What Are GAMS And How Can You Leverage Them? The Effective Statistician

20:21

Interview with Katrin Kupas What You’ll Learn in This Episode : ✔ What the JCA is and why it changes how we plan evidence generation ✔ When and how RWE can help answer comparator questions in HTA ✔ The risks of non-randomized comparisons —and how to mitigate them ✔ Why we need an integrated evidence plan early in development ✔ How tools like ROBINS-I and quantitative bias analysis can improve credibility Why You Should Listen : If you’re a statistician, medical affairs lead, or part of an HEOR or market access team, this episode will help you: ✔ Develop a stronger evidence generation plan across the drug lifecycle ✔ Understand how real world evidence can support JCA submissions ✔ Learn when RCTs aren’t enough—and how RWE can fill the gap ✔ Gain practical advice for designing indirect treatment comparisons ✔ Improve your bias assessment strategies with tools like ROBINS-I Resources & Links: 🔗 ROBINS-I Tool – for evaluating bias in non-randomized studies 🔗 The Effective Statistician Academy – I offer free and premium resources to help you become a more effective statistician. 🔗 Medical Data Leaders Community – Join my network of statisticians and data leaders to enhance your influencing skills. 🔗 My New Book: How to Be an Effective Statistician - Volume 1 – It’s packed with insights to help statisticians, data scientists, and quantitative professionals excel as leaders, collaborators, and change-makers in healthcare and medicine. 🔗 PSI (Statistical Community in Healthcare) – Access webinars, training, and networking opportunities. If you’re working on evidence generation plans or preparing for joint clinical advice, this episode is packed with insights you don’t want to miss. Join the Conversation: Did you find this episode helpful? Share it with your colleagues and let me know your thoughts! Connect with me on LinkedIn and be part of the discussion. Subscribe & Stay Updated: Never miss an episode! Subscribe to The Effective Statistician on your favorite podcast platform and continue growing your influence as a statistician.…

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Why and how you can promote more students become statisticians 29:32

9 days ago29:32

29:32

Interview with Emma Crawford and Alex Spiers ✔ Why STEM outreach is so important for the future of our industry ✔ How your company, community, and even your own career can benefit from getting involved ✔ The challenges students face (especially girls and those from underserved areas) in seeing themselves in STEM ✔ How PSI’s Schools Outreach team can support you —with ready-made materials, training, and volunteer opportunities ✔ What it's really like to walk into a classroom and talk about your job Why You Should Listen : You don’t need to be a teacher to make an impact. If you’ve ever wished more people knew how rewarding our work is, this episode will show you how to be part of the solution. Whether you join a virtual session or speak at a local school, your story might be the spark that changes a student’s life. Get Involved – Here's How Whether you're based in the UK or elsewhere, there are so many ways to participate: Visit the PSI Schools Outreach Hub Includes career talk templates, outreach resources, and volunteering info Contact the PSI team: careers@psiweb.org Join platforms like: STEM Learning I'm a Scientist Maths4Girls If you're a PSI member, sign up for the Schools Outreach Newsletter in your Glue Up profile ("Outreach Champions Distribution List") You can also download editable school letter templates, contribute your own materials, or join our resource-sharing library to support other members doing outreach. Other Links: 🔗 The Effective Statistician Academy – I offer free and premium resources to help you become a more effective statistician. 🔗 Medical Data Leaders Community – Join my network of statisticians and data leaders to enhance your influencing skills. 🔗 My New Book: How to Be an Effective Statistician - Volume 1 – It’s packed with insights to help statisticians, data scientists, and quantitative professionals excel as leaders, collaborators, and change-makers in healthcare and medicine. 🔗 PSI (Statistical Community in Healthcare) – Access webinars, training, and networking opportunities. Join the Conversation: Did you find this episode helpful? Share it with your colleagues and let me know your thoughts! Connect with me on LinkedIn and be part of the discussion. Subscribe & Stay Updated: Never miss an episode! Subscribe to The Effective Statistician on your favorite podcast platform and continue growing your influence as a statistician.…

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Clarifying confusions around interim, primary, final, and other analyses in clinical trial 31:11

