Kelly H. Zou, PhD, PStat, is the Founder and CEO, AI4Purpose Inc. and Head of Global Medical Analytics, Real World Evidence, and Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Viatris Inc. She is an elected Fellow of the American Statistical Association and an Accredited Professional Statistician. Previously at Pfizer Inc, she was Vice President and Head of Medical Analytics & Insights; Senior Director of Real World Evidence, Group Lead of Methods & Algorithms and Analytic Science Lead; Senior Director of Statistics.
She was Associate Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School, as well as Director of Biostatistics at its affiliated teaching hospitals. She was Associate Director of Rates at Barclays Capital. She received both MA and PhD degrees in Statistics from the University of Rochester. She completed her Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard. Her research interests include health policy, real world evidence, signal detection, and artificial intelligence, with over 150 professional articles and 5 books. She was featured as an Outstanding Woman in Data Analytics by Forbes, an Inspirational Women in Statistics & Data Science by Wiley, and an Accomplished Woman in Statistics and Data Science by the American Statistical Association. She was the winner of the Chief Data and Analytics Officers’ Forum’s Future Thinking Award, AI100 Award, as well as Reuters Events Pharma USA’s Most Valuable Data & Insights Initiative Team Award, a Trailblazing Woman in Pharma. View Less
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Dhaval L. Patel is the Founder and Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO) of AI4Purpose Inc. and serves as the Head of Real World Evidence (RWE) and Data Science at SAS Institute. Dhaval is also an Adjunct Professor at New York University, where he teaches and mentors students in Data Science and AI. With nearly 20 years of combined consulting and industry experience in Data Science, AI, and RWE, Dhaval has held key positions such as Global Head of RWE Analytics and Data Science at Novartis, RWE Analytics Lead at ZS Associates, and Senior Manager of RWE Analytics at Pfizer. Dhaval is passionate about leveraging Data, Analytics, and AI for social good and to solve complex real-world problems. He has been pivotal in advancing data science and AI strategies within the life sciences industry. Dhaval holds a Master’s degree in Information Systems from Central Queensland University, Australia, and a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from Dharmsinh Desai University, India. View Less
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Dr. Fremiet Lara, is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 20 years of experience in transforming healthcare through innovative technology solutions. Currently serving as the Chief Health Officer at AI4 Purpose, Inc., Dr. Lara leads initiatives that harness the power of artificial intelligence to solve pressing medical challenges. His strategic vision focuses on developing partnerships that drive impactful change in the healthcare landscape.

Dr. Lara has a proven track record of success in commercializing clinical decision support systems, having significantly contributed to the growth of Decisio Health as its Vice President of Clinical Innovation. He was instrumental in repurposing a clinical software product for clinical trial candidate detection, achieving substantial annual recurring revenue. His previous roles include lead developer of the medical outcomes reporting platform at MD Anderson Cancer Center and team lead for the Human Genome Sequencing Center, where he spearheaded groundbreaking projects in statistical genetics and high-throughput sequencing.



A published author in Nature with over 5,800 citations, Dr. Lara has been acknowledged for his contributions to the field of genetics and healthcare technology. His expertise spans strategic partner development, software systems, data architecture, and clinical analytics, making him a sought-after advisor for healthcare ventures.



