Andy Lee, MA, Senior Vice President, Head of Global Clinical Trial Operations, Merck & Co., Inc., will chair the late-breaker panel discussion “TransCelerate Collaboration: Harmonization Efforts to Find Solutions to Critical Industry Challenges,” during DIA 2015 51st Annual Meeting at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center from June 14 to 18.

Launched in 2012, TransCelerate BioPharma Inc. is a non-profit organization comprised of industry leaders with a mission to improve the health of people around the world by accelerating and enhancing the research and development of innovative new therapies. Through collaboration with the world’s leading biopharmaceutical R&D community, TransCelerate aims to identify, prioritize, design and facilitate the implementation of solutions that drive efficient, effective and high-quality delivery of new medicines. TransCelerate’s growing portfolio of initiatives includes:

• Development of industry-wide clinical data standards
• Mutual recognition of clinical trial-site qualification and training
• Increasing clinical data transparency and diversification
• Creation of a model clinical trial protocol template
• Establishment of a comparator drug network 
• Establishment of an innovative Electronic Labels (e-Labels) information channel
• Development of a shared site collaboration platform
• Development of a model approach for risk-based site monitoring

“This panel discussion will provide rich insights and practical solutions to overcoming inefficiencies in clinical trials,” said Susan Cantrell, DIA’s senior vice president and managing director for the Americas region. “We are excited to once again bring together the combined expertise of TransCelerate’s members with key thought leaders from around the globe attending the Annual Meeting to collaborate on a path forward for streamlining the delivery of new medicines and improving the health of people from around the world.”

The June 17 panel, to be held at 1:30 p.m., will examine how TransCelerate’s 21 participating member companies are driving innovation to address clinical trial execution pain points through its 13 chartered workstreams. The session also will address the mission of TransCelerate, what solutions have been delivered to date, and what to expect in 2015 and beyond.

There will be an opportunity for audience Q&A with the panel, which includes members of TransCelerate’s Board of Directors and operations committee. Panelists include Jacalyn Kent, Senior Director, Clinical Development Information & Optimization, Eli Lilly and Company; Brett Wilson, Associate Director, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Edward Bowen, MBA, MS, Senior Director, Translational and Bioinformatics, Pfizer Inc.; and Robert A. DiCicco, PharmD, Vice President, Clinical Pharmacology Sciences and Study Operations, GlaxoSmithKline.

Registration is still open to attend the DIA 2015 51st Annual Meeting