2nd DECENTRALIZED & HYBRID CLINICAL TRIALS WORLD CONGRESS 2026 EUROPE

Redefining Clinical Research Through Decentralization, Technology, and Collaboration

Millennium Hotel and Conference Centre Gloucester London, UK

Wednesday 25th - Thursday 26th February 2026

KEY INDUSTRY EXPERT SPEAKERS

Khadija Rantell

Senior Statistical Assessor

MHRA

Khadija Rantell

Senior Statistical Assessor

Khadija Rantell is a Lead Senior Statistical Assessor at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK, where she has been working since 2013. Khadija has a wide experience in the critical appraisal of study design and data to support marketing authorisation applications, as well as the provision of scientific advice to companies. As part of her role at the MHRA, she also reviews clinical trial applications submitted for approval. Khadija received her PhD from Sheffield University in the UK and has worked several years in academia prior to joining the MHRA. She is a member of the ICH E20 Expert Working Group and the SISAQOL-IMI Consortium.

Lorna Pender

Medical Director

AOP Health

Lorna Pender

Medical Director

Dr Lorna Pender is medical affairs and patient engagement professional and current Medical Director at AOP Health focused on rare diseases and areas of high unmet clinical need. Experienced in clinical trial design, early access programmes and co-creating patient materials. An active patient advocate herself, Dr Pender has lived experience of the clinical trial consent process, reviewing consent forms and advocates for accessible and inclusive approach to patient information materials.

Puja Myles

Director, Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD)

MHRA

Puja Myles

Director, Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD)

Dr Puja Myles is Director of the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), which is a UK government real-world data research service with a mission to facilitate research benefiting public health and clinical care of patients. She is a Public Health Specialist and Epidemiologist. She has also contributed to the UK medical products regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA's) Regulatory Science and Policy initiatives relating to regulatory requirements for the use of real-world data to support clinical trials, data quality, in silico trial approaches, synthetic data and AI medical devices.

Alexandra Charge

Chief Executive Officer

ISPEP

Alexandra Charge

Chief Executive Officer

A global life sciences and healthcare executive leading change, transformation and innovation in patient engagement and clinical trials, through inclusive patient & HCP recruitment, and leadership for equitable healthcare. Alex’s passion is driving transformation & empowering individuals and companies to build a healthier future, both within the established pharma/life sciences landscape and preventative health and wellbeing. Her mission is to unlock the true potential of healthcare and health ownership

Nadya Isack

Patient and Public Involvement (PPIE) Advocate, Founder

Empower Health Initiative CIC, Person living with Obesity

Nadya Isack

Patient and Public Involvement (PPIE) Advocate, Founder

Nadya Isack is a leading Patient and Public Involvement (PPIE) advocate and founder of Empower Health Initiative CIC, a patient-led organisation amplifying the lived experience of obesity across research, policy, and healthcare delivery. Nadya is a person living with the Chronic Disease of Obesity. With over two decades of professional experience as a Senior Executive Assistant at Citi and a decade of advocacy leadership, Nadya bridges strategic, academic, and community perspectives to champion equitable, stigma-free healthcare. She has collaborated with major institutions including University College London, University of Bristol, University of Birmingham, UCLH, and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, contributing to studies on digital health, weight management, and lived experience in obesity care. Her involvement spans from designing PPIE training for bariatric surgeons to co-authoring academic publications featured in the likes of: The Lancet, EClinicalMedicine and Clinical Obesity. Nadya has served as a Trustee of the Obesity Empowerment Network, PPIE Lead for the Association for the Study of Obesity, and Committee Member for BOMSS (NBSR), as well as a Strategic Council Member for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity. Through Empower Health Initiative, she continues to drive collaboration between patients, researchers, and clinicians to redefine how obesity care and lived experience inform practice and policy.

Amelia Hursey

Strategic Director

parkinsonseurope.org

Amelia Hursey

Strategic Director

Amelia joined the Parkinson’s Europe team in Jan 2022 as Research Manager, progressing to Strategic Director from Jan 2025. She has delivered the Parkinson’s Europe’s Research Strategy, embedded a volunteer Steering Groups into the organisation and helped to increase Parkinson’s Europe research reputation. She has also brought new initiatives to the table, such as the Parkinson’s Europe’s Engagement Network, which connects the Parkinson’s community across Europe. Parkinson’s Europe is now a partner member of EUPATI, the Non–Profit coalition to support advancements of Disease Modifying Treatments for Parkinson’s and the Critical Path for Parkinson’s. She co-developed Parkinson’s Europe's new 2025-2028 strategy and is leading its delivery. She has been working in the field of Neurodegenerative research since 2009, is a Patient Organisations board member with EUPATI and a member of EAN’s Guidance Production Group and is co-author on a number of publications about Parkinson’s and patient engagement. She worked for NIHR’s DeNDRoN delivering clinical trials 2009-2015 and then at Parkinson’s UK as Research Participation Lead 2015-2022. She was responsible for initiatives to increase research participation for people affected by Parkinson’s, HCP’s and researchers, and created the innovative Parkinson’s UK Take Part Hub and co-produced the Staying Connected toolkit.