Dr. Lara holds a medical degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and has been recognized for his leadership and contributions to clinical informatics. He is committed to leveraging his extensive knowledge to foster innovation and improve patient outcomes in the rapidly evolving healthcare environment.View Less
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Iryna Skrypnyk is an experienced AI leader with a passion for leveraging advanced technologies to drive positive social impact and improve patient outcomes. She spearheads the development and deployment of innovative AI solutions that address critical societal challenges, focusing on developing cutting-edge solutions and technologies at the intersection of AI, biology, and drug discovery. With a background in computer science and extensive experience in delivering AI models across various sectors, Iryna combines technical expertise with a commitment to ethical AI practices. Recently, Iryna served as a Head of Enterprise Data Science at The Clorox Company, building and scaling the organization, developing strategic partnerships, identifying opportunities, and leading initiatives to introduce AI-driven intelligence, significantly boosting support for the company’s diverse brands, orchestrating multiple successful machine learning projects with measurable impacts and cultivated a thriving community of data scientists in the organization. Before joining Clorox, Iryna worked in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry (Eversana, Mount Sinai, Pfizer), where she played a key role in pioneering AI-driven healthcare initiatives, leading Data Science & AI to create a portfolio of solutions. Before moving to industry, Iryna spent over 10 years in academic research. She also worked with IBM T.J. Watson Research Center and at Bell Labs, where her main areas of research focused on representation learning, semi-supervised learning, data complexity analysis, neural networks, and multi-classifier ensemble models. Iryna served on the advisory board for several startup companies and stays actively involved in the AI research community, contributing to advancements in applied AI technologies, in particular, served as Applied Data Science Track Chair for ACM SIGKDD in 2021 and Area Chair in 2020 & 2024, Chair of KDD Cup 2019, 2020, “Test-of-Time Award in AI” Chair 2022-2024, co-organized several conferences, such as MLConf, MLOps World, Generative AI World Summit. Iryna holds Ph.D. and Ph.Lic. degrees in Computer Science and Information Systems and Mathematical Information Technology from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, M.Sc. in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence from Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics, Ukraine. Iryna is dedicated to advancing the mission of using AI for purpose.View Less View More

Smita Patel is a data scientist with over 12 years of experience spanning Data Science, Data Analytics, and Dentistry. Her career began as a dental hygienist, where she was dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care and enhancing patient satisfaction. As she advanced to managing the dental hygiene department for a large multi-million-dollar dental corporation, Smita took on the responsibility of overseeing production and performance. It was in this leadership role that she developed a strong passion for data analysis, data visualization, and predictive modeling.

Her growing interest in data science led her to entrepreneurship, where the need for more advanced analytics drove her to pursue a Master’s degree in Data Science. This allowed her to deepen her expertise in data-driven decision-making and predictive modeling techniques. Outside of her professional pursuits, Smita is a certified yoga instructor, marathoner, and health enthusiast.View Less
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Gabriel Jipa, Master OpenGroup Certified Architect® is IT Lead MENA Eurasia, Senior Director at Viatris Inc.

Previously at Pfizer Inc, Gabriel was Director, Business Partner for Emerging Markets Digital and Analytics and APAC Medical and Multichannel Communications Business Partner. He held various positions at IBM such as Industry Consultant in Cognitive Solutions Team, Analytics or Consultant in Smarter Planet Solution Teams in Europe. He also worked as Industry Consultant and Architect in HP and Compaq. Gabriel has over 24 years of professional experience across multiple industries. In his previous roles, he has played several leadership roles in the deployment of first-of-a-kind solutions in medical and commercial space, focusing on innovation
adoption, artificial intelligence, real-world data (RWD) and digital transformation.

He received both B.Sc and MS degree from University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, and an M.B.A degree from C.N.A.M Paris. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Economics (Marketing) from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest. His research interests include research methodologies, consumer psychology and behavior, cognitive processes, machine psychology, healthcare digitization and real-world evidence (RWE).

As a practitioner in artificial intelligence, natural language processing (NLP), data science and robotics he adopts a multidisciplinary approach, combining social sciences and information technology. He has co-authored an RWE-focused book and professional articles. Gabriel is actively engaged with the Healthcare ecosystem conferences and speaking events.
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Yirun Wang is a digital solution developer with expertise in software engineering, product design, and data analysis. Holding a master’s degree in Information Systems Management from Carnegie Mellon University, she has contributed to various impactful projects, including the development of innovative healthcare AI tools and Web3 strategies. With a background in both engineering and digital design, Yirun has worked on cross-functional applications for industries like supply chain management and healthcare, always striving to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and real-world needs. Her work has spanned roles at companies such as Onipa LLC and Hanvon Technology.

