From 25 to 28 February, PHUSE brought together 677 attendees from 173 companies and 18 countries at the incredible US Connect 2024 in Bethesda, Maryland!
The energy in the conference venue was fantastic. The Sunday Speed Networking, the PHUSE Connect Dinner on Monday and the Poster Session on Tuesday each offered a platform for attendees to reconnect with familiar faces and forge new connections.
This year’s US Connect introduced three new Connect Streams, which proved very popular with our attendees! Interactive Discussions (ID) provided an open platform for active engagement and enriched the exchange of ideas and perspectives. People Leadership & Management (PM) delved into crucial aspects of leadership within the industry, nurturing the growth of future leaders. Meanwhile, Therapeutic Areas Specific Topics (TA) offered tailored discussions on therapeutic domains, which catered to diverse interests and expertise.
Read on for a celebration of our winners and awardees and for reflections from the US Connect Chairs on their event experiences and what we can look forward to next.
Hear from the US Connect 2024 Chair, Bhavin Busa
"On a personal note, serving as the Chair of the US Connect 24 was an incredible honour. It wasn’t just about organising a conference – it was a journey of leadership without hierarchy. With a large PHUSE Committee comprising over 70 individuals from pharma and CROs – each a leader in their own right – we focused on delivering quality and innovative content. And I must say, we did a damn good job of it.
The atmosphere was electric during the four days in historic North Bethesda. As our Keynote Speaker Peter Ronco (CEO of Emmes) highlighted during the opening on Monday, the PHUSE Connect mission is Connect – Share – Advance. He reminded us about not just connecting and sharing, but collectively advancing so we can bring life-saving therapies to market more quickly and effectively than ever before. I firmly believe this event provided the perfect opportunity to move our industry forward.
I’m deeply thankful for everyone’s contributions – the Connect Committee, our speakers, attendees, exhibitors and sponsors, the PHUSE Board of Directors, and our incredible PHUSE Office staff. I’m very optimistic about our progress, and we’ve had upbeat feedback from attendees! Together, we’ve laid a strong foundation for ongoing growth and innovation.
I am confident that Karnika Dalal, the US Connect 2025 Chair, along with the Committee, will maintain this momentum going forward."
This year, the US Connect coincided with World Rare Disease Day, and in honour of this, PHUSE proudly supported the Cure Mito Foundation.
Cure Mito is a non-profit patient advocacy organisation led by parents who volunteer their time to change the future for families affected by Leigh syndrome – a debilitating neurodegenerative mitochondrial disease impacting 1 in 40,000 people and caused by over 110 genes in mitochondrial or nuclear DNA.
Thank you for your generous donations! We are delighted to share that the campaign has now reached is goal of 3k thanks to your generous contributions leading up to and during the Connect. The amount was then rounded off by PHUSE as a donation of our Best in Stream Winners.
Award Winners
PHUSE Recognition Winners
The PHUSE Recognition framework honours excellence within our community. First rolled out at last year’s EU Connect, we are pleased to celebrate the single most outstanding presentation and first-time speaker from the US Connect 2024.
Best in Connect– ET07: Michael Pannucci & Toshio Kimura, Arcsine Analytics
Best Connect Newcomer – PM02: Laura Needleman, AstraZeneca
Best in Stream Winners
Analytical Risk-based Monitoring (AR) – AR01: Michael Walega, Bristol Myers Squibb & Johann Proeve, Cyntegrity
Analytics & Statistics (AS) – AS05: Anwaya Joshi, Cytel
Data Handling & Engineering (DH) – DH02: Glenn Borgmans & Tine Seeuws, SGS Health Science
Data Standards & Governance (DS) – DS05: Rudra Sheth & Xiaohan Zou, Bristol Myers Squibb
Data Visualisation (DV) – DV05: Debopriya Ghosh & Xiang Li, Johnson & Johnson
Emerging Trends (ET) – ET08: Cole Arendt & Phil Bowsher, Posit
Open Source Technologies (OS) – OS03: Vincent Shen, Roche
People Leadership & Management (PM) – PM03: Rachna Mittal, Genentech
Poster Presentations (PP) – PP07: Julie Ann Hood, Pinnacle 21 by Certara
Professional Development (PD) – PD03: Madhusudhan Reddy Papasani & Naveen Kommurur, Merck
Real-world Evidence (RE) – RE03: Jeffrey Abolafia, Pinnacle 21 by Certara
Scripts, Macros & Automation (SM) – SM10: Xiangchen (Bob) Cui & Min Chen, CRISPR Therapeutics
Standards Implementation (SI) – SI02: Rie Ichihashi & Lyubov Sushchenko, Sanofi
Submissions & Agencies (SA) – SA03: Dyuthi Yellamraju & Hiral Raval, Genentech
Therapeutic Areas Specific Topics (TA) – TA04: Vidya Muthukumar, IQVIA
PHUSE/FDA Innovation Challenge Winners
Risk Based Monitoring – IC04: Lawrence Dennison-Hall & Maria Lapaeva, Roche
Clinical Trial Developments – IC07: Hangyu Liu, Biogen
US Connect 2025
The US Connect 2025 will be held 16–19 March in Orlando, Florida, where we will once again come together to push the boundaries of possibility. With new PHUSE events comes new opportunities to get involved, so stay tuned for Call for Papers opening in July. For those interested in becoming a US Connect 2025 Stream Chair, apply here.
To explore sponsorship and exhibition options for 2025, view the prospectus and sign up via the PHUSE website.
Hear from the US Connect 2025 Chair, Karnika Dalal
"As the US Connect 2024 draws to a close, we’re overflowing with gratitude for the enriching discussions, invaluable connections and ground-breaking insights shared during these past few days. Being part of the esteemed PHUSE family has been an absolute honour.
Looking forward, we’re thrilled to reveal our plans for the next US Connect, which is set to unfold in the magical city of Orlando, Florida from 16 to 19 March 2025. Building on the success of this year’s event, we’re dedicated to crafting an even more extraordinary experience, which promises to ignite inspiration, education and meaningful change.
Save the date and join us as we unite once again to explore the latest industry trends, innovations and opportunities. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer ready to make your mark, the US Connect 2025 guarantees something for everyone.
Stay tuned for updates on speakers, agenda highlights and registration details in the months ahead. We are eagerly anticipating your return for another unforgettable journey of discovery and collaboration. Experience the magic of Orlando, Florida, where innovation meets inspiration.
A heartfelt thank you for being part of our conference family. We can’t wait to welcome you back in 2025. Let Orlando’s charm and allure set the stage for meaningful connections, enlightening discussions and moments that will leave you inspired and invigorated."