The Effective Statistician - in association with PSI
Alexander Schacht and Benjamin Piske, biometricians, statisticians and leaders in the pharma industry
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Alexander Schacht and Benjamin Piske, biometricians, statisticians and leaders in the pharma industry
▶ WebplayerThe podcast from statisticians for statisticians to have a bigger impact at work. This podcast is set up in association with PSI - Promoting Statistical Insight. This podcast helps you to grow your leadership skills, learn about ongoing discussions in the scientific community, build you knowledge about the health sector and be more efficient at work. This podcast helps statisticians at all levels with and without management experience. It is targeted towards the health, but lots of topics will be important for the wider data scientists community.
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Sep 28, 2026 · 27:47
How can we make statistics meaningful to someone who does not work with it every day? I talk with Steve Mallett about his work with the PSI Schools team and the lessons it offers…
Sep 7, 2026 · 24:32
Will artificial intelligence make statisticians obsolete—or make our expertise even more valuable? In this episode, I speak with independent statistical consultant Chris Harbron…
Sep 1, 2026 · 20:51
How can we build a patient-reported outcome strategy that captures the patient voice and strengthens clinical development? In this episode of The Effective Statistician Podcast,…
Aug 11, 2026 · 18:25
In this episode, I talk with Ning Leng, Ph.D., Director II, Data and AI Acceleration Group, Data & Statistical Sciences at AbbVie, about the growing role of the R Consortium in…
Jul 21, 2026 · 25:01
Cancer treatments have changed dramatically over the past decade, but have our dose-finding strategies kept pace? In this episode, I speak with Dr. Ayon Mukherjee, who leads…
Jun 30, 2026 · 35:40
In this insightful interview, Emma May and Alun Bedding explore the nuances of coaching and mentoring, sharing personal stories, frameworks, and practical tips to enhance…
Jun 9, 2026 · 28:41
External control arms are becoming increasingly important in drug development, but creating valid comparisons requires more than matching patient populations. In this episode, I…
Jun 2, 2026 · 31:52
This episode features three leading statistical methodology experts discussing the role, impact, and future of methodology groups in the pharmaceutical industry. They explore…
May 26, 2026 · 23:24
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I speak with Andrew (Andy) York about the evolving world of programming validation, traceability, and quality assurance in clinical…
May 4, 2026 · 33:16
In this episode, Alun Bedding speaks with Richard Zink about how **applied improvisation** can help statisticians become more effective communicators and leaders. They explore…
Apr 27, 2026 · 32:12
Episode Overview In this episode, I speak with Anna Mosikian, a physician by training and Global Clinical Program Lead working at the intersection of clinical development and…
Apr 21, 2026 · 27:51
Trust is one of the most fundamental elements of effective leadership—and yet, most organizations don’t measure it properly. In this episode, I speak again with my good friend…
Apr 17, 2026 · 41:26
In this episode, I sit down with Rachael Lawrance to dive into a topic that has become absolutely central to clinical research: patient-centered outcomes. When I first started as…
Mar 23, 2026 · 39:15
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, Alun Bedding speaks with Emma May about the skills that truly differentiate effective statisticians from great leaders. While…
Jan 20, 2026 · 33:08
Generative AI is moving fast—and in pharma, it’s no longer just a buzzword. In this episode of The Effective Statistician Podcast, I speak with Manuel Cossio about how Generative…
Jan 6, 2026 · 2:14
As we start 2026, I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has been part of The Effective Statistician podcast. This episode features my co-host,…
Dec 1, 2025 · 36:23
In this episode, I talk with my long-time friend and frequent guest, Kaspar Rufibach, about a skill that quietly determines how much impact we really have: presenting and…
Nov 27, 2025 · 26:51
In this episode, I’m joined by Deepa Jahagirdar, Associate Research Principal at Cytel, to explore what it really takes to build a good external control arm (ECA). Deepa brings a…
Nov 10, 2025 · 40:19
Why this episode made our all-time Top 9: If you’ve ever thought “non-parametric = Wilcoxon/Mann-Whitney and that’s it,” this conversation will happily destroy that myth. Frank…
Oct 27, 2025 · 24:20
Adaptive designs let us learn earlier, stop smarter, and protect patients—but they also make communication tricky. In this episode, Kaspar Rufibach and I dig into what “still…
Oct 20, 2025 · 29:36
In this episode, I’m joined once again by my friend and frequent guest, Kaspar Rufibach, to talk about a topic that’s been around for decades but is gaining fresh attention…
Sep 29, 2025 · 36:15