In addition to her technical expertise, Yirun has demonstrated leadership in various capacities, including as Vice President of the Heinz Finance Club at Carnegie Mellon and as President of the Women’s Association of Computer Science at Wuhan University, where she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science & Technology. Yirun’s leadership skills complement her ability to apply innovative digital solutions in diverse industries, from Information management to healthcare and beyond.View Less
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Mina B. Riad is a distinguished pharmacist with over a decade of experience in the healthcare sector. His extensive background spans various facets of pharmacy and the pharmaceutical industries, where he has made significant contributions to both big Pharma and clinical trials. Throughout his career, Mina has developed a robust expertise that encompasses real-world data analysis, Real-world Evidence, medical writing, and clinical data management.

Mina began his career as a pharmacy manager, where he honed his leadership skills and deepened his understanding of the operational and regulatory complexities within pharmacy practice.His ability to connect with patients and healthcare providers alike allowed him to foster a collaborative environment that prioritized patient care and safety.

With a keen interest in research and data-driven decision-making, Mina transitioned into the realm of clinical trials, where he leveraged his comprehensive knowledge of pharmacy to design and implement clinical studies. His proficiency in clinical data management has enabled him to ensure the integrity and accuracy of data collected from trials, thereby enhancing the reliability of research outcomes. Mina’s approach is characterized by meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of quality in clinical research.

As a specialist in real-world data and AI, Mina has further expanded his expertise by analyzing data from various sources to generate insights that inform healthcare decisions and improve patient outcomes. His work in this area has been instrumental in bridging the gap between clinical research and real-world applications, thereby enhancing the relevance and impact of the findings on patient care.

Additionally, With a commitment to advancing healthcare knowledge, Mina has emerged as a notable medical writer and coauthor of a critically acclaimed RWE and digital health book, recognized with the prestigious Reuters Prize in 2022. Translating complex scientific concepts into clear, concise, and accessible content. His writing caters to a diverse audience, including healthcare professionals, regulatory bodies, and the general public. Whether crafting research papers, regulatory submissions, or educational materials, Mina’s ability to communicate effectively has proven invaluable in advancing the understanding of pharmaceutical innovations and clinical advancements.

Throughout his career, Mina has played a pivotal role in assisting medical affairs within large pharmaceutical organizations, working collaboratively to bridge the gap between clinical research and real-world applications. His approach is characterized by a thorough understanding of the healthcare landscape, a strategic mindset, and the ability to navigate complex regulatory environments.

He is passionate about harnessing the power of AI and data to drive strategic decision-making and improve healthcare outcomes. By combining his skills in pharmacy practice, clinical research, RWE, and data analytics, Mina is committed to making a meaningful impact in the healthcare industry. View Less
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Marc L. Berger, is a semi-retired, part-time consultant and scientific advisor.  Until July 2017, he was Vice President, Real World Data and Analytics at Pfizer, Inc. Marc has held senior-level positions in industry including Executive Vice President and Senior Scientist at OptumInsight; Vice President, Global Health Outcomes at Eli Lilly and Company; and Vice President, Outcomes Research and Management at Merck & Co., Inc.  He was a temporary employee of CMS from July-December 2022.

Marc is an ISPOR Special Advisor for Real World Evidence and a member of the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy Real-World Evidence Collaborative. He has written or co-written more than 130 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and other publications on a range of topics including health services research, outcomes research, health economics, and health policy. His research efforts currently focus on real-world data and real-world evidence and how they can inform decision-making.


He received the Donabedian Lifetime Achievement Award from the Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) in 2019. View Less
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Mr. Ge (Gary) Cao is a trusted advisor to CEOs and board members on AI strategy, governance, risk mitigation, and growth strategy.  As a Chief Data and Analytics AI Officer (CDAIO) with a 27-year proven track record, Gary has founded and grown internal startups at 8 organizations (including 3 privately owned companies and 5 top public firms on Fortune 500 / S&P 500 Lists) on data and analytics/AI capabilities to deliver significant and tangible value. 

