchise at Roche since 2019.
She has previously worked in clinical development in a small size biotech focusing on rare diseases in neuromuscular, neurodegenerative and respiratory indications, across Phase 1 up to Phase 4 studies. Prior to joining the Pharmaceutical Industry she completed a postdoctoral position in the University Hospital Basel working on translational research and Investigator Initiated Trials. Angeliki is a biologist in training with a masters and PhD in molecular and cellular biology.
Marcel Wolbers
Since completing his PhD in mathematical statistics in 2002, Marcel Wolbers has spent half of his career as an academic biostatistician and the other half as a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry. Between 2009 and 2016, he was the head of biostatistics at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Since 2016, he has been an expert statistician working in the Methods, Collaboration, and Outreach group (MCO) of Roche's data sciences and statistics department. His research interests include the design and analysis of innovative clinical trials, estimands, missing data, prognostic models, and competing risks.
Scientific Meetings
PSI EIWG Webinar: Estimands framework in action, the Alzheimer's disease case
Date: Tuesday 2nd July 2024 Time: 14:00-15:30 BST | 15:00-16:30 CEST Location: Online via Zoom Speakers: Rachid Abbas, Angeliki Thanasopoulou, and Marcel Wolbers (Roche).
Who is this event intended for? Clinicians, Regulators, Investigators, Academics, members of Ethics Committees, Health technology assessors, Statisticians. What is the benefit of attending?
● To illustrate the purpose of each estimand attributes using simple language in a pivotal study in early Alzheimer's disease
● Recognize the benefits of following the estimand framework (ICH E9 (R1) addendum) in the context of a clinical trial, in order to:
- gain alignment on the question(s) of interest
- frame questions which may be of interest to different stakeholders
- be transparent when communicating trial results
Registration
This event is free to both Members of PSI and Non-Members. To register your place for this event, please click here.
Overview
The webinar will show how the estimand framework was applied in a Phase 3 trial in Alzheimer's disease.
GRADUATE I(NCT03444870) and GRADUATE II (NCT03443973) were two global, Phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled trials assessing the efficacy and safety of gantenerumab in early Alzheimer's disease. The GRADUATE studies were among the first pivotal trials in Alzheimer's Disease to adopt the estimand framework and to conduct a primary analysis which is fully aligned with the targeted estimand.
In this webinar we will review the key elements of the estimand framework through the experience of the Graduate study team. We will review how the Graduate study team interpreted the estimand framework and used its elements to cover the primary clinical question of interest. We will review the challenges we met and the solutions we implemented.
This webinar will be interactive. Questions will be raised at different points during the talk and we will end with 30 minutes dedicated to answer open questions.
Speaker details
Speaker
Biography
Rachid Abbas
Rachid Abbas is a statistician in Roche's Product Development department since 2020.
With a medical degree in public health and a Master’s in biostatistics, he has a strong interest in statistical issues in drug development. Rachid has held academic positions at Paris Diderot University and Gustave Roussy, contributing to clinical trials in geriatrics and neuro-oncology. At Roche, he supports late-phase Alzheimer's Disease programs. His research interests include the design and analysis of innovative clinical trials, including adaptive designs, estimands, and trial emulation.
Angeliki Thanaspoulou
Angeliki is a Senior Clinical Scientist in the Alzheimer’s Disease & Neurodegeneration Franchise at Roche since 2019.
She has previously worked in clinical development in a small size biotech focusing on rare diseases in neuromuscular, neurodegenerative and respiratory indications, across Phase 1 up to Phase 4 studies. Prior to joining the Pharmaceutical Industry she completed a postdoctoral position in the University Hospital Basel working on translational research and Investigator Initiated Trials. Angeliki is a biologist in training with a masters and PhD in molecular and cellular biology.