This episode is a little different because Alun turns the microphone toward me. After 456 episodes, it feels both strange and exciting to be the “guest” on my own show. Together,…
Sep 15, 2025 · 45:32
I’m excited to reshare one of our most-played conversations—the one where Norwegian regulator/HTA leader Anja Schiel and I get very practical about when single-arm trials fail…
Sep 8, 2025 · 26:40
As statisticians in pharma, one of the most important professional relationships we can build is with our physician colleagues. When this partnership works well, studies run…
Sep 1, 2025 · 36:08
This is one of our most downloaded episodes ever, and I’m excited to bring it back in this replay. In this conversation, I spoke with Lara Wolfson (MSD) and Anders…
Aug 25, 2025 · 52:45
We’re bringing back one of our most downloaded episodes ever – a deep dive into how adverse events should be analyzed properly. This conversation with Jan Beyersmann and Kaspar…
Aug 11, 2025 · 42:29
In this special replay of one of our all-time most popular episodes, we dive deep into one of the most debated topics in the pharmaceutical industry: R vs SAS. Together with…
Aug 4, 2025 · 41:35
In this special replay episode — the top 3 most downloaded of all time — I’m again joined by Stuart McGuire as we explore The Chimp Paradox by Professor Steve Peters. This book…
Jul 28, 2025 · 26:19
This episode ranks as the #2 most downloaded of all time—and for good reason. As data science continues to disrupt and redefine the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries,…
Jul 21, 2025 · 48:53
This episode originally struck a chord with statisticians around the world—and for good reason. Whether you’re just starting with real-world evidence (RWE) or mentoring someone…
Jun 30, 2025 · 43:32
In this thought-provoking keynote recording, Manjari Narayan takes us on a journey through one of the most pressing and promising intersections in modern science: the convergence…
Jun 23, 2025 · 47:05
In this special keynote episode, I’m excited to share the recording of Professor Tim Friede’s thought-provoking presentation from The Effective Statistician Conference 2024. Tim,…
Jun 16, 2025 · 52:00
In this keynote episode, Professor Sebastian Schneeweiss from Harvard Medical School shares groundbreaking insights from his extensive research into emulating randomized…
Jun 9, 2025 · 16:32
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, Alun Bedding takes the mic to explore one of the most underrated yet transformative tools in any professional's career—networking.…
Jun 2, 2025 · 36:46
In this episode, Alun Bedding welcomes Emma Crawford for a powerful and personal conversation about building inclusive workplace cultures—ones where every individual can thrive.…
May 19, 2025 · 22:57
How can oncologists and healthcare professionals keep up with the ever-growing body of research to make the best decisions for patients? In this episode, I speak with Anna…
May 12, 2025 · 35:39
In this episode, I’m joined by Julia Geronimi from Servier and Dr. Pavel Mozgunov from the University of Cambridge to explore a topic that’s absolutely central to advancing…
May 5, 2025 · 51:48
In this special episode, I’m sharing the recording of a webinar I co-hosted with Cytel on March 20, 2025. I was joined by an expert panel of leaders in statistics and clinical…
Apr 28, 2025 · 20:21
In this episode, I’m excited to welcome back Katrin Kupas, a statistician with deep expertise in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and real world evidence (RWE). We dive into…
Apr 21, 2025 · 29:32
As someone who found my way into statistics late—only halfway through university—I often wonder: what if more young people knew about this path earlier? In this episode, I sit…
Apr 14, 2025 · 31:11
Group sequential trials, interim analyses, final analyses, updated analyses… what do these terms actually mean, and why is there so much confusion? In this technical yet highly…
Apr 7, 2025 · 22:11
In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Prof. Holger Fröhlich, who leads the AI and Data Science Group at the Fraunhofer Institute and is an honorary professor at…
Apr 3, 2025 · 12:51
In this episode, I’m diving into a topic that’s very personal to me—working in an English-speaking environment as a non-native speaker. If you’ve ever felt unsure about your…
Mar 31, 2025 · 26:34
In this episode, I’m once again joined by Daniel Sabanés Bové for a deep dive into one of the most impactful tools for statisticians working with data visualization—R-Shiny. We…
Mar 27, 2025 · 18:39
In this episode, I’m sharing three personal stories where soft skills—or better yet, human skills—made a huge difference in my work as a statistician. Whether it was building…
Mar 24, 2025 · 20:55
In this episode, I’m joined once again by Daniel Sabanés Bové to talk all about R packages—why they’re so useful, when to create one, and how to do it effectively. Whether you’re…
Mar 20, 2025 · 17:16
Mar 17, 2025 · 44:23
In this episode, I welcome back Necdet Gunsoy, who’s now in a new role as the founder of EviMed, a boutique consultancy specializing in health economics, outcomes research,…