CAROLE SCRAFTON

CEO & Co-Founder Patient Advocacy Organisation

FibroFlutters

CAROLE SCRAFTON

CEO & Co-Founder Patient Advocacy Organisation

Carole is a patient with chronic and genetic rare disease, Patient Partner, Expert Patient, Patient Speaker, Author and Researcher. She is the CEO & Co-founder of FibroFlutters Patient Advocacy Organisation for chronic / rare illnesses. Helping to develop, nurture and advocate for a multidisciplinary approach to all aspects of medical healthcare so that chronic illness & rare disease patients can receive the type of care and treatments that they need. Carole utilises varying social media platforms to support people with Chronic illness & Rare Disease, #notjustpatients, and with a multi-stakeholder following. A network used for raising disease awareness and sharing as much up to date information. Carole also advocates for patientcentricity, especially patient engagement best practices and the need for patients to be included within research at early development / preclinical phases. She recognises the need to help educate patients about clinical trials and the reason why they should get involved. Recently as a Patient, and with FibroFlutters, was a team member of an initiative to create: ‘How-To guide’. How to implement Patient Engagement into Early Development and Preclinical phases with Patients Focused Medicines Development.

Dr Sondra Butterworth

CEO & Founder

RareQoL (Rare Quality of Life) and EDIRA (Equality Diversity and Inclusive Research Association)

Dr Sondra Butterworth

CEO & Founder

Sondra is one of the few black Community Psychologists in the UK. She is a mixed methods researcher and educator. Sondra brings her professional expertise and lived experience together, to advocate for rare disease and diverse communities. Her work is focused on inclusive research and practice; and on addressing the challenges underserved communities experience from issues related to health inequalities. Sondra is a Research Associate at the University of Chester, she sits on the board of the mental health charity Adferiad and is Head of Research Insights with Intent Health. Sondra’s groundbreaking work in EDIRA has produced three successful events bringing together diverse communities, rare disease patients, health care and pharma teams. EDIRA-23 focused on Barriers to Inclusion and EDIRA-24 on Building Trust. EDIRA-25‘Let’s COCO & ‘Celebrate the Doers’ showcased individuals and organizations that are actively driving positive change in patient centricity and health equity spaces, through COCO: Collaboration, Outreach, Co-creation and Outcome-focused activities. Website: www.rareqol.com | LinkedIn

Hannah Frost

Clinical Research Scientist

CRUK National Biomarker Centre

Hannah Frost

Clinical Research Scientist

Hannah Frost is a Clinical Research Scientist, specialising in technology clinical trials, working in the digital Cancer Research Team at CRUK National Biomarker Centre, UK. Hannah develops clinical technology trial protocols alongside cancer patients and carers, from initial concept to data analysis, to help make trials more accessible. She is also a part-time PhD student in at The University of Manchester Computer Science Department focusing on using large-language models in clinical decision making.

Dr Sachin Shah

Clinical Innovation and Digital Solutions Lead

UCB

Dr Sachin Shah

Clinical Innovation and Digital Solutions Lead

A medical doctor by background, Sachin is a digital health and clinical trial innovation specialist with extensive experience developing and validating digital endpoints, biomarkers, and real-world evidence solutions across drug development. He has led global digital biomarker strategies, regulatory engagement, and decentralised trial implementation within pharma, and is a recognised speaker and advisor in digital health. Sachin is passionate about translating novel technologies into scalable, evidence-based solutions that advance clinical development and patient care. Sachin is also a visiting lecture at UCL’s Global Business School for Health, supporting delivery of the Master’s course in Digital Health.