Seray Cicek holds a MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences and BASc in Engineering Science (Biomedical) from the University of Toronto. Her graduate studies at Keith Pardee’s lab focused on development of a low-cost diagnostic device for the detection of Zika virus in patient samples, and deployment of these devices in Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil. In 2020, along with her colleagues, Seray founded LSK Technologies Inc, a start-up that aimed to decentralize diagnostic labs to increase access to traditionally lab-based tests.
LSK technologies was acquired by Nicoya Lifesciences in 2022 where she worked as a senior product manager. Seray currently works as a senior product leader at PointClickCare where she oversees clinical data products. View Less View More

Michael Cicchetti is a board certified pharmacist in the state in Pennsylvania and graduated as a double baccalaureate in Pharmacy and Psychology at TEMPLE University. He has served the commonwealth of PA in retail, hospital, long-term care and the research industry. His previous training was in Economics and Health Insurance Industry. While a student, Michael worked as a formulary coder at IMS Health and made great improvements to the department efficiency saving massive resources of 10 million dollars in revenue. As a post grad, Michael grew in this space as a data reviewer and clinical scientist at Wyeth Research laboratories providing clinical data review using new methods of monitoring and reporting as an Intern in the PK/PD department. Michael saw a need and sought to find improvement in clinical data review between data management and medical monitoring. Michael worked closely with Database Programming by modifying Oracle Clinical Databases, to find benefits and risks for various products in early development while at Wyeth. Because of this ambition Michael has supported Phase I through Phase IV as a scientist and operational manager.

Michael went on to grow as a clinical scientist I,II,III to Sr. Clinical Scientist partnering with Database Operations sharing his knowledge at Wyeth to help improve patient outcomes in CNS and Womens Health teams. Midway through his career he transitioned to primarily operational support at Pfizer. Michael brought his data management and clinical knowledge to Long term care and began to provide greater efficiency bringing medications quicker and strategically targeting those patients in elder-care on nights and weekends. He also worked as a Walmart Pharmacist staying sharp with approved products in the community.

As an Operational Guru at Pfizer since 2007, with a Penchant for compliance- Michael served Pfizer HEOR for over 18 years developing vendor training and task owner matrices across various types of research modalities. Michael ran and oversaw over 300 studies across all therapeutic areas in Real World Evidence, training and mentoring new public health grads to shepard them into Industry. Michael developed algorithms to resource HEOR/Real World Research studies, while developing New Charters for the increased compliance requirements of regulatory authorities for RWD used for submission for Regulatory approval. View Less
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Richard Cunningham is an analytical leader, specialized in healthcare, with domestic and international experience. He has he has developed nimble, high-performing Finance teams at McKesson, Sanofi and Pfizer. In his most recent role, as Vice President of Pricing for McKesson’s healthcare technology division, CoverMyMeds, he held broad responsibility for pricing and contracting, with an emphasis on margin optimization and profit creation.

In his previous role, as Global Pricing Head (Executive Director) at Sanofi, he led a team responsible for pricing in North America and for Vaccines, prior to which, as Senior Director of Market Access at Pfizer, he was responsible for driving innovation in business models to improve patient access and affordability. He has held progressive roles including Internal Audit, Commercial Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, Field Force Effectiveness, Financial Planning & Analysis and, most recently, Market Access & Pricing.

He holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Edinburgh, a Bachelors in Spanish & Portuguese from the University of Leeds and Professional Certificates in Health Economics, from the University of Chicago, and Executive Leadership, from Cornell University. Additionally, he is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and currently serves on the Board of Regents for the Institute of Management Accountants. View Less
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As Practice Leader – US Retrospective Research, Health Economics and Outcomes Research at IQVIA, Mitch DeKoven leads a team of 18 researchers in a variety of health economics and outcomes research projects, including evidence generation plans, retrospective database studies, and observational surveys. He is also instrumental in new business development efforts.