16 days ago31:11

31:11

Interview with Kaspar Rufibach What You’ll Learn in This Episode : ✔ The true definitions of interim, final, primary, confirmatory, and updated analyses ✔ Why a “final analysis” doesn’t always mean “last analysis” ✔ How language choice can impact stakeholder trust and regulatory interpretation ✔ The operational vs. statistical meaning of “stopping a study” ✔ When to use which data cuts and how to define your analysis set ✔ The nuances of estimation vs. hypothesis testing after stopping a trial ✔ Why clarity in communication is just as critical as technical accuracy Why You Should Listen : Even experienced statisticians often use terms like “final” or “interim” inconsistently, which can cause confusion not just within study teams, but also with regulators, clinicians, and the public. Kaspar provides much-needed clarity on how we as statisticians can: Use more precise terminology when describing study analyses, Align our language with stakeholders, Avoid miscommunication that can erode public and regulatory trust , and Educate others on the importance of estimating vs. testing . Resources & Links: 🔗 LinkedIn article by Kaspar Rufibach on clinical trial 🔗 Preprint Paper (with industry and regulatory co-authors) 🔗 The Effective Statistician Academy – I offer free and premium resources to help you become a more effective statistician. 🔗 Medical Data Leaders Community – Join my network of statisticians and data leaders to enhance your influencing skills. 🔗 My New Book: How to Be an Effective Statistician - Volume 1 – It’s packed with insights to help statisticians, data scientists, and quantitative professionals excel as leaders, collaborators, and change-makers in healthcare and medicine. 🔗 PSI (Statistical Community in Healthcare) – Access webinars, training, and networking opportunities. Join the Conversation: Did you find this episode helpful? Share it with your colleagues and let me know your thoughts! Connect with me on LinkedIn and be part of the discussion. Subscribe & Stay Updated: Never miss an episode! Subscribe to The Effective Statistician on your favorite podcast platform and continue growing your influence as a statistician.…

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Reimagining Clinical Trials with Synthetic Data and Digital Twins 22:11

23 days ago22:11

22:11

Interview with Holger Fröhlich What You’ll Learn in This Episode : ✔ What synthetic data actually is – and what it isn’t ✔ The benefits and challenges of using synthetic data in clinical research ✔ Real-world use cases, from early dementia diagnosis to trial simulation ✔ How digital twins could help predict patient outcomes ✔ Why synthetic data might be especially useful in areas with limited patient access ✔ The regulatory and ethical considerations we’ll need to navigate Resources & Links: 🔗 Fraunhofer SCAI - AI in Data Analysis and Simulation (AI-DAS) 🔗 Cynthia Project (IHI ) 🔗 PredictOM Project 🔗 IDERHA Project 🔗 CERTAINTY Project (Virtual Twins) 🔗 The Effective Statistician Academy – I offer free and premium resources to help you become a more effective statistician. 🔗 Medical Data Leaders Community – Join my network of statisticians and data leaders to enhance your influencing skills. 🔗 My New Book: How to Be an Effective Statistician - Volume 1 – It’s packed with insights to help statisticians, data scientists, and quantitative professionals excel as leaders, collaborators, and change-makers in healthcare and medicine. 🔗 PSI (Statistical Community in Healthcare) – Access webinars, training, and networking opportunities. Key Publications from Holger and Team: 🔗 A synthetic data generation framework for Alzheimer's disease 🔗 Generative learning for deep biomarker discovery 🔗 Longitudinal digital twins in Parkinson’s Disease 🔗 Digital twins for clinical research – opportunities and limitations Join the Conversation: Did you find this episode helpful? Share it with your colleagues and let me know your thoughts! Connect with me on LinkedIn and be part of the discussion. Subscribe & Stay Updated: Never miss an episode! Subscribe to The Effective Statistician on your favorite podcast platform and continue growing your influence as a statistician.…

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Working in an english work environment as a non-native speaker 12:51

