Keynote 1: A Journey in Drug Development: From Curiosity to Impact in Biostatistics

Thursday, Aug 20th, 2026

Speaker: Hua Liu, VP, Global Head of of Biometrics

Servier

Dr. Hua Liu is the Vice President and Global Head of Biometrics at Servier Pharmaceuticals, where she leads a high-performing global organization of biostatisticians and statistical programmers. A strategic leader and drug developer with 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, she is recognized for building elite teams and fostering a culture of excellence. She drives innovation through collaborative frameworks that bridge global teams and empowers data-driven decision-making in drug development. ##### Abstract

Biostatisticians play an essential role in drug development. In this talk, I will illustrate how biostatistics transforms scientific curiosity into meaningful impact in drug development. Through real‑world examples, I will highlight how statisticians shape development strategy, support key decisions, and collaborate across functions to navigate both successes and challenges. The talk offers a practical view of how biostatistics drives innovation and delivers value to patients in a modern pharmaceutical organization.