Mr. DeKoven was an associate director of reimbursement and market access at ValueMedics Research LLC, which IQVIA acquired in March 2007. Prior to joining ValueMedics, he was manager of reimbursement services at United BioSource Corporation’s Center for Pricing & Reimbursement.
Before that, was a consultant with CHPS Consulting, now Navigant Consulting. Previous to his experience at CHPS, Mr. DeKoven was the program manager of the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC, a position he held after completing a two-year administrative fellowship with the Johns Hopkins Health System.

Mr. DeKoven is past president of the Board of Directors of the Lupus Foundation of America’s Greater Washington Chapter, sits on numerous editorial advisory boards of peer-reviewed journals and serves as senior editor for Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research. He has also co-authored 70 manuscripts in leading healthcare journals.

Mr. DeKoven earned his Master of Health Services Administration Degree from the University of Michigan School of Public Health and his BA in Spanish from Washington University in St. Louis.View Less
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Lisa DeTora is Professor and the Director of STEM writing at Hofstra University in Hempstead NY, where she also serves as guest faculty in medical humanities at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Her teaching interests include health communication, scientific writing, and graphic medicine. Lisa is the first author of “Good Publication Practice for Company-Sponsored Research” and the editor of Regulatory Writing: An Overview, based on expertise gained from more than 15 years of industry experience. A regular speaker at industry and academic conferences, Lisa also publishes in technical communication, the rhetoric of health and medicine, vaccinology, immunology, and the medical humanities. A co-edited volume Envisioning Embodiment in the Health Humanities, part of Palgrave Macmillan’s series on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, appeared in 2023. View Less View More

Patricia Dorling is a strategic healthcare leader with over 15 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, specializing in Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) and Real World Evidence (RWE). Currently she serves as Senior Director of Outcomes Research at Merck, where she is responsible for all RWE/Outcomes Research for Oncology assets. Patricia has held several other leadership positions in industry serving as Head of HEOR & RWE at Chiesi and Sr Director, Value & Evidence, Team Lead at Pfizer.
Patricia is a pharmacist by training and holds a Masters degree in Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy. She has more than 100 publications in peer-reviewed literature and her career has been marked by significant contributions to the development and implementation of RWE/HEOR strategies, researching new RWE methodologies and also including successful launches and reimbursement achievements.  View Less View More

Jui Haker, MPH is a practicing Occupational Medicine physician for the past 13 years, with a strong interest in public health. Prior to that, she spent several years in the field of clinical research and has extensive experience in project management, design of clinical studies, data analysis, as well as writing grant proposals and manuscripts. She has co-authored several articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented at academic conferences.

Jui completed her medical school training and a Preventive Medicine residency in Mumbai,
India. After this, she obtained a Master of Public Health degree from the Harvard School of
Public Health, Boston, MA She later completed an Occupational Medicine residency in
Nashville, TN and is now practicing clinically at SSM Health in Wisconsin. She has served in
leadership roles for many years, including Division Chief of Occupational Health and Regional
Medical Director of Employer clinics in WI.

Her areas of interest include prevention of workplace injuries, public health and safety. As a
physician and scientist, she is particularly interested in the role of artificial intelligence in clinical
medicine; ways to leverage AI applications in monitoring and reducing workplace hazards,
meeting regulatory requirements and positively impacting worker safety.View Less
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Patrick Keran is an accomplished healthcare executive with over 20 years of experience driving strategic growth through product and technology innovation. He is passionate about improving patient access and simplifying care while delivering exceptional client satisfaction. Patrick excels in leading digital transformation initiatives, implementing cutting-edge technologies that enhance operational efficiency and elevate the healthcare experience for patients, providers, and payers alike.

Having held leadership roles at organizations like CoverMyMeds, UnitedHealthcare, and Optum, Patrick has consistently delivered product growth, spearheaded innovation, and driven business development. He has managed complex, high-revenue portfolios, executed strategic partnerships, and played a pivotal role in M&A activities. His core expertise includes product strategy, financial management, change leadership, and scaling healthcare solutions that enhance patient outcomes.