Marcel Wolbers
Since completing his PhD in mathematical statistics in 2002, Marcel Wolbers has spent half of his career as an academic biostatistician and the other half as a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry. Between 2009 and 2016, he was the head of biostatistics at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Since 2016, he has been an expert statistician working in the Methods, Collaboration, and Outreach group (MCO) of Roche's data sciences and statistics department. His research interests include the design and analysis of innovative clinical trials, estimands, missing data, prognostic models, and competing risks.
Training Courses
PSI EIWG Webinar: Estimands framework in action, the Alzheimer's disease case
Date: Tuesday 2nd July 2024 Time: 14:00-15:30 BST | 15:00-16:30 CEST Location: Online via Zoom Speakers: Rachid Abbas, Angeliki Thanasopoulou, and Marcel Wolbers (Roche).
Who is this event intended for? Clinicians, Regulators, Investigators, Academics, members of Ethics Committees, Health technology assessors, Statisticians. What is the benefit of attending?
● To illustrate the purpose of each estimand attributes using simple language in a pivotal study in early Alzheimer's disease
● Recognize the benefits of following the estimand framework (ICH E9 (R1) addendum) in the context of a clinical trial, in order to:
- gain alignment on the question(s) of interest
- frame questions which may be of interest to different stakeholders
- be transparent when communicating trial results
Registration
This event is free to both Members of PSI and Non-Members. To register your place for this event, please click here.
Overview
The webinar will show how the estimand framework was applied in a Phase 3 trial in Alzheimer's disease.
GRADUATE I(NCT03444870) and GRADUATE II (NCT03443973) were two global, Phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled trials assessing the efficacy and safety of gantenerumab in early Alzheimer's disease. The GRADUATE studies were among the first pivotal trials in Alzheimer's Disease to adopt the estimand framework and to conduct a primary analysis which is fully aligned with the targeted estimand.
In this webinar we will review the key elements of the estimand framework through the experience of the Graduate study team. We will review how the Graduate study team interpreted the estimand framework and used its elements to cover the primary clinical question of interest. We will review the challenges we met and the solutions we implemented.
This webinar will be interactive. Questions will be raised at different points during the talk and we will end with 30 minutes dedicated to answer open questions.
Speaker details
Speaker
Biography
Rachid Abbas
Rachid Abbas is a statistician in Roche's Product Development department since 2020.
With a medical degree in public health and a Master’s in biostatistics, he has a strong interest in statistical issues in drug development. Rachid has held academic positions at Paris Diderot University and Gustave Roussy, contributing to clinical trials in geriatrics and neuro-oncology. At Roche, he supports late-phase Alzheimer's Disease programs. His research interests include the design and analysis of innovative clinical trials, including adaptive designs, estimands, and trial emulation.
Angeliki Thanaspoulou
Angeliki is a Senior Clinical Scientist in the Alzheimer’s Disease & Neurodegeneration Franchise at Roche since 2019.
She has previously worked in clinical development in a small size biotech focusing on rare diseases in neuromuscular, neurodegenerative and respiratory indications, across Phase 1 up to Phase 4 studies. Prior to joining the Pharmaceutical Industry she completed a postdoctoral position in the University Hospital Basel working on translational research and Investigator Initiated Trials. Angeliki is a biologist in training with a masters and PhD in molecular and cellular biology.
Marcel Wolbers
Since completing his PhD in mathematical statistics in 2002, Marcel Wolbers has spent half of his career as an academic biostatistician and the other half as a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry. Between 2009 and 2016, he was the head of biostatistics at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Since 2016, he has been an expert statistician working in the Methods, Collaboration, and Outreach group (MCO) of Roche's data sciences and statistics department. His research interests include the design and analysis of innovative clinical trials, estimands, missing data, prognostic models, and competing risks.
Journal Club
PSI EIWG Webinar: Estimands framework in action, the Alzheimer's disease case
Date: Tuesday 2nd July 2024 Time: 14:00-15:30 BST | 15:00-16:30 CEST Location: Online via Zoom Speakers: Rachid Abbas, Angeliki Thanasopoulou, and Marcel Wolbers (Roche).