27 days ago12:51

12:51

Friday Episode with Alexander 🧠 What You’ll Learn: ✔ How I improved my English on the job (despite not having great grades in school) ✔ Why consuming high-quality English content (like podcasts, TED Talks, and books) made a big difference ✔ Tips for writing regularly—even journaling—and using tools like ProWritingAid ✔ How slowing down when speaking actually makes you sound more confident ✔ Why making mistakes is part of the process—and doesn’t reflect on your intelligence ✔ Simple phrases I use to clarify or ask questions in meetings ✔ How to shift your mindset from perfection to communication ✔ The power of practicing with others and surrounding yourself with supportive people 🔧 Who It's For: ✔ If you’re working in a global team, attending meetings in English, or just want to become more confident in how you communicate at work, this episode is for you—especially if English isn’t your first language. 🎯 Final Thought: Being a non-native speaker means you’re already multilingual—and that’s a strength. With practice and the right mindset, you’ll thrive in any English-speaking work environment. Resources & Links 🔗 ProWritingAid – A helpful writing assistant tool I personally use 🔗 The Effective Statistician Academy – I offer free and premium resources to help you become a more effective statistician. 🔗 Medical Data Leaders Community – Join my network of statisticians and data leaders to enhance your influencing skills. 🔗 My New Book: How to Be an Effective Statistician - Volume 1 – It’s packed with insights to help statisticians, data scientists, and quantitative professionals excel as leaders, collaborators, and change-makers in healthcare and medicine. 🔗 PSI (Statistical Community in Healthcare) – Access webinars, training, and networking opportunities. Join the Conversation: Did you find this episode helpful? Share it with your colleagues and let me know your thoughts! Connect with me on LinkedIn and be part of the discussion. Subscribe & Stay Updated: Never miss an episode! Subscribe to The Effective Statistician on your favorite podcast platform and continue growing your influence as a statistician. Let’s keep learning, growing, and making an impact— Reach your potential, lead great science, and serve patients. Just be an effective statistician.…

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R-shiny - how to set it up effectively and avoid common mistakes 26:34

4 weeks ago26:34

26:34

Interview with Daniel Sabanés Bové What You’ll Learn in This Episode : ✔ Why interactive visualizations are such a game changer ✔ How R-Shiny makes scenario planning and data exploration easier ✔ What to consider before you even start coding ✔ Common mistakes to avoid with larger Shiny apps ✔ How to structure your code for long-term success and maintainability ✔ Tips to improve usability and ensure better stakeholder engagement **We also discuss**: ✔ The TEAL framework by Roche for clinical trial analysis ✔ How to use AI to quickly generate Shiny prototypes ✔ Tools like shinytest2 and the Shiny UI Editor ✔ Why designing for your user’s workflow is critical ✔ When it’s time to call in an expert for help Resources & Links 👉 Shiny Apps: teal framework Lessons for Shiny Apps Tutorial Shiny Assistant Shiny UI Editor Tours of Shiny apps RPACT Cloud 🔗 Rconis 🔗 The Effective Statistician Academy – I offer free and premium resources to help you become a more effective statistician. 🔗 Medical Data Leaders Community – Join my network of statisticians and data leaders to enhance your influencing skills. 🔗 My New Book: How to Be an Effective Statistician - Volume 1 – It’s packed with insights to help statisticians, data scientists, and quantitative professionals excel as leaders, collaborators, and change-makers in healthcare and medicine. 🔗 PSI (Statistical Community in Healthcare) – Access webinars, training, and networking opportunities. Join the Conversation: Did you find this episode helpful? Share it with your colleagues and let me know your thoughts! Connect with me on LinkedIn and be part of the discussion. Subscribe & Stay Updated: Never miss an episode! Subscribe to The Effective Statistician on your favorite podcast platform and continue growing your influence as a statistician.…

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3 personal stories of how soft skills have helped me as a statistician 18:39

5 weeks ago18:39

18:39

Friday Episode with Alexander Schacht 🧠 What You’ll Learn: ✔ Why I believe “soft skills” is the wrong term—and what we should call them instead ✔ How I built trust in just 15 minutes with someone I'd never met before ✔ The story behind a data visualization that got standing ovations ✔ A negotiation win that shifted how I think about value ✔ How the Medical Data Leaders community helps you grow in these areas 🔧 Skills I Talk About: ✔ Leading with Empathy and Influence ✔ Building Trust ✔ Communicating with Impact ✔ Presenting Data in Engaging Ways ✔ Strategic Negotiation 🎧 Give it a listen and hear how these human skills have helped me—and how they can help you too. Resources & Links 🔗 The Effective Statistician Academy – I offer free and premium resources to help you become a more effective statistician. 🔗 Medical Data Leaders Community – Join my network of statisticians and data leaders to enhance your influencing skills. 🔗 My New Book: How to Be an Effective Statistician - Volume 1 – It’s packed with insights to help statisticians, data scientists, and quantitative professionals excel as leaders, collaborators, and change-makers in healthcare and medicine. 🔗 PSI (Statistical Community in Healthcare) – Access webinars, training, and networking opportunities. Join the Conversation: Did you find this episode helpful? Share it with your colleagues and let me know your thoughts! Connect with me on LinkedIn and be part of the discussion. Subscribe & Stay Updated: Never miss an episode! Subscribe to The Effective Statistician on your favorite podcast platform and continue growing your influence as a statistician. Let’s keep learning, growing, and making an impact— Reach your potential, lead great science, and serve patients. Just be an effective statistician.…

