Unblinded: A Clinical Trial Podcast Does Data Science Require Data Perfection?
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Oct 9, 2024 Demetris Zambas, Global Head of Data Monitoring and Management at Pfizer, has over three decades of experience in life sciences. He shares his journey from vaccine motivation to pivotal roles in data management and clinical trials. The discussion highlights the evolution of data science, AI’s role as a supportive tool, and whether striving for data perfection is necessary or if fit-for-purpose quality suffices. Demetris advocates for balancing quality, speed, and cost, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and continuous improvement in the industry.
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Career Pivot From A Volunteer Project
- Demetris Zambas recounts how volunteering on a CTMS project redirected his career into clinical data management.
- He traced roles from labs to CTMS to EDC transfers, which shaped his long-term path into data leadership.
Focus On Fit‑For‑Purpose Data
- Zambas argues the purpose of trials is to generate fit-for-purpose data to prove hypotheses for submissions.
- He warns that output metrics (queries/day) are secondary to meaningful outcomes tied to endpoints.
Opening SCDM To Regulators And The Public
- Zambas describes initiating regulator Q&A sessions at SCDM and winning trust to run those sessions.
- He used that access to help make GCDMPs public and expand SCDM's international presence.