Who is this event intended for? Clinicians, Regulators, Investigators, Academics, members of Ethics Committees, Health technology assessors, Statisticians. What is the benefit of attending?
● To illustrate the purpose of each estimand attributes using simple language in a pivotal study in early Alzheimer's disease
● Recognize the benefits of following the estimand framework (ICH E9 (R1) addendum) in the context of a clinical trial, in order to:
- gain alignment on the question(s) of interest
- frame questions which may be of interest to different stakeholders
- be transparent when communicating trial results
Registration
This event is free to both Members of PSI and Non-Members. To register your place for this event, please click here.
Overview
The webinar will show how the estimand framework was applied in a Phase 3 trial in Alzheimer's disease.
GRADUATE I(NCT03444870) and GRADUATE II (NCT03443973) were two global, Phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled trials assessing the efficacy and safety of gantenerumab in early Alzheimer's disease. The GRADUATE studies were among the first pivotal trials in Alzheimer's Disease to adopt the estimand framework and to conduct a primary analysis which is fully aligned with the targeted estimand.
In this webinar we will review the key elements of the estimand framework through the experience of the Graduate study team. We will review how the Graduate study team interpreted the estimand framework and used its elements to cover the primary clinical question of interest. We will review the challenges we met and the solutions we implemented.
This webinar will be interactive. Questions will be raised at different points during the talk and we will end with 30 minutes dedicated to answer open questions.
Speaker details
Speaker
Biography
Rachid Abbas
Rachid Abbas is a statistician in Roche's Product Development department since 2020.
With a medical degree in public health and a Master’s in biostatistics, he has a strong interest in statistical issues in drug development. Rachid has held academic positions at Paris Diderot University and Gustave Roussy, contributing to clinical trials in geriatrics and neuro-oncology. At Roche, he supports late-phase Alzheimer's Disease programs. His research interests include the design and analysis of innovative clinical trials, including adaptive designs, estimands, and trial emulation.
Angeliki Thanaspoulou
Angeliki is a Senior Clinical Scientist in the Alzheimer’s Disease & Neurodegeneration Franchise at Roche since 2019.
She has previously worked in clinical development in a small size biotech focusing on rare diseases in neuromuscular, neurodegenerative and respiratory indications, across Phase 1 up to Phase 4 studies. Prior to joining the Pharmaceutical Industry she completed a postdoctoral position in the University Hospital Basel working on translational research and Investigator Initiated Trials. Angeliki is a biologist in training with a masters and PhD in molecular and cellular biology.
Marcel Wolbers
Since completing his PhD in mathematical statistics in 2002, Marcel Wolbers has spent half of his career as an academic biostatistician and the other half as a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry. Between 2009 and 2016, he was the head of biostatistics at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Since 2016, he has been an expert statistician working in the Methods, Collaboration, and Outreach group (MCO) of Roche's data sciences and statistics department. His research interests include the design and analysis of innovative clinical trials, estimands, missing data, prognostic models, and competing risks.
Webinars
PSI EIWG Webinar: Estimands framework in action, the Alzheimer's disease case
Date: Tuesday 2nd July 2024 Time: 14:00-15:30 BST | 15:00-16:30 CEST Location: Online via Zoom Speakers: Rachid Abbas, Angeliki Thanasopoulou, and Marcel Wolbers (Roche).
Who is this event intended for? Clinicians, Regulators, Investigators, Academics, members of Ethics Committees, Health technology assessors, Statisticians. What is the benefit of attending?
● To illustrate the purpose of each estimand attributes using simple language in a pivotal study in early Alzheimer's disease
● Recognize the benefits of following the estimand framework (ICH E9 (R1) addendum) in the context of a clinical trial, in order to:
- gain alignment on the question(s) of interest
- frame questions which may be of interest to different stakeholders
- be transparent when communicating trial results
Registration
This event is free to both Members of PSI and Non-Members. To register your place for this event, please click here.
Overview
The webinar will show how the estimand framework was applied in a Phase 3 trial in Alzheimer's disease.
