The Unloved Child Podcast

Doug Leonard| Senior Director, Statistical Programming| Beacon Therapeutics

🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with Doug Leonard, Senior Director of Statistical Programming at Beacon Therapeutics, for an insightful conversation about his 20+ year career in clinical data analytics, statistical programming, and leadership across the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. Doug shares his experiences building programming organisations from the ground up, leading global teams, supporting major FDA submissions, and adapting to the rapidly evolving world of clinical research and statistical computing. We discuss Doug’s career journey in statistical programming and biotech, how the landscape of programming and clinical data science is changing, leadership lessons from managing high-performing global teams, and the impact of AI, automation, and emerging technologies on the industry. Doug also offers valuable advice for the next generation of statistical programmers and clinical research professionals, highlighting the importance of mentorship, adaptability, and continuous learning. The conversation also explores Doug’s proudest career moments and his contributions to groundbreaking therapies and important regulatory milestones. He reflects on the future of statistical programming, the growing importance of innovation in biotech, and what professionals can do to build long-term success in a fast-moving industry. Whether you work in SAS programming, biostatistics, clinical data management, biotech, or pharmaceutical research, this episode offers valuable career insights and leadership perspectives from one of the industry’s experienced professionals. Follow for more conversations with leaders in biotech, clinical research, healthcare innovation, and statistical programming. #StatisticalProgramming #ClinicalResearch #SASProgramming #Biotech #FDA #DataAnalytics #PharmaceuticalIndustry #Biostatistics #Leadership #CareerAdvice #BeaconTherapeutics #ClinicalData #HealthcareInnovation

Narayan Lebaka| Senior Director Clinical Data Management| Cellectis

🎙️ The Unloved Child | JCR CDM — Featuring Narayan Lebaka In this episode of The Unloved Child, we sit down with Narayan Lebaka, Senior Director of Clinical Data Management at Cellectis, to explore the critical yet often overlooked role of data management in advancing life-changing therapies. With over 25 years of experience in clinical data management and more than two decades in oncology, Narayan brings deep expertise across solid tumors, liquid tumors, CAR-T, and cell & gene therapy trials. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for delivering inspection-ready, high-quality data and for driving efficiencies across complex clinical trial processes, earning multiple awards at Bayer and Bristol Myers Squibb. At Cellectis, Narayan is leading data management efforts focused on innovative therapies, particularly in liquid tumors, while working closely with the Chief Medical Officer to support the development of next-generation treatments. In this conversation, we dive into the evolving role of clinical data management, the challenges of working in cutting-edge oncology trials, and how strong data leadership is helping to shape the future of biotech. The Unloved Child is a series dedicated to highlighting the overlooked but essential functions within clinical research — the people and disciplines quietly powering breakthroughs in medicine.

Laura Fernandes| Unloved Child| Senior Statistical Director| Verana Health

🎙️ Real-World Data in Healthcare | Biostatistics & Data Science Careers | Podcast with Laura Fernandes In this episode of our podcast, we sit down with Laura Fernandes, Senior Statistical Director at Verana Health, to explore how real-world data, biostatistics, and data science are transforming modern healthcare. From analysing large-scale healthcare datasets to generating real-world evidence, Laura shares how data is driving innovation across the pharma, biotech, and life sciences industries. We also dive into the evolving role of statisticians and data scientists—how the field is changing, the growing importance of real-world evidence (RWE), and the key skills needed to succeed in today’s data-driven healthcare landscape. For students and early-career professionals, Laura shares valuable advice on breaking into biostatistics and data science careers, building in-demand technical skills, and standing out in a competitive pharma and healthcare job market. Whether you’re interested in biostatistics, real-world data, data science careers, or clinical research, this episode is packed with insights to help you understand the industry and grow your career.

Jesse Thissen| Unloved Child| Head of Biometrics| Physiomics Plc

🎙️ Biometrics in Drug Development | Biostatistics Careers & Data Science Jobs | Podcast with Jesse Thissen In this episode, we interview Jesse Thissen, Head of Biometrics, to explore how biometrics, biostatistics, and data science are transforming drug development. Discover how data drives decision-making in clinical trials, the growing importance of statisticians in pharma and biotech, and what the future holds for careers in biostatistics and data science. Jesse also shares practical advice for students and graduates looking to break into the industry, including the key skills employers are looking for, different career pathways, and how to stand out in a competitive data science and pharma job market. In this conversation, we discuss what biometrics is and its role in clinical trials, how biostatistics impacts drug development, the evolving role of statisticians in pharma and biotech, the most important skills for careers in data science, statistics, and biometrics, as well as practical tips and career advice for graduates and entry-level candidates. 💡 Whether you're interested in biostatistics careers, data science jobs, pharma careers, or clinical research, this podcast is packed with insights to help you break into the industry and grow your career.

Mike Olds| Unloved Child| Head of Clinical Data Management

In this episode, we’re joined by Mike Olds, Head of Clinical Data Management, with over 15 years of experience overseeing end-to-end clinical trial data operations across global programmes. Mike has led data management strategy from study start-up through regulatory submission, with deep expertise in SDTM, regulatory data delivery, biomarker integration, and complex end-to-end data flows. He previously served as Senior Director of Clinical Data Management at GSK, where he played a key role in optimizing processes and strengthening submission readiness. Beyond the technical expertise, this episode shares Mike’s professional journey — the lessons learned along the way, the leadership principles that shaped his career, and his advice for the next generation entering clinical research and data management. We discuss not only the operational side of drug development, but also the mindset required to grow, lead teams, and build a long-term career in life sciences. This episode is essential listening for professionals in clinical data management, biometrics, regulatory operations, SDTM programming, and pharmaceutical development — especially those looking to build or advance their careers in the industry. Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of clinical research and life sciences.