A Return to Networking
This was the grand return to in-person DIA attendance. Many of the attendees haven’t been able to connect since the last DIA conference in San Diego, California in June of 2019. The extroverts were rejuvenated, eager and enthusiastic about this since many industry professionals and close connections choose to attend only this conference. In our industry, which requires such collaboration for drug discovery, approval and manufacturing, the need to interact with each other one-on-one was made obvious by the flurry of decision-makers on the exhibit floor.
While attendance was down a bit from 2019, an expected result of the ongoing outbreaks of different variants of COVID, it didn’t appear significantly noticeable. It does seem that big Pharma and Biotech are somewhat hesitant to send the amount of staff that they had in prior years in order to limit exposing excess personnel to infection at in-person events.
On the exhibit floor, the trend toward hybrid and decentralized trials was apparent in the discussions and interest of decision-makers as we made the rounds to various booths and meetings. Many well-known and brand-new companies advertised decentralized e-clinical platform offerings. Patient recruitment companies with various approaches were also in abundance. The tactic of mobile clinical trial sites was presented with two companies having their mobile units displayed on the showroom floor.
Brian Horan (SupplyRx), Denise McNerney, Chris Matheus, and Michael O’Gorman (LifeScience Marketplace) at DIA 2022
Denise McNerney presented at DIA with Robin Whitsell (Whitsell Innovations, Inc.) and Susan Morris (Susan Morris Coaching) on Fostering Innovation and Psychological Safety in the workplace
The after-event socializing scene sponsored by various companies was more reserved than 2019 with some of the formerly larger events transitioning to smaller venues or limited capacity. A new king of the late-night event was crowned – we give that award to CluePoints which is celebrating its 10 year anniversary.
We co-hosted the well-attended Clinical ReConnections Networking Event on Sunday, June 19th at The Bassment a few blocks from the conference location. We, along with Zymewire, Life Science Marketplace and FOCM Networking, were the hosts with SupplyRx, Verustat and KPS Life as sponsors. A talented live band complemented the chic speak-easy venue while the layout provided many seated areas where guests took advantage of a great opportunity to network. GLSA used the occasion to put our clients on display and circulate the floor to promote our clients with vigor.
Photos of the event were posted live to our social media, engaging our following and increasing brand awareness for our clients. If not already participating in our promotional initiative, please follow our LinkedIn page and interact with our audience.
Upcoming Conferences:
The conferences GLSA has identified and recommends for the remainder of the year are:
Rare Diem (Rare Disease in Emerging Markets), Virtual Meeting, August 25th
Society for Clinical Data Management in San Antonio, TX; September 11th – 14th
Society for Clinical Research Sites in Hollywood, FL; October 7th – 9th
Outsourcing in Clinical Trials New England, in Boston, MA; October 12th – 13th
CNS (Collaborating for Novel Solutions) Summit in Boca Raton, FL; November 17th – 20th
If you would like to request a meeting to see how Global Life Sciences Alliance can represent you at conferences, please fill out our contact form or contact your representative.
Connecting Innovative Resources
in Life Sciences to
Improve Patients’ Lives
Chris Matheus / HML