Megan Murphy, ASA Communications Manager
Despite winter storms that disrupted travel across the region, STATBOLIC 2026 convened February 23–24 at the Hilton Washington, DC, in Rockville, Maryland. The conference—dedicated to advancing statistical innovation in cardiometabolic drug development—brought together industry, academic, and regulatory statisticians committed to advancing treatments for metabolic disorders.
Of the 182 registered attendees, more than 40 were unable to travel due to snow-related flight cancelations. Organizers quickly pivoted to a hybrid format, welcoming nearly 50 virtual participants on Monday and 40 on Tuesday.
The conference featured two keynote presentations from leaders in clinical research and regulation. On Monday, Javed Butler, president of Baylor Scholl & White Research Institute, opened the meeting. On Tuesday, Mark Rothmann, director of the Division of Biometrics II at the US Food and Drug Administration, delivered the second keynote.
The event also featured several sessions exploring innovative methodologies, novel statistical designs, and best practices in cardiometabolic development. Discussions spanned portfolio-level strategy, multi-organ outcomes, estimand alignment, covariate adjustment in cardiovascular outcomes trials, and the integration of AI and real-world evidence cardiometabolic programs.
A highlight of the conference was the FDA “Talk to Regulators” panel, held at the close of each day. The interactive panels allowed attendees to engage with regulators and discuss cardiometabolic drug development.
Beyond the formal sessions, participants emphasized the importance of community-building. Arinjita Bhattacharyya, who volunteered at the registration desk in addition to attending scientific sessions, reflected on both the technical depth and collaborative spirit of the meeting. “What stood out most during the meeting was how much the role of the statistician continues to expand,” she noted. “I was especially struck by the conversations around how early-phase quantitative modeling informs later-phase cardiovascular outcome strategy.”
Early survey responses rate STATBOLIC 2026 highly and, while dates and location have not yet been finalized, organizers anticipate another conference.
For more information about the conference, visit the STATBOLIC website. For a behind-the-scenes look at how the initiative began, read “The Story Behind STATBOLIC” in the ASA Biopharmaceutical Section newsletter.
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