Joanna Bell

Project Manager

Sustainable Healthcare Coalition

Joanna Bell

Project Manager

Joanna is a Project Manager for the Sustainable Healthcare Coalition and has a passion for the planet and the people it supports. She is Project Management Professional (PMP) and Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) Business Sustainability Management certified and has 20 years' experience working in clinical research organisations (CROs). Her core focus is driving the Coalition's programme enabling low carbon and sustainable clinical trials; a role that makes full use of her skills in stakeholder management and business strategy allied to her strong commitment to design and implement solutions that balance business objectives with environmental and social impact.

Elizabeth Theogaraj

Regulatory Senior Group Director

Roche

Elizabeth Theogaraj

Regulatory Senior Group Director

Elizabeth is a regulatory affairs leader dedicated to bringing new medicines to patients navigating the path from early development to market. Her current work is at the intersection of regulatory strategy and clinical research, where she focuses on complex studies in oncology, including umbrella platform trials and master screening protocols. Committed to advancing research methodologies, Elizabeth led the first fully decentralized trial in Oncology. The insights from this trial have helped inform guidance from global health authorities on the topic. She champions this forward-thinking approach across the industry through her leadership positions, serving as Co-Chair of EFPIA's Innovative Clinical Trial group and Chair of TransCelerate's Regulatory Council Network.

Robert Mitchell-Thain

CEO

PBC Foundation

Robert Mitchell-Thain

CEO

Coming Soon

Van Zyl Engelbrecht

Head of Country Operations / Decentralised Clinical Trials & Innovation / Rare Diseases / Regulatory Affairs

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc

Van Zyl Engelbrecht

Head of Country Operations / Decentralised Clinical Trials & Innovation / Rare Diseases / Regulatory Affairs

Coming Soon

Rasmus Hjorth

Head of Communication

James Lind Care

Rasmus Hjorth

Head of Communication

Rasmus Hjorth has several years of experience working with engaging patients in clinical research as Head of Communication in the patient recruitment company, James Lind Care. His work experience centers around how to engage patients in clinical trials which includes working with developing services and communication that increases the awareness and interest about clinical research among patients. He also has years of experience developing advertisement- and information material for recruiting patients to clinical trials, resulting in engaging thousands of patients in several clinical trials. Rasmus holds a Masters degree in communication and besides his job as Head of Communication in James Lind Care he is also a member of the board in the Danish Lung Patient Association.

Mohamed Sharaf

EMEA Regional Senior Medical Advisor (Immunology)

Johnson & Johnson

Mohamed Sharaf

EMEA Regional Senior Medical Advisor (Immunology)

A Pharmacist currently serving as a Regional Senior Medical Advisor for EMEA (Europe, Africa, and the Middle East) at Johnson & Johnson. I also have experience as a Global Trial Study Responsible Scientist. I have over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, specifically within the commercial and medical fields, having worked at Pfizer, Sanofi, Spimaco, and Johnson & Johnson. My experience includes more than 10 years in Medical Affairs and clinical studies, holding roles such as MSL, Medical Advisor, and Regional Medical Program Lead across the GCC, Emerging Markets, and EMEA regions. Additionally, I have contributed to medical literature with more than 50 published manuscripts, abstracts, and posters.

Melanie Dixon

Trustee

Cure DHDDS

Melanie Dixon

Trustee

Mel set up the charity Cure DHDDS after finding out that two of her three children carried an ultra-rare and newly discovered DHDDS genetic mutation which causes a progressive metabolic disorder. Mel soon realised that there was limited support and research available on the condition so with her husband Charlie Dixon founded the Charity Cure DHDDS www.curedhdds.org. Mel now works full time for this charity supporting families and driving research in the hope of expediting a treatment. Mel is also a member of UKRET (UK Rare Epilepsy’s Together) and the Genomics England Participant Panel. Mel is a passionate advocate for raising awareness and highlighting the need for investment in those suffering with rare and ultra rare diseases.

Laura Risueño Ayerbe

Global Patient Affairs, Patient Engagement R&D

Servier

Laura Risueño Ayerbe

Global Patient Affairs, Patient Engagement R&D

Coming Soon

Cat Wilder

Chair

Von Willebrand Disease Alliance

Cat Wilder

Chair

Cat is a passionate Von Willebrand Disease (VWD) patient advocate, mother of two daughters with VWD, and one of the co-founders of VWD Alliance – an organisation created by VWD patients, for VWD patients. VWD Alliance exists to raise awareness of VWD, provide support and connection for those in the community, and deliver education to both patients and healthcare professionals about living with the condition. Cat’s advocacy journey began when her eldest daughter experienced recurrent tonsil bleeds that led to severe anaemia, putting her life at risk. Navigating her daughter’s care care revealed the lack of awareness of VWD in healthcare settings and inspired Cat to raise awareness, share her experiences, and advocate for improved recognition, care, and treatment. With a family history of VWD herself, Cat brings a unique perspective on living with and managing this under-recognised bleeding disorder. Drawing on her experience in cardiovascular research and medical affairs, she is committed to providing the VWD community with reliable scientific information, including updates on treatments, publications, and clinical trials. Motivated by her daughters, Cat is determined to create a world where VWD is understood, recognised, and properly catered for, empowering patients to advocate for themselves.