Mar 13, 2025 · 12:52
In this episode of The Effective Statistician podcast, I dive into the art of persuasion. As statisticians and data scientists, we often rely on logic and data, but true…
Mar 10, 2025 · 32:31
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…
Mar 6, 2025 · 14:10
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I dive into a crucial skill—building influence within a clinical trial team. As statisticians, we often need to negotiate…
Mar 3, 2025 · 31:00
I know firsthand how challenging it can be to manage a heavy workload while maintaining mental well-being. In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I talk with Peter…
Feb 27, 2025 · 28:38
Welcome to another episode of The Effective Statistician! Today, I sit down with Darko Medin to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming biostatistics. Darko works as…
Feb 24, 2025 · 31:52
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I explore Slow Productivity by Cal Newport—a book that challenges how we think about work and efficiency. I welcome Alun Bedding…
Feb 17, 2025 · 23:15
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I talk with Justin Belair about the process of writing a book on causal inference, one of the hottest topics in statistics. Justin…
Feb 10, 2025 · 13:32
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I introduce the Medical Data Leaders Community (MDLC)—a powerful new resource for statisticians, data scientists, programmers, and…
Feb 6, 2025 · 16:42
Do you ever feel like your to-do list keeps growing no matter how much you check off? I’ve been there—busy all day but still feeling unproductive and overwhelmed. In this episode…
Feb 3, 2025 · 14:05
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I tackle the challenge of a packed calendar head-on. If back-to-back meetings, endless calls, and constant interruptions leave you…
Jan 30, 2025 · 17:57
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I tackle a challenge that many of us face—working long hours and feeling stuck in an endless cycle of pressure and expectations.…
Jan 27, 2025 · 18:39
In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I explore how GAMS—the General Algebraic Modeling System—can solve complex optimization problems and transform how you approach…
Jan 23, 2025 · 20:20
Are you tired of rushing through endless meetings, juggling countless tasks, and feeling like the grind never stops? Do you wonder if all this hustle is worth the toll it’s…
Jan 20, 2025 · 20:08
Welcome to another episode of The Effective Statistician podcast! Today, I tackle the essential skill of negotiation—a tool we statisticians use every day, often without…
Jan 16, 2025 · 23:29
In this Friday edition of The Effective Statistician, Alun Bedding takes center stage to discuss a topic central to leadership and personal influence: Trust. With his…
Jan 13, 2025 · 11:06
Welcome to a brand-new year and an exciting new episode of The Effective Statistician! I’m thrilled to kick off 2025 by sharing some incredible news—I’ve written a book! After…
Jan 9, 2025 · 16:54
In this Friday edition of The Effective Statistician podcast, Alun Bedding tackles the pervasive issue of imposter syndrome. He shares his own experiences with self-doubt,…
Jan 6, 2025 · 19:38
What makes a great leader? How do you build trust, influence others, and create real value in your organization? In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I show you how to…
Dec 19, 2024 · 15:43
Planning for 2025 doesn’t have to be overwhelming—it can be a powerful exercise in aligning your goals with your ideal lifestyle and long-term aspirations. In this episode, Alun…
Dec 16, 2024 · 19:28
How do we find the right dose in immune-oncology trials? Is the traditional “maximum tolerated dose” approach still enough, or should we also focus on efficacy? In this episode…
Dec 12, 2024 · 17:25
Are you feeling stuck or overwhelmed in your work as a statistician? Do you wonder how to stay sharp and maintain balance while tackling complex challenges? In this Friday…
Dec 9, 2024 · 33:28
Welcome to this episode of The Effective Statistician! Today, I explore an exciting and rapidly growing field: digital health interventions. Have you ever wondered how to define…
Dec 3, 2024 · 26:53
Have you ever thought about how clinical trials affect the environment? I hadn’t, until I spoke with Annie Wright, a first-year PhD student at Imperial College who is passionate…
Nov 25, 2024 · 43:25
Have you faced the challenge of dealing with non-proportional hazards in survival analysis? In this episode, I team up with Kaspar Rufibach, a statistical methodology expert, to…
Nov 18, 2024 · 46:47
Introduction to Episode: "How Real Leaders Help Their People Grow Professionally and Personally" What does it take to be a great leader? How do you build trust, inspire growth,…
Nov 11, 2024 · 29:13
What makes gene therapy so different from traditional drug development? How do we address safety when each patient only receives a single dose? And why are statisticians so…
Nov 4, 2024 · 42:55
