Next events

  • 7th EORTC Quality of Life in Cancer Clinical Trials Conference

    Madrid, Spain

  • EORTC Summit on Clinical Cancer Research

    Brussels, BE

  • 38th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium

    Barcelona, Spain

  • 26th Workshop on Methods in Clinical Cancer Research (MCCR)

    Sint Michielsgestel, Netherlands

Clinical Trial Statistics
for Non-Statisticians

9 – 12 June 2026, Brussels, Belgium

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Develop the statistical knowledge required to better understand today’s cancer clinical trials!

ABOUT

Today, statistics are critical to understand clinical trials. This EORTC course provides an introduction to the statistical methods used for the design, conduct and analysis of cancer clinical trials.

WHY ATTEND?

This course will help participants acquire a greater understanding of the statistical principles whilst avoiding too technical formulations.

Participants will be better equipped to design their own clinical research, work in a multidisciplinary team involving statisticians and to critically appraise the scientific value of published research.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

This course is aimed at non-statisticians who work in clinical research or at statisticians with little or no experience in clinical trials.

Clinical Trial Statistics for Non-Statisticians

9 – 12 June 2026, Brussels, Belgium

Stats - illustration

Programme

Optional Introduction

For those attendees who do not have any basic training in general statistics, an optional half day introduction course to statistics and probability (incl. notions of experiment, random variable, distributions, estimations, hypothesis testing) is organised before the official start of the course.

Tuesday 9 June 2026

Optional introduction to probability and statistics

Wednesday 10 June 2026

Principles of comparative clinical trials

Thursday 11 June 2026

Advanced methods for phase III trials & exploratory studies

Friday 12 June 2026

Exploratory studies and adaptive designs & Assessing effectiveness and evidence synthesis

The detailed programme can be consulted below.

Tuesday 9 June 2026

13.00 Registration
13.30
Introduction to statistical methods (Part I)
Luc Boone
15.00 Coffee break
15.30
Introduction to statistical methods (Part II)
Luc Boone
17.00 End day 1 of Optional Introduction

Wednesday 10 June 2026

08.30
Discussion of homework from Tuesday
Luc Boone
08.50 End of Optional Introduction

Principles of comparative clinical trials

Chair: Murielle Mauer

08.00 Registration and welcome coffee
09.00
Welcome and introduction
Murielle Mauer
09.15
General statistical principles
Coralie Poncet
10.00
Trial endpoints and design of phase III trials (part I)
Saskia Litière
10.30 Coffee break
10.50
Trial endpoints and design of phase III trials (part II)
Saskia Litière
11.20
Time to event endpoints analysis (part I)
Marta Fiocco
11.50 Break
12.00
Time to event endpoints analysis (part II)
Marta Fiocco
12.30 Lunch
13.30
Sample size for phase III trials
Luc Boone
14.20
Problems and pitfalls of data analysis and interpreting results
Murielle Mauer
15.10 Coffee break
15.30
Quality of life
Corneel Coens
16.20
Quiz
Moderator: Murielle Mauer
17.00 Networking reception
18.00 End day 1

Advanced methods for Phase III trials

Chair: Corneel Coens

08.30
Stat Clinic I / Homework: Paper discussion
Corneel Coens
09.00 Multiple testing procedures
Michal Kinciski
09.40 Interim data monitoring and early stopping rules (with discussion)
Gareth Griffiths
10.30 Coffee break
10.50
Introduction to Stat Clinic II (IDMC)
Moderator: Jan Bogaerts
11.10
Stat Clinic II – IDMC: What would you recommend?
J. Bogaerts / J. Musoro ; C. Poncet / X. Paoletti ; M. Mauer / J. Cabrieto ; C. Coens / G. Griffiths
12.10
Wrap up of Stat Clinic II (IDMC)
Moderator: Gareth Griffiths
12.30 Lunch

Exploratory studies

Chair: Corneel Coens

13.30
Design and analysis of phase I studies
Xavier Paoletti
14.20
Phase II designs without biomarkers
Jammbe Musoro
15.10 Coffee break
15.30
Biomarker based study designs
Raphaël Porcher
16.20
Quiz
Moderator: Corneel Coens
17.00 End day 2
08.30
Stat Clinic III – Homework: Paper discussion
Gareth Griffiths

Exploratory studies and adaptive designs

Chair: Xavier Paoletti

09.00 Bayesian approach to clinical trial design
Anouk Neven
09.40
Adaptive trials
Christina Yap
10.30 Coffee break

Assessing effectiveness and evidence synthesis

Chair: Xavier Paoletti

10.50
Pragmatic trials
Félix Oppong
11.40
On the use of external controls
Jedelyn Cabrieto
12.30 Lunch
13.10 Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Xavier Paoletti
14.00 Stat Clinic IV: Parallel workshops on selected topics