Emma Kinloch

CEO

Salivary Gland Cancer UK

Emma Kinloch

CEO

Emma is the CEO of Salivary Gland Cancer UK (SGC UK); a Charity focussed on furthering research and improving outcomes for rare Salivary Gland Cancers. A unique collaboration between a patient advocate and a medical oncologist, it runs regular gatherings, a research working group and operates internationally. Emma is a member of the Experimental Cancer Medicines Centre (ECMC) strategy advisory board, an advisor to the European Reference Network (ERN) EURACAN rare Head and Neck cancer domain and, a non-executive director of the Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation (ACCRF). After graduating in Experimental Psychology from Corpus Christi College, Oxford, Emma pursued a successful career in finance, working in both Europe and Asia. Recently she completed a Professional Doctorate in Occupational Health Psychology, focussed on Head and Neck Cancer and Work. Emma has a strong commitment to supporting and building mission-driven organisations with strong governance, who put the needs of people first and seek to make the world a fairer place. In all her roles she brings a distinctive blend of corporate leadership, academic insight, and lived experience.

Dr Fiona Adshead

Chair

Sustainable Healthcare Coalition

Dr Fiona Adshead

Chair

Fiona chairs the Sustainable Healthcare Coalition that inspires partnerships and action on sustainable healthcare. She also works as an independent expert advisor and board member for national and global organisations on wellbeing and sustainability. She is a high-profile wellbeing and public health leader with a track record of reframing thinking and developing innovative strategy and programmes at the heart of business and government. Her previous roles include Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Director General in the UK Government, Director of Chronic Disease and Health Promotion at the World Health Organisation and Bupa’s Chief Wellbeing Officer. Fiona is a visiting Professor at UCL and is a Senior Associate at Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. Fiona’s recent board roles include Fresenius ESG Advisory Board, My Green Lab, British Land’s Sustainability Advisory Panel, Marks and Spencer’s Sustainable Retail Advisory Board, and Business in the Community’s Wellbeing Leadership Team. Fiona is a member of the Health System Taskforce of the Sustainable Markets Initiative.

Joana Claverol

Clinical Research Director

Hospital Sant Joan de Déu

Joana Claverol

Clinical Research Director

Carly Santer

Strategic Advisor, Healthcare Decarbonisation

Sustainable Healthcare Coalition

Carly Santer

Strategic Advisor, Healthcare Decarbonisation

Hugh Whetherly

Sr Consultant, Product Sustainability Team

ERM

Hugh Whetherly

Sr Consultant, Product Sustainability Team

Hugh is a senior consultant in Environmental Research Management’s (ERM) Product Sustainability team, based in London, UK. Since joining ERM Hugh has supported on numerous projects including Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), carbon footprints and scope 1, 2 and 3 assessments. Hugh’s focus on the pharmaceutical sector has led him to be involved in product level assessments through to care pathways and evaluating clinical trials.

Catherine Jervis

Head, DCT Market Development - EMEA

MARKEN

Catherine Jervis

Head, DCT Market Development - EMEA

Catherine Jervis is Head DCT Market Development, EMEA region, for Marken, UPS Healthcare Precision Logistics. With a career spanning two and a half decades, she brings a proven track record of enabling complex global studies through innovative, patient-focused strategies. By prioritising the participant experience through leveraging direct-to/from-patient services and home healthcare, Catherine is passionate about delivering solutions that improve recruitment, enhance retention, and significantly shorten trial timelines.

Emily Pickering

Specialist Commercial Services Lead, Patient Engagement in Clinical Development

NIHR Research Delivery Network

Emily Pickering

Specialist Commercial Services Lead, Patient Engagement in Clinical Development

Emily is the Service Lead for the Patient Engagement in Clinical Development (PECD) Service. With extensive experience in project management, clinical trial delivery and engagement facilitation across diverse therapeutic areas, she is passionate about patient and public involvement, engagement and advocacy in research design and communication. She has a masters in clinical trials from the Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology at University College London.