What if we could target genetic diseases at their root, offering lifelong cures instead of temporary solutions? And what role do statisticians play in making this breakthrough…
Oct 28, 2024 · 35:59
What does it take to create an effective clinical development plan? How do our early decisions shape the path of a compound through clinical phases? And how can statisticians…
Oct 21, 2024 · 45:04
Have you wondered how large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are transforming the way we work? How can AI tools boost efficiency in statistics and pharmaceutical research? In…
Oct 14, 2024 · 41:04
Are you a statistician looking to expand your career beyond the statistics department? Do you want to know how your data expertise and strategic thinking can open new doors? In…
Oct 7, 2024 · 33:24
Are you trying to boost your productivity and organize your tasks more efficiently? In this episode of The Effective Statistician, I talk with Taina Pereenniemi about how Notion…
Sep 30, 2024 · 38:13
What can statisticians gain from the world of software engineering? How can coding practices from companies like Google help us enhance the quality of statistical work in the…
Sep 23, 2024 · 26:44
Are you curious about how predictive models forecast future outcomes? Or how do experts build and test these models to ensure they’re reliable? In this episode, I sit down with…
Sep 16, 2024 · 21:17
How can artificial intelligence simplify your daily work? How do tools like GitHub Copilot streamline tasks for statisticians and data scientists? In this episode of The…
Sep 12, 2024 · 13:51
Are you feeling nervous about delivering your next presentation? Do you dread the moment you step in front of an audience? You’re not alone. But what if you could turn that…
Sep 9, 2024 · 54:24
In this episode, I dive into some key questions: How does luck influence our careers? How do we stay humble while continually learning and growing? What can we learn from someone…
Sep 5, 2024 · 15:52
Do your slides overwhelm your audience with too much information? Are they cluttered, and distracting from the message you want to deliver? In this episode, I help you tackle…
Sep 2, 2024 · 29:42
Are you curious about how artificial intelligence is transforming clinical research? Do you want to know how statisticians can use AI to improve healthcare outcomes? In this…
Aug 29, 2024 · 13:56
Do you ever wonder what makes a presentation truly resonate with your audience? What turns a simple delivery into something unforgettable? In this episode, I tackle these…
Aug 26, 2024 · 33:46
Have you ever questioned how biostatistics and IT intersect, or why managing this relationship can feel so challenging? In this episode, I sit down with Pablo Joerger, a…
Aug 22, 2024 · 12:42
Are you ready to elevate your presentation skills? Do you know the key steps to create a presentation that drives action? What if a few simple questions could drastically improve…
Aug 19, 2024 · 41:12
Today, we’re diving into some intriguing questions: How can big pharmaceutical companies and small providers work together more effectively? What hidden costs and inefficiencies…
Aug 12, 2024 · 37:01
In this exciting continuation of our series on digital transformation and innovation, we dive deeper into the crucial role of policies in driving successful change. I’m joined…
Aug 5, 2024 · 38:09
Have you ever wondered why some digital transformation efforts fail miserably while others succeed brilliantly? Are you curious about the key elements that can make or break…
Jul 29, 2024 · 44:41
Have you ever wondered how coaching can impact your career and success? Are you curious about the differences between coaching and mentoring and how each can benefit you? In this…
Jul 23, 2024 · 31:51
Are you curious about how benefit-risk assessments in healthcare evolve? Do you wonder how patient preferences shape these evaluations? Today, I speak with Tommi Tervonen, a…
Jul 18, 2024 · 25:32
Are you curious about how to leverage integrated evidence plans (IEPs) effectively? Do you want to know how statisticians can meet the diverse evidence needs of stakeholders and…
Jul 15, 2024 · 21:43
Are you ready to explore the dynamic world of integrated evidence plans (IEPs) with me? Have you ever wondered how pharmaceutical companies align their strategies across…
Jul 11, 2024 · 22:51
Are you ready to elevate your statistical skills and network with industry leaders? Interested in presenting your research or learning from the best in the field? Curious about…
Jul 8, 2024 · 36:57
Have you ever wondered how project management and collaboration between statisticians and clinical operations professionals impact clinical trials? What challenges do they face,…
Jul 4, 2024 · 24:34
Have you ever wondered how we make crucial decisions in the early phases of clinical trials? How can a Bayesian framework enhance these decisions? Today, I talk with Audrey Yeo…
Jul 1, 2024 · 31:08
Are you looking to elevate your career as a statistician? Curious about how accreditation can enhance your professional status and build trust in your expertise? In this episode,…
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