In this new episode, I and Guillaume Desachy delve into the world of R and its impact on the pharmaceutical industry. Guillaume, a Statistical Science Director at AstraZeneca in Sweden, shares his insights and experiences in fostering an R community within the company.

Embarking on the exploration of Guillaume's journey in building the R at AstraZeneca community beckons a series of intriguing questions:

How does a modest idea transform into a community boasting over 1,600 collaborators within just three years?
What challenges and decisions shape the trajectory of such a community, leading to the retirement of initiatives like AZTidyTuesday?
How does the community navigate the intricate balance between growth and sustaining valuable initiatives?

We also talk about the following key points:

In the ever-evolving landscape of professional development, I've noticed that the term "strategy" is frequently thrown around, often without a clear understanding of its true meaning. Unfortunately, this misunderstanding often leads to the formulation of ineffective strategies, a topic explored by Richard Rumelt in his book Good Strategy/Bad Strategy.

In that ancient conflict, Hannibal faced a Roman army much larger than his own.

So, how did he emerge victorious?
What crucial lessons can we draw from Hannibal's strategic brilliance?
Now, why does this historical tale matter to you and me in the modern professional landscape?

In today's short episode, I delve into the intricacies of strategy, shedding light on common misconceptions and providing valuable insights. Strategy is not just a buzzword; it's crucial for individuals and organizations alike. It provides a decision framework, guiding actions, aligning efforts, and paving the way for success.

Join me while I break down the lessons using three key elements:

This time, I'm engaging in a conversation with Katharina, and I must say I'm thrilled to explore more on the topic of ethical statistics. In our previous discussion, we delved into the importance of ethical guidelines, particularly focusing on the ISI declaration of Ethics. Today, we aim to take things a step further – moving beyond declarations to the practical implementation of ethical statistics. It's not merely about having a set of guidelines but ensuring their incorporation, driving change, and fostering a collective commitment to ethical data use.

As we dive into this, I find it crucial to emphasize the distinction between ethics and morality. We discuss the following key points:

This is an extraordinary episode that takes us deep into the world of modern pharmaceutical research.

Today, we are embarking on a captivating journey guided by the insightful dialogue between me and Elena Polverejan.

Throughout this episode, we uncover the incredible potential of Estimands Framework, a revolutionary concept born from the collaborative efforts of brilliant minds dedicated to transforming clinical trials.

Join us as we delve into the origins of Estimands, discover its practical applications in the complex realm of depression studies, and witness the meticulous process of creating a practical guide that empowers research teams worldwide.

This conversation not only sheds light on the complexities of pharmaceutical research, but also reveals a blueprint for progress, illuminating a path towards more accurate, efficient, and impactful clinical trials.

So, listen now and get ready for an enlightening exploration into the future of pharmaceutical innovation while we discuss also about the following points:

I'm thrilled to dive into a topic that has been untouched in the past 300 episodes - crossover studies. It's a classical design that offers unique advantages, yet it's often overlooked.

Joining me today is Markus Savli, a biostatistician with a diverse background in biomedical engineering, mathematics, and epidemiology. Together, we'll explore the intricacies of crossover studies and their applications in scientific research.

.A crossover study is a longitudinal study where subjects receive multiple treatments in a sequence. This design allows subjects to serve as their own controls, enhancing the ability to address confounding factors. Crossover studies are particularly valuable in scenarios where treatments need to be compared, and their effects measured over multiple periods.

Listen to this episode now while we walk through the following key concepts:

In the intricate world of statistics organizations, a common challenge often arises: how to balance increasing cost pressures while maintaining the quality and relevance of the produced tables. In this episode, I dive into this recurring scene, shedding light on the art of negotiation on the numbers of tables.

I also talk about the following important points:

In today's episode, I discuss the crucial topic of risk management in clinical trials with guest Jess Thompson. Jess, the founder of the Association of Clinical Research Project Managers, shares her extensive experience in the field, emphasizing the importance of proactive risk identification and collaborative communication within project teams.

The conversation delves into practical strategies for risk assessment, impact scoring, and contingency planning, highlighting the significance of involving all team members, including statisticians, in the risk management process.

We talk more about the following key points:

In this episode, I interview Katharina Schueller, a statistician and entrepreneur, to discuss the importance of ethical guidelines for statisticians. Katharina shares her insights on the ethical aspects of statistics, the responsibilities of statisticians, and the relevance of the Declaration of Ethics by the International Statistics Institute (ISI). We explore various values, examples, and practical applications related to ethical statistical practices.

Here are some more points we discuss:

The modern working environment is defined by endless to-do lists, tight deadlines, and the expectation to do more with less. As employees struggle to manage the job responsibilities of 2 or 3 people, exhaustion happens first. Long working hours, with little to no downtime, lead to mental and physical fatigue. Working like this is harmful and not sustainable, but many of us keep going because of the fear of judgment, rejection, or missing out on a promotion. 

In this episode, I explore the steps that employees can take to prevent burnout and improve their overall experience at work.