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R-packages - best practices and useful tools 20:55

5 weeks ago20:55

20:55

Interview with Daniel Sabanés Bové What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✔ Why creating R packages is a game-changer for code reuse and collaboration. ✔ The most common challenges we face when reusing code—and how packages help solve them. ✔ When it actually makes sense to start writing a package (spoiler: earlier than you think). ✔ Useful tools like usethis , testthat , and RStudio features that simplify the process. ✔ Daniel’s step-by-step approach—from sketching ideas on paper to launching the finished package. ✔ How to write meaningful tests to keep your code working as your project evolves. ✔ Where and how to share your package with others—GitHub, social media, conferences, and even journals. ✔ The fun side of the R community: hex stickers, open-source collaboration, and more. ✔ How Daniel’s team at Arconis can help if you want expert support with your package development. Why You Should Listen If you work in biostatistics, health economics, or market access, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you collaborate more effectively. Whether you're a statistician looking to better support HTA submissions or a market access professional trying to understand statistical challenges, you’ll walk away with actionable strategies that can make a real difference. Resources & Links Resources & Links: 🔗 Arconis 🔗 Open Stats Working Group 🔗 Open Stats Guide 🔗 R Journal 🔗 Journal of Statistical Software 📌 R packages: usethis , testthat , and others 📌 Upcoming workshops on software engineering for R (Basel, Paris, Tokyo) 🔗 The Effective Statistician Academy – I offer free and premium resources to help you become a more effective statistician. 🔗 Medical Data Leaders Community – Join my network of statisticians and data leaders to enhance your influencing skills. 🔗 My New Book: How to Be an Effective Statistician - Volume 1 – It’s packed with insights to help statisticians, data scientists, and quantitative professionals excel as leaders, collaborators, and change-makers in healthcare and medicine. 🔗 PSI (Statistical Community in Healthcare) – Access webinars, training, and networking opportunities. Join the Conversation: Did you find this episode helpful? Share it with your colleagues and let me know your thoughts! Connect with me on LinkedIn and be part of the discussion. Subscribe & Stay Updated: Never miss an episode! Subscribe to The Effective Statistician on your favorite podcast platform and continue growing your influence as a statistician.…

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Delegating programming tasks - how SOPs help and hinder 17:16

6 weeks ago17:16

17:16

1
Statistics and Market access - from foes to friends 44:23

6 weeks ago44:23

44:23

Interview with Necdet Gunsoy What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✔ Necdet’s Journey ✔ Breaking Down Key Market Access Concepts ✔ The Real Cost of Poor Collaboration ✔ How We Can Work Together More Effectively ✔ Looking Ahead: The Impact of Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA) Why You Should Listen If you work in biostatistics, health economics, or market access, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you collaborate more effectively. Whether you're a statistician looking to better support HTA submissions or a market access professional trying to understand statistical challenges, you’ll walk away with actionable strategies that can make a real difference. Resources & Links Resources & Links: 🔗 Necdet Gunsoy on LinkedIn 🔗 EviMed 🔗 The Effective Statistician Academy – I offer free and premium resources to help you become a more effective statistician. 🔗 Medical Data Leaders Community – Join my network of statisticians and data leaders to enhance your influencing skills. 🔗 My New Book: How to Be an Effective Statistician - Volume 1 – It’s packed with insights to help statisticians, data scientists, and quantitative professionals excel as leaders, collaborators, and change-makers in healthcare and medicine. 🔗 PSI (Statistical Community in Healthcare) – Access webinars, training, and networking opportunities. Join the Conversation: Did you find this episode helpful? Share it with your colleagues and let me know your thoughts! Connect with me on LinkedIn and be part of the discussion. Subscribe & Stay Updated: Never miss an episode! Subscribe to The Effective Statistician on your favorite podcast platform and continue growing your influence as a statistician.…