  • To estimand or not to estimand: a practical
    Corneel Coens & Murielle Mauer
  • More about survival analyses (advanced)
    Luc Boone & Jammbe Musoro
  • Design of a biomarker-based study practical
    Christina Yap & Xavier Paoletti
  • Sample size calculation practical
    Michal Kicinski & Félix Oppong
15.00 Coffee break
15.20 Stat Clinic V: Parallel workshops on selected topics

  • To estimand or not to estimand: a practical
    Corneel Coens & Murielle Mauer
  • More about survival analyses (advanced)
    Luc Boone & Jammbe Musoro
  • Design of a biomarker-based study practical
    Christina Yap & Xavier Paoletti
  • Sample size calculation practical
    Michal Kicinski & Félix Oppong
16.20
Views towards the future
Jan Bogaerts
16.50
Closing remarks
Murielle Mauer

Clinical Trial Statistics for Non-Statisticians

9 – 12 June 2026, Brussels, Belgium

Stats - illustration

Faculty

Corneel Coens
Corneel CoensCo-Chair
Lead Statistician
EORTC Headquarters Brussels, Belgium
Murielle Mauer
Murielle MauerChair
Head of Statistics
EORTC Headquarters Brussels, Belgium
Xavier Paoletti
Xavier Paoletti Co-Chair
Professor of Biostatistics
Université de Versailles
St Quentin & Institut Curie, France

Speakers

Jan Bogaerts
Jan Bogaerts
Luc Boone
Luc Boone
Marta Fiocco
Marta Fiocco
Gareth Griffiths
Gareth Griffiths
Michal Kicinski
Michal Kicinski
Saskia Litière
Saskia Litière
Jammbe Musoro
Jammbe Musoro
Coralie Poncet
Coralie Poncet
Christina Yap
Christina Yap
Felix Oppong
Felix Oppong
Anouk Neven
Anouk Neven
Raphaël Porcher
Raphaël Porcher
Jedelyn Cabrieto
Jedelyn Cabrieto

Clinical Trial Statistics for Non-Statisticians

9 – 12 June 2026, Brussels, Belgium

Stats - illustration

European Accreditation

What is CME?

CME (Continuing Medical Education) can be defined as educational activities which serve to maintain, develop and increase the knowledge, skills and professional performance that physicians and allied health professionals use to provide services for patients, the public or the profession.

What does European Accreditation mean for you?

CME accreditation granted by the UEMS-EACCME® provides a guarantee to participants from all over the world that the content of the CME provided is of a high quality, unbiased and didactic and, for European doctors, that this quality will be recognised in their home country.

UEMS-EACCME® Accreditation

U.E.M.S. Accreditation

The CLINICAL TRIAL STATISTICS FOR NON-STATISTICIANS, Brussels, Belgium 9/06/2026- 12/06/2026, has been accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®) with 22 European CME credits (ECMEC®s). Each medical specialist should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

Clinical Trial Statistics for Non-Statisticians

9 – 12 June 2026, Brussels, Belgium

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Course Registration Fees

Below rates include participation to the course from Wednesday 10 June until Friday 12 June.

An additional fee is applicable for participation in the Optional Introduction (half day) on Tuesday 9 June (see further down).

Registrations will open early February 2026.

Rate Academic / Not for Profit Rate Pharma / For Profit
Early Rate
until 8 April 2026
890 EUR 1 395 EUR
Late Rate
until 27 May 2026
995 EUR 1 595 EUR

Optional Introduction – Extra Fee

Optional Introduction on Tuesday 9 June 2026
Rate Academic / Not for Profit Rate Pharma / For Profit
Early Rate
until 8 April 2026
165 EUR 260 EUR
Late Rate
until 27 May 2026
190 EUR 300 EUR

Cancellation Policy

Participants who need to cancel their registration are requested to inform the organiser by email.
In case of cancellation after 1 April 2026, an administrative fee of 30% fee will be retained from the participation fee and deducted from any refund. Refunds will be processed after the course.
In case of cancellation after 6 May 2026, or if no notice of cancellation is given, no refund will be paid.
For the full terms & conditions, click here.

New Regulations to Travel to Europe

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is due to start in 2026. It is a new electronic system implemented by the European Union to strengthen and streamline border management across the Schengen Area. It replaces the traditional passport stamping process with a digital system that records the entry and exit data of non-EU travellers. Further information can be consulted on this website.

The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to certain European countries, which is due to start 6 months after EES. Further information can be consulted on this website.

Clinical Trial Statistics for Non-Statisticians

9 – 12 June 2026, Brussels, Belgium

Stats - illustration

Venue

Address

The Hotel.Brussels
38 Boulevard de Waterloo
1000 Brussels
Belgium

Booking deadline for hotel reservations: 10 May 2026

Accommodation requests received after 10 May 2026 will be processed on a space-available basis and may be subject to higher rates.  Individual guests will be responsible to reserve and guarantee their accommodation, and will be liable in case of cancellation, no show or early departure. The individual cancellation deadline is 72 hours prior to arrival. Any cancellations after this time are subject to one night’s rate and tax. No-show or early departure will be charged at full rate and for the entire length of stay.