GRADUATE I(NCT03444870) and GRADUATE II (NCT03443973) were two global, Phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled trials assessing the efficacy and safety of gantenerumab in early Alzheimer's disease. The GRADUATE studies were among the first pivotal trials in Alzheimer's Disease to adopt the estimand framework and to conduct a primary analysis which is fully aligned with the targeted estimand.
In this webinar we will review the key elements of the estimand framework through the experience of the Graduate study team. We will review how the Graduate study team interpreted the estimand framework and used its elements to cover the primary clinical question of interest. We will review the challenges we met and the solutions we implemented.
This webinar will be interactive. Questions will be raised at different points during the talk and we will end with 30 minutes dedicated to answer open questions.
Speaker details
Speaker
Biography
Rachid Abbas
Rachid Abbas is a statistician in Roche's Product Development department since 2020.
With a medical degree in public health and a Master’s in biostatistics, he has a strong interest in statistical issues in drug development. Rachid has held academic positions at Paris Diderot University and Gustave Roussy, contributing to clinical trials in geriatrics and neuro-oncology. At Roche, he supports late-phase Alzheimer's Disease programs. His research interests include the design and analysis of innovative clinical trials, including adaptive designs, estimands, and trial emulation.
Angeliki Thanaspoulou
Angeliki is a Senior Clinical Scientist in the Alzheimer’s Disease & Neurodegeneration Franchise at Roche since 2019.
She has previously worked in clinical development in a small size biotech focusing on rare diseases in neuromuscular, neurodegenerative and respiratory indications, across Phase 1 up to Phase 4 studies. Prior to joining the Pharmaceutical Industry she completed a postdoctoral position in the University Hospital Basel working on translational research and Investigator Initiated Trials. Angeliki is a biologist in training with a masters and PhD in molecular and cellular biology.
Marcel Wolbers
Since completing his PhD in mathematical statistics in 2002, Marcel Wolbers has spent half of his career as an academic biostatistician and the other half as a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry. Between 2009 and 2016, he was the head of biostatistics at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Since 2016, he has been an expert statistician working in the Methods, Collaboration, and Outreach group (MCO) of Roche's data sciences and statistics department. His research interests include the design and analysis of innovative clinical trials, estimands, missing data, prognostic models, and competing risks.
Careers Meetings
PSI EIWG Webinar: Estimands framework in action, the Alzheimer's disease case
Date: Tuesday 2nd July 2024 Time: 14:00-15:30 BST | 15:00-16:30 CEST Location: Online via Zoom Speakers: Rachid Abbas, Angeliki Thanasopoulou, and Marcel Wolbers (Roche).
Who is this event intended for? Clinicians, Regulators, Investigators, Academics, members of Ethics Committees, Health technology assessors, Statisticians. What is the benefit of attending?
● To illustrate the purpose of each estimand attributes using simple language in a pivotal study in early Alzheimer's disease
● Recognize the benefits of following the estimand framework (ICH E9 (R1) addendum) in the context of a clinical trial, in order to:
- gain alignment on the question(s) of interest
- frame questions which may be of interest to different stakeholders
- be transparent when communicating trial results
Registration
This event is free to both Members of PSI and Non-Members. To register your place for this event, please click here.
Overview
The webinar will show how the estimand framework was applied in a Phase 3 trial in Alzheimer's disease.
GRADUATE I(NCT03444870) and GRADUATE II (NCT03443973) were two global, Phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled trials assessing the efficacy and safety of gantenerumab in early Alzheimer's disease. The GRADUATE studies were among the first pivotal trials in Alzheimer's Disease to adopt the estimand framework and to conduct a primary analysis which is fully aligned with the targeted estimand.
In this webinar we will review the key elements of the estimand framework through the experience of the Graduate study team. We will review how the Graduate study team interpreted the estimand framework and used its elements to cover the primary clinical question of interest. We will review the challenges we met and the solutions we implemented.
This webinar will be interactive. Questions will be raised at different points during the talk and we will end with 30 minutes dedicated to answer open questions.
