Bridging academic biostatistics and clinical practice, building the next generation of innovative trial design leaders.
StatBridge Future Leaders Program
About the Program
The StatBridge Future Leaders Program is an IDSWG initiative designed to support early-career biostatisticians and data scientists at the intersection of academic training and clinical practice. The program grew from a recognized gap: biostatisticians emerging from graduate programs often have strong methodological foundations but limited exposure to the practical realities of pharmaceutical drug development, regulatory interactions, and cross-functional team dynamics.
StatBridge addresses that gap through mentorship, structured exposure to IDSWG sub-team work, and professional development opportunities within a global community of quantitative scientists.
Program Co-Leads:
- Bryan McComb, Ph.D., Associate Director of Biostatistics, Pfizer; Co-Leader of External Collaborations, IDSWG
- Courtney Henry, Ph.D., GSK; Co-Leader of Community, IDSWG
What We Offer
Mentorship
Pairing with experienced biostatisticians from pharma, academia, and regulatory settings. Mentors offer career guidance, project feedback, and professional network introductions.
Sub-team Exposure
Opportunities to observe and contribute to active IDSWG sub-teams, gaining experience in collaborative scientific work, publication processes, and regulatory engagement.
Presentation Opportunities
Pathways to present at IDSWG events, including the annual meeting, KOL Lecture Series, and major conferences such as JSM and SCT.
Community
Access to a global network of quantitative scientists from pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, biotech firms, and health authorities across the US, Europe, and Japan.
Who Should Join
The StatBridge program is designed for:
- Graduate students in biostatistics, statistics, data science, or related quantitative fields who are interested in pharmaceutical or clinical research careers
- Early-career biostatisticians (typically within the first five years post-PhD or MS) working in academia, industry, or government who want to deepen their exposure to innovative trial design
- Academic researchers who collaborate with industry or regulatory bodies and want to strengthen those connections
There are no formal requirements for participation. The program is open to members from all geographic locations and institutional backgrounds. Students and early-career professionals with backgrounds in patient advocacy, health communications, or clinical research operations are also welcome, the program values diverse perspectives on what makes trial design work in practice.
Get Involved
As a participant or mentee: Reach out to Bryan McComb or Courtney Henry to express your interest. A brief introduction and statement of what you hope to gain from the program is sufficient to get started.
As a mentor: Experienced IDSWG members with 10+ years in the field are encouraged to volunteer as mentors. The commitment is flexible, typically one to two hours per month.
As an organizational partner: If your institution, company, or program is interested in collaborating, for example, by co-hosting a workshop, please contact the co-leads.
Ready to Connect?
Contact either StatBridge co-lead to learn more or express your interest in the program.
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