Biopharmaceutical
Section Launches Web-Based Training
Program, Poster Awards
Alex Dmitrienko, Eli Lilly and Company, and Venkat Sethuraman, Novartis
W
eb-based distance training has become a standard training
January 29, 2009, 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. and February 12,
tool for the Biopharmaceutical Section. Rolled out 18
2009, 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
months ago and supported by the ASA Center for Statistics
Classical Sample-Size Analysis for Hypothesis
Education, the program was launched as a service to the section’s mem-
Testing, presented by Ralph O’Brien, Case
bership to provide an alternative to live training courses. As travel and
Western Reserve University
hotel rooms become more expensive, web-based communication chan-
nels have emerged as a low-cost way to deliver training.
To participate in a web-based course, attendees need to have a
The program has included the following three sets of two-hour,
PC running Microsoft Windows with an Internet browser and a
web-based courses, known as webinars:
high-speed connection. For more information about the web-based
Spring 2007—Five webinars about multiple comparisons and
training program, including set-up requirements, visit www.amstat.
analysis of longitudinal and incomplete data
org/sections/sbiop/webinarseries.html. Additional materials and interac-
tive options are available at
www.biopharmnet.com/doc/doc03002.html.
Fall 2008—Four webinars about adaptive designs in
Copies of the course handouts are posted there, as well as discussion
clinical trials
threads set up to enable participants to submit questions to the pre-
senters at the end of each course. Section members are working on the
Spring 2008—Four webinars about surrogate endpoints and
training program for 2009 and encourages suggestions.
analysis of QTc prolongation
Poster Awards to Start at JSM 2009
Both attendees and presenters indicated the webinars were con-
venient compared to regular training courses. The attendees either
Starting in 2009, authors who present posters sponsored by
logged into the training courses at their desks or attended sessions
the Biopharmaceutical Section are qualified to compete for the
set up in onsite conference rooms. Similarly, the presenters did not
new poster awards. Suitable topics include, but are not limited to,
have to travel to a special facility.
methodological issues in preclinical or clinical trials, epidemiology
The program has attracted a broad audience of industry statisti-
studies of drug safety (device or biological), genetic studies pre-
cians, academic researchers, government statisticians, and graduate
dicting drug (or biological) response, laboratory and toxicologi-
students. The majority of participants logged in from the United
cal data analyses, methods for high-dimensional data from high-
States, though a fraction represented other countries.
throughput screening, and nonlinear pharmacokinetic modeling.
The number of attendees at each webinar was between 500
All JSM attendees (not restricted to members of the
and 1,100. Many participants took advantage of the option to
Biopharmaceutical Section) can participate in the competition.
allow multiple participants to share a single session for a single
Posters will be evaluated based on innovation, general applicability in
registration fee. Based on surveys completed by attendees, a single
pharmaceutical research, appropriate example(s), and effectiveness of
person called in at 30%–40% of the sites, and 15%–20% of the
presentation (well-written, well-organized, etc.) Authors who compete
sites had more than five participants. Feedback received by the
for the poster awards cannot compete for the student paper awards.
organizers indicated that cost is another of the most attractive
Three awards with cash prizes of $1,000, $500, and $300 will
features of the training program. The registration fee for the sec-
be given for first, second, and third places, respectively. To com-
tion’s members is $44 for each two-hour webinar. The fee for ASA
pete, submit an abstract through the Biopharmaceutical Section
members is higher ($59), but they have the option of joining the
by February 2, 2009.
Biopharmaceutical Section for $8 and receiving the section mem-
Posters should be submitted to Yongming Qu, chair for the
ber rate. The registration fee for non-ASA members is $74.
poster awards, via
quyo@lilly.com by May 1, 2009. Each poster will
The section has completed its work on the fall 2008 training
be reviewed by two reviewers and an average score will be assigned.
series, which will consist of the following two-hour webinars (all
Posters with the highest scores will have a ribbon on the corner dur-
times are Eastern time):
ing the poster presentation at JSM to indicate the winners. Winners
also will be announced with certificates at the Biopharmaceutical
October 21, 2008, 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Section mixer. n
Stratified Analyses of Binary and (Potentially) Non-
Normal Data, presented by Devan Mehrotra, Merck
December 10, 2008, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Bioequivalence, presented by Scott Patterson, Wyeth,
and Byron Jones, Pfizer
OCTOBER 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 55
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