The Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR) concluded its 3rd Annual Conference in Bangalore on January 9, 2010. The speaker sessions and the participants’ attendance all reflected the immense interest in the trends, challenges and opportunities within the clinical research space, as it seeks to be a sector power house, not just in India but also globally. Focusing on the inter-dependability of science, business and society, the conference speakers discussed the various aspects of drug development that involved these three realms. The challenges that impede the bringing of a drug to market and therefore delay patient access were discussed. This conference provided experts the opportunity to come together to discuss new technologies, strategies and processes that will strengthen the development process while improving timelines in clinical development.
Regulation and data standards were one of the areas of discussion, with Dr Steve Wilson, Director, Biometrics III, CDER FDA USA discussing the data standards for clinical trials in general and specifically the guidance for multiregional clinical trials. During his interaction with the participants, Dr Wilson emphasized India’s role in clinical trials, its development and why data standards are the need of the day. While analyzing advances in clinical research, experts also discussed the challenges in proving efficacy and safety of drugs today, with the valedictory note discussing the past & the future of global development of new drugs.
ISCR President, Dr Arun Bhatt (President, Clininvent Research Pvt. Ltd.) said “The conference tracks have had a global appeal with multifaceted discussions that generate new learning across new borders. By focusing on aspects like regulation, advanced practices, outsourcing challenges, data standards, collaborative approaches amongst others, we strive to present new dimensions of discussion to reach conclusive ideas that will simplify our best practices as an emerging industry. We look forward to hosting such platforms in the future with an ever growing participation. We thank our sponsors, speakers, participants and volunteers for making this a landmark event for our industry”.
The 3rd Annual ISCR conference consisted of well received pre conference workshops covering study management, Ethics Committees, CDISC STDM and eCTD. The conference was structured into two scientific tracks covering trends and developments impacting science, business and society within clinical research as well as CDM, Biostatistics and medical writing. With more than 500 attendees, the conference was one of the largest & best participated clinical research events in the country. The conference was attended by academia, Pharmas, Biotech’s, CRO’s, SMOs, Investigators, Technology companies and other organizations providing support services to the Clinical Research industry.
About ISCR (www.iscr.org/conference)
ISCR, founded in Aug 2005 as a not for profit association of clinical research professionals registered under the Societies Registration Act (1860), is a forum of clinical research organizations/ professionals to build awareness of clinical research and facilitate its growth in the country while evolving the highest standards of quality and ethics. Today, ISCR is the catalyst fuelling the growth and development of the clinical research industry, as a niche professional body representing all stakeholders of the industry. The Society conducts its annual scientific conference in January every year to collaborate and discuss issues related to the clinical research industry in India mapped against a global footprint. ISCR South Chapter was launched in August 2008.
