Abstract
In the evolving landscape of pharma R&D, AI is reshaping how we design, execute, and analyze clinical trials. This lecture explores how Novartis is leveraging targeted AI solutions to accelerate clinical drug development and enhance decision-making across the clinical trial lifecycle. From predicting new indications for our drugs, to understanding patient symptoms, and simulating trial timelines, we highlight key real-world applications where deploying the right AI model at the right moment delivers measurable impact and innovates global clinical programs at Novartis.

Biosketch
Dr. Jelena Curcic is Associate Director of Data Science at Novartis Biomedical Research, and an accomplished data science leader specializing in neuroscience translational research and clinical biomarker development. She leads strategic initiatives across data-driven clinical trial designs, and acceleration of drug development