Beyond his executive responsibilities, Patrick is a recognized thought leader and mentor in the industry. He actively contributes to industry panels, podcasts, and executive forums on healthcare innovation. As an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota, he has shared his expertise with the next generation of leaders. He is also involved in start-up mentorship programs like the ILT Academy. Patrick holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Minnesota, a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University, and has completed executive education at the Wharton School of Business. His extensive experience in fostering innovation, strategic partnerships, and delivering stakeholder value makes him a key driver of success across the healthcare ecosystem. View Less
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Sonali N. Shah is leveraging AI and data science to better understand and improve health outcomes and patient access. As Co-founder of Probridge Solutions LLC, she focuses on advancing Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) and Health Technology Assessments (HTA) ), to connect innovative treatments to the right targeted patients.

Sonali’s expertise spans critical areas such as oncology, obesity/diabetes, and rare diseases, where she harnesses the power of machine learning and predictive analytics to improve outcomes and quality of life. By combining traditional healthcare analytics with AI-driven insights, she develops more effective and comprehensive strategies for patient care.

Her foundation in this work was strengthened during her tenure at Pfizer, where she spearheaded the implementation of global training programs in HEOR and Market Access, including real-world data to the entire global company. This experience equipped her with the ability to navigate complex healthcare landscapes while applying innovative data solutions to real-world challenges.

As a certified Health Coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Sonali takes a holistic approach to healthcare, considering lifestyle and broader health factors, to develop solutions that integrate a more comprehensive approach to well-being.

Sonali is a dedicated lifelong learner and passionate about service and mentorship. She serves on the Advisory Council for her local YMCA and acts as a Senior Advisor and mentor for AI4Purpose. Also, she is going to mentor students at Rutgers Health Outcomes, Policy and Economics (HOPE) program.View Less
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Lesley G. Shane, is a senior strategic leader with over 20 years of experience driving scientific, clinical and value evidence research and stakeholder communication initiatives. Lesley received both her Doctorate and Bachelor’s of Science of Pharmacy from the University of Toronto, and research training within real world evidence, health economics and outcomes from TUFTS, Uof Chicago and John Hopkins School of Public Health. Her leadership experience includes spearheading Medical Affairs Real-World Evidence (RWE)/Epidemiology, Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR), Market Access Reimbursement and Business Development initiatives in the US and global biotech/pharma industry. She also has practiced as a clinical patient-care site pharmacist and has training in outcomes epidemiology research, health economics, methods, applied biostatistics and pharmacology therapeutics.

Lesley’s passion is defined by a commitment to advancing healthcare decision making information through data-driven evidence generation strategies, evaluation research and scientific value communications that address unmet medical needs and optimize patient outcomes in medical treatments, devices, diagnostics and medical technology/digital innovation solutions for rare diseases, oncology/hematology, immunology, infectious diseases, CNS cardiology and more. With over 60 peer-reviewed publications and more than 100 speaker presentations, Lesley is a recognized thought leader, a collaborative partner and serves as a faculty academic instructor and mentor at several US and international universities. Her areas of interest are dedicated to healthcare evidence-based solutions and research leveraging AI to optimally address social and medical challenges and achieve positive real-world impact for patients/public healthcare outcomes.View Less
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Li Wang, is currently Senior Director and Head of Statistical Innovation group in AbbVie.  Li is leading Design Advisory which provides strategic and quantitative consulting as requested to all Development teams in all Therapeutic Areas to facilitate innovative thinking and complex innovative design evaluation. Li also leads Clinical Trial Innovation capability in AbbVie to drive Machine Learning and Advanced Analytics research and application in Development. 


Prior to this senior leadership role, he led Immunology and Solid Tumor statistical design and strategy discussions and multiple ML, RWE and Bayesian innovation projects from 2017 to 2019. From 2006 to 2017, he contributed to and subsequently led several successful NDAs and SNDAs including mega blockbusters Eliquis, Onglyza and Rinvoq.



