The International Society for Biopharmaceutical Statistics (ISBS) is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of its two prestigious memorial lecture awards.
Tze Leung Lai Memorial Lecture Award (LMLA)
Professor Mark van der Laan (University of California, Berkeley) has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the Tze Leung Lai Memorial Lecture Award. This award recognizes Professor van der Laan's exceptional and significant contributions to the theory, application, and best practice of statistics in biomedical science, with particular emphasis on his academic achievements. His pioneering work on targeted learning has advanced the field and embodies the legacy of the late Professor Tze Leung Lai, whose foundational contributions continue to inspire the statistical community.
Joseph F. Heyse Memorial Lecture Award (HMLA)
Dr. Weili He (AbbVie) has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the Joseph F. Heyse Memorial Lecture Award. Dr. He is Editor of Statistics in Biopharmaceutical Research, a Distinguished Research Fellow, and Head of Medical Affairs and Health Technology Assessment Statistics at AbbVie, with prior leadership roles at Merck. This award recognizes her significant contributions in biostatistical research and innovative applications supporting drug development and regulatory approval, as well as her outstanding leadership enhancing best practices in biopharmaceutical statistics. Dr. He's industry-focused accomplishments reflect the enduring legacy of the late Dr. Joseph F. Heyse, a leader in methodological research, drug development statistics, leadership, and mentoring activities.
Each awardee will receive a $5,000 award and will deliver a lecture at the 8th International Symposium on Biopharmaceutical Statistics, to be held October 13–16, 2026, at the Novotel Madrid Center in Madrid, Spain. Further details of their lectures and the program will be announced by the conference committee.
Please join us in congratulating Professor van der Laan and Dr. He on their well-deserved recognition.
For more information about the awards and the symposium, visit:
https://isbiostat.org/lecture-awards/
The LMLA and HMLA Committee of the International Society for Biopharmaceutical Statistics
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Jie Chen
Chief Scientific Office
ECR Global
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