To help you get the most from your PharmaSUG experience, we're pleased to offer papers in 13 different academic sections. New additions for this year are sections dedicated to Medical Devices, Real World Evidence, and Strategic Implementation.

As always, we feature a variety of both industry-specific and general-interest topics. We will also continue to offer the extremely popular Hands-On Training, an entire section of interactive courses that run throughout the conference. There is something for everyone at PharmaSUG 2018!

  • Advanced Analytics: The implementation of statistical methods and advanced analytics in medicine discovery stage and reporting results from all phases of clinical trials (including PK/PD, exposure-response modeling, pharmacogenetics), public health studies, and healthcare research.
  • Applications Development: The development and use of programs, systems, utilities, and productivity tools designed to assist us in doing more in our daily jobs, plus an overview of the code and software development techniques used in the process.
  • Beyond the Basics: Comprehensive explanations of sophisticated programming techniques, detailed step-by-step "how to" guides, examples of solving specific programming problems, and other innovative, high-level technical presentations geared for an audience of intermediate and advanced industry programmers.
  • Data Standards: Presentations of industry data standards such as CDISC SDTM and ADaM, data exchange with partners and vendors, data management, controlled terminology, versioning, data quality, implementation strategies, pilots and case studies.
  • Data Visualization: Exploring new and novel ways to create reports and graphs and discussion of techniques for representing data to communicate effectively.
  • ePosters: Presentations given in a poster format focused on innovative topics and practical experiences. Posters are available throughout the conference and are ideal for displaying high-resolution graphics and presentations without requiring a formal lecture. Authors are available during scheduled times to answer questions. Top-rated posters from other user group conferences will also be on display.
  • Hands-On Training: Interactive training to provide attendees a “hands-on” opportunity to use industry software tools. Practice techniques in a classroom setting, equipped with 20+ computers, under the skillful guidance of seasoned experts. Topics vary widely. Invited Speakers only.
  • Leadership: Presentations related to working as statistical programmers, statisticians, data scientists, and in related roles in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Topics include industry trends, career development, mentoring and leading teams, consulting and contracting, networking techniques, or other relevant subjects.
  • Medical Devices: Describe how medical device analytics differs from traditional clinical trials. Techniques will be presented on the types of data being collected and the challenges involved in using and analyzing that data. Also presentations on how this data can be prepared, using CDISC data standards, for submission to regulatory agencies.
  • Quick Tips: (formerly Coders Corner) Brief demonstrations of real-life useful nuggets of programming code, programming tips, efficiency techniques, useful algorithms and macros, and creative uses of software that makes a job easier. This is a fast-paced section of 10-minute presentations that are concise and highly-focused, where sharing and explaining the code is the key.
  • Real World Evidence: The use of software tools in healthcare research areas that focus on patient-reported outcomes, registries, risk evaluation and mitigation strategies, and other post-submission assessments. Topics will include analysis, visualization, summary reports, and data mining techniques from various data sources such as knowledge and behavior surveys, call center metrics, health claims, and post-marketing sources.
  • Submission Standards: Discussion of global submission industry standards, best practices and implementation strategies for deliverables such as: define.xml, SDRG, ADRG, eCTD folder content, including the use of metadata repositories and other tools to automate submission documentation, submission experiences, pilots and case studies.
  • Strategic Implementation: This section will focus on the best strategies for deploying new technologies (both hardware and software) and how to develop your staff to use these new technologies. Topics can range from discussions with management to adopt new technology through implementation, training and staffing challenges and solutions.