Speaker details
Speaker
Biography
Rachid Abbas
Rachid Abbas is a statistician in Roche's Product Development department since 2020.
With a medical degree in public health and a Master’s in biostatistics, he has a strong interest in statistical issues in drug development. Rachid has held academic positions at Paris Diderot University and Gustave Roussy, contributing to clinical trials in geriatrics and neuro-oncology. At Roche, he supports late-phase Alzheimer's Disease programs. His research interests include the design and analysis of innovative clinical trials, including adaptive designs, estimands, and trial emulation.
Angeliki Thanaspoulou
Angeliki is a Senior Clinical Scientist in the Alzheimer’s Disease & Neurodegeneration Franchise at Roche since 2019.
She has previously worked in clinical development in a small size biotech focusing on rare diseases in neuromuscular, neurodegenerative and respiratory indications, across Phase 1 up to Phase 4 studies. Prior to joining the Pharmaceutical Industry she completed a postdoctoral position in the University Hospital Basel working on translational research and Investigator Initiated Trials. Angeliki is a biologist in training with a masters and PhD in molecular and cellular biology.
Marcel Wolbers
Since completing his PhD in mathematical statistics in 2002, Marcel Wolbers has spent half of his career as an academic biostatistician and the other half as a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry. Between 2009 and 2016, he was the head of biostatistics at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Since 2016, he has been an expert statistician working in the Methods, Collaboration, and Outreach group (MCO) of Roche's data sciences and statistics department. His research interests include the design and analysis of innovative clinical trials, estimands, missing data, prognostic models, and competing risks.
Upcoming Events
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.
Topic: R Package Basics.
Our monthly webinar series allows attendees to gain practical knowledge and skills in open-source coding and tools, with a focus on applications in the pharmaceutical industry. This month’s session, “R Package Basics,” will introduce the fundamentals of working with R packages—covering how to install, load, and manage them effectively to support data analysis and reproducible research. The session will provide a solid starting point, clarify common misconceptions, and offer valuable resources for continued learning.
Date: Ongoing 6 month cycle beginning late April/early May 2026
Are you a member of PSI looking to further your career or help develop others - why not sign up to the PSI Mentoring scheme? You can expand your network, improve your leadership skills and learn from more senior colleagues in the industry.
PSI Book Club Lunch and Learn: Communicating with Clarity and Confidence
If you have read Ros Atkins’ book The Art of Explanation or want to listen to the BBC’s ‘Communicator in Chief’, you are invited to join the PSI Book Club Lunch and Learn, to discuss the content and application with the author, Ros Atkins. Having written the book within the context of the news industry, Ros is keen to hear how we have applied the ideas as statisticians within drug development and clinical trials. There will be dedicated time during the webinar to ASK THE AUTHOR any questions – don’t miss out on this exclusive PSI Book Club event!
Haven’t read the book yet? Pick up a copy today and join us.
Explanation - identifying and communicating what we want to say - is described as an art, in the title of his book. However, the creativity comes from Ros’ discernment in identifying and describing a clear step-by-step process to follow and practice. Readers can learn Ros’ rules, developed and polished throughout his career as a journalist, to help communicate complex written or spoken information clearly.
PSI Training Course: Effective Leadership – the keys to growing your leadership capabilities
This course will consist of three online half-day workshops. The first will be aimed at building trust, the backbone of leadership and a key to becoming effective. This is key to building a solid foundation.
The second will be on improving communication as a technical leader. This workshop will focus on communication strategies for different stakeholders and will involve tips on effective communication and how to develop the skills of active listening, coaching and what improv can teach us about good communication.
The final workshop will bring these two components together to help leaders become more influential. This will also focus on how to use Steven Covey’s 7-Habits, in particular Habits 4, 5 and 6, which are called the habits of communication.
The workshops will be interactive, allowing you to practice the concepts discussed. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. There will also be reflective time where you can think about what you are learning and how you might experiment with it.