He is enthusiastic in teaching statistical courses to non-statisticians, and investigating/ promoting novel statistical and machine learning methodologies. He is currently co-leading ASA Biopharma AI/ML Scientific Working Group focusing on clinical development.



He is very active in statistical communities as a board member of ICSA (2023-2025), board member of BBSW (2024-2026), chair-elect of Development Committee of SCT (2024), chair of Education Committee of DIA (2024), Cytel Innovation Advisory Board, DIA biostatistics industry and regulator forum planning committee and past chair of ICSA Midwest Chapter.



Li received his B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Peking University and his Ph.D in Statistics from Virginia Tech.
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As the Vice President of Commercial & Market Access for Research Services, Jennifer is responsible for identifying market opportunities and enhancing the product vision strategy for the commercial and market access portfolio. Her team empowers healthcare and life sciences companies to make informed decisions that drive innovation, improve patient outcomes, and achieve business success. As a leader, Jennifer excels in unifying teams to address dynamic business needs by establishing a clear vision and fostering a culture of empowerment, collaboration, and accountability. Her ability to inspire teams to deliver results that fuel growth is unparalleled.

Before joining Oracle, Jennifer served as the Head of Evidence for Access OMNI at Genentech, where she held various leadership roles since 2017. She also has experience working at Pfizer, Genzyme, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jennifer’s track record includes successfully commercializing medical products across the pharmaceutical and device industries and leading transformative initiatives to unlock the potential of real-world evidence, thereby expediting patient access to cutting-edge technologies. Her commitment to being an integral part of healthcare transformation, with a focus on improving patient access to new technologies, is unwavering.

Jennifer earned her Master of Arts in Physiology and a Doctorate in Health Behavior from Columbia University. She also holds a Master of Science in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. View Less View More

Qiuyi Wu is a postdoc research fellow in the Departments of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics at Duke University. She received her Ph.D. from the Department of Biostatistics & Computational Biology at University of Rochester in 2024. Her research interests include functional data analysis, image processing and high dimensional data anlaysis. Her thesis research attempts to bridge the gap between mathematics and statistics by applying mathematical techniques in novel ways to solve statistical problems. For her thesis work, she has developed a new kernel smoothing-finite element method (FEM) which applies the FEM method for discretizing partial differential equations to kernel smoothing tasks. The new method is designed to ensure efficiency and stability in high-dimensional scenarios. The primary applications for her work are in image processing and denoising tasks, which play an essential role in neuroimaging studies.View Less View More

Mei Yang, PhD, is a seasoned leader in the healthcare industry with extensive experience spanning real-world evidence generation, health economics and outcomes research, AI technologies, patient-reported outcomes, and market access strategies. She brings a unique blend of business acumen and research expertise to drive meaningful clinical and commercial outcomes, working in the U.S. and global markets—including emerging regions such as China. Known for leveraging big data and AI-driven analytics, Dr. Yang develops novel evidence to secure favorable access and formulary decisions, improve clinical development efficiency, and expand opportunities for pharmaceutical innovation. Over the course of her career, she has held leadership roles at both global pharmaceutical companies and data science-driven organizations, spearheading cross-functional teams and delivering cutting-edge healthcare solutions. With more than 15 years of industry experience, Dr. Yang has published over 40 articles in top-tier medical journals, consistently advancing clinical research and market access through innovative evidence-generation and AI-driven strategies.

Dr. Yang was recently appointed as CEO of EVYD Technology Global, where she is building the company’s global business to empower healthcare innovation through real-world evidence and AI technologies. Prior to that, she served as Vice President of Happy Life Technology Global, establishing the organization’s global business from scratch and scaling it into a multi-million-dollar revenue enterprise within a few years. During this tenure, she forged collaborations with more than 20 top pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide and assembled a high-caliber team. Earlier, Dr. Yang spent over a decade in leadership roles at global pharmaceutical companies including AbbVie, Daiichi Sankyo, and Merck, further honing her expertise in product commercialization and evidence-based solutions. View Less
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