Statistical Excellence in the Pharmaceutical Industry Award: 2023 winner

We are pleased to announce Dr Satrajit Roychoudhury of Pfizer as the winner of the 2023 Statistical Excellence in the Pharmaceutical Industry Award, which is presented jointly by the RSS and Statisticians in the Pharmaceutical Industry (PSI).

Satrajit is awarded this year’s prize for his significant impact developing, implementing and disseminating efficient statistical methodology in four distinct areas: Bayesian design for Covid-19 vaccine trials, use of external control data, implementation of model-based approach in Phase I oncology studies and statistical approaches for non-proportional hazard.

For his work on Covid-19 vaccines, he not only recognised the urgent need to evaluate and identify a vaccine, but also to enable communication of findings to end users. The result was one of the first Bayesian Phase III trials that has led to regulatory approval.

The award presentation took place at the PSI annual conference in June, where the award was collected on Satrajit’s behalf by his colleague at Pfizer, Amanda Darekar.

Dr Andrew Garrett, president of the RSS, commenting on the news said: 'Congratulations to Satrajit who should be applauded for the breadth and depth of his contributions. His work on Covid-19 vaccines clearly illustrates impact  - notably how Bayesian methods can be used in a confirmatory setting to support regulatory review and approval.'

Chrissie Fletcher, chair of PSI, said: 'Many congratulations to Satrajit for this significant achievement and well deserved recognition for his statistical excellence in the Pharmaceutical Industry.  It is truly outstanding to implement and disseminate efficient statistical methodology in not just one, but four, important and diverse areas. An amazing accomplishment, well done.'