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Beyond logic - how to convince others of your ideas 12:52

7 weeks ago12:52

12:52

Friday Episode with Alexander Schacht What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✔ Why logic alone isn’t enough to persuade others ✔ How emotions play a crucial role in decision-making ✔ The importance of credibility and trust in influencing others ✔ Practical strategies to make your arguments more compelling ✔ How to tailor your message to different audiences (e.g., clinical project managers, medical leaders) Resources & Links Resources & Links: 🔗 The Effective Statistician Academy – I offer free and premium resources to help you become a more effective statistician. 🔗 Medical Data Leaders Community – Join my network of statisticians and data leaders to enhance your influencing skills. 🔗 My New Book: How to Be an Effective Statistician - Volume 1 – It’s packed with insights to help statisticians, data scientists, and quantitative professionals excel as leaders, collaborators, and change-makers in healthcare and medicine. 🔗 PSI (Statistical Community in Healthcare) – Access webinars, training, and networking opportunities. Join PSI today. Join the Conversation: Did you find this episode helpful? Share it with your colleagues and let me know your thoughts! Connect with me on LinkedIn and be part of the discussion. Subscribe & Stay Updated: Never miss an episode! Subscribe to The Effective Statistician on your favorite podcast platform and continue growing your influence as a statistician.…

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P-value and confidence intervals - the good, the bad, and the ugly 32:31

7 weeks ago32:31

32:31

Interview with Kaspar Rufibach In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I sit down with Kaspar Rufibach to tackle a topic that affects statisticians every day—how to interpret p-values, confidence intervals, and statistical hypotheses. We explore the differences between Fisher’s and Neyman-Pearson’s approaches, clear up common misconceptions, and discuss how misinterpreting statistical significance can lead to flawed conclusions. Using real-world examples from clinical trials and drug development, we highlight best practices for communicating statistical results effectively. Whether you're working with clinicians or business stakeholders, this episode will help you gain clarity on these fundamental statistical concepts and use them correctly in your daily work.…

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Building the Influence as a Statistician in a Clinical Trial Team 14:10

8 weeks ago14:10

14:10

Friday Episode with Alexander Schacht Key Points: Building Influence Negotiation Trust Pillars Collaboration Proactivity Impact Actionable Strategies Building influence as a statistician isn’t just about being heard—it’s about driving better decisions, improving team dynamics, and ultimately making a greater impact on patient outcomes. The strategies I share in this episode will help you strengthen your influence, gain trust, and collaborate more effectively. So don’t just listen—take action! Tune in now, and if you found this valuable, share it with friends and colleagues who can benefit. And if you’re serious about leveling up your leadership skills, check out the Medical Data Leaders Community (MDLC) for expert guidance and a network of like-minded professionals.…

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Effective self-management and taking care of your mental health 31:00

8 weeks ago31:00

31:00

Interview with Peter M. Wehmeier Key Points: Workload & Mental Well-being Five Dimensions of Self-Management Relationships Priorities Decision-Making Taking Action Stress Management Peter’s Workshops Empowerment Take control of your well-being and success by mastering self-management. In this episode, you’ll learn practical strategies to reduce stress, build resilience, and stay productive. Listen now and start making positive changes today. If you found this discussion helpful, share it with friends and colleagues who need to hear it. Let’s support each other in creating healthier, more effective careers! I’m thrilled to share that my book, “How to Be an Effective Statistician – Volume 1” , is now available! It’s packed with insights to help statisticians, data scientists, and quantitative professionals excel as leaders, collaborators, and change-makers in healthcare and medicine. Check out the testimonials and grab your copy! Boost Your Leadership with MDLC ! The Medical Data Leaders Community (MDLC) gives you the tools and support to grow your leadership skills, expand your influence, and drive meaningful change in healthcare research. Whether you're just starting or already leading a team, this community helps you take your career to the next level Learn more here!…

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Taming AI for Biostatistics: Darko Medin on Bio AI Works & Reliable AI Models 28:38

9 weeks ago28:38