Connected by Data: Trust. Transform. Validate. A Leadership Path to 2030
The SCDM 2026 Annual Conference in Raleigh explores how data connects patients, sites, and industry across the clinical research ecosystem. The #SCDM26 Leadership Forum takes that conversation to a strategic level, bringing together senior leaders to explore the decisions, challenges and opportunities that will shape the future of the profession.
September 14, 2026.
Raleigh. North Carolina.
You can register for both the Annual Conference and the Leadership Forum by adding the Forum as an option during the registration process, once you’ve selected your member or non-member rate. Alternatively, you may choose to attend only the Leadership Forum, at a fee of $500.
The SCDM 2026 Annual Conference in Raleigh explores how data connects patients, sites, and industry across the clinical research ecosystem.
The #SCDM26 Leadership Forum takes that conversation to a strategic level, bringing together senior leaders to explore the decisions, challenges and opportunities that will shape the future of the profession.
Grounded in Vision 2030 – SCDM’s roadmap towards a more connected, integrated and future-ready clinical data ecosystem – the Leadership Forum is built around three interconnected leadership conversations:
Trust
How do we strengthen confidence in clinical trial data and address the barriers that continue to limit progress?
Transform
What leadership, organizational change and industry collaboration will be required to realize the ambitions of Vision 2030?
Validate
These conversations reflect the interconnected challenges facing the industry: building trust in data, leading transformation across the ecosystem and establishing responsible approaches to AI that can withstand both regulatory scrutiny and real-world expectations.
This is not another conference session.
The Leadership Forum is an interactive working event designed for active participation, candid discussion and peer exchange. Through expert panels, facilitated discussions, live polling, roundtables and collaborative sessions, participants will challenge assumptions, exchange perspectives and contribute to shaping the future direction of clinical data leadership. The insights, areas of alignment and points of debate emerging from the event will help inform an SCDM thought leadership paper, giving participants the opportunity to help shape the broader industry conversation on the future of clinical data.
Meet the Facilitators
Brian Thornton
[Senior VP Biometrics, Spaulding Clinical]
Joby John
[Vice President and Global Head, Clinical Technology & Data Management, Sitero]
Maria Craze
[Executive Director, Global Data Operations at Merck & Company, Inc]
Wayne Walker
[SVP, Head of Data Experience, Medidata]