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Tuesday June 2nd 2026 | 10.00am - 5.00pm
*** This session is not open to everyone. It is an invitation only event ***
From Drowning in Data to Driving Decisions
The biopharmaceutical industry is generating an unprecedented volume and variety of data, from genomics and clinical trials to manufacturing and real-world evidence. However, many organisations are "drowning in data but starved for insights". This is because critical data is often trapped in fragmented silos, locked in proprietary vendor formats, and lacks the necessary context and standardisation for effective use.
This situation is unsustainable. A paradigm shift is underway, catalysed by the need to harness the full potential of data through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). To capitalise on these technologies and accelerate drug development, organisations must move away from outdated, application-centric approaches and build a modern, flexible, and scalable data foundation.
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10:30 Session 1 – Data Infrastructure and Management
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What are the foundational pillars of a successful data strategy?
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Beyond technology, what are the most critical first steps to building a truly analytics-friendly and AI-ready data ecosystem?
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How can the industry coordinate on data standards and pre-competitive initiatives to accelerate adoption and build shared foundational databases?
Moderator: Zhongwu Lai, Executive Director, Bioinformatics Data Science, AstraZeneca
11:30 Session 2 – The Human Element: Culture and Organisational Readiness
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What practical strategies have proven effective for breaking down data silos and fostering a culture of data sharing and collaboration?
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How can leadership effectively drive data literacy, address skill gaps and establish clear data ownership across multidisciplinary teams?
Moderator: Emily Gillen, Head of Global Data Partnerships, UCB
13:30 Session 3 – Navigating the Technology and Vendor Ecosystem
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What are the key criteria for evaluating vendors to ensure interoperability and avoid creating new "walled gardens" or data silos?
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Which architectural patterns (e.g., data mesh, lakehouse) are showing the most promise for unifying data from diverse sources like LIMS, ELNs, and CROs?
Moderator: Vinod Kasam, Director Data Engineering and Research Informatics, Cellarity
16:00 Closing Session – From Aspiration to Action: Your Next 90 Days
The final session is designed to translate the day's discussions into tangible, actionable next steps that leaders can take back to their organisations.
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Looking ahead, what does a truly unified, AI-ready data ecosystem enable for you and your organisation that is simply impossible today?
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Each participant shares one action/lesson they will take back.
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Collective brainstorm: what guidance, frameworks, or success factors could this SIG share with the wider community? Follow-Up survey/Outcomes.
Moderator: Guillermo Del Angel, Executive Director, Rare Disease therapy area head, Centre for Genomics Research, AstraZeneca
17:00 Close
Please note that the names, job titles and company names of confirmed attendees will be shared with prospective participants and attendees at the Leaders Exchange. If you would prefer not to have your name, job title and company name shared, please let me know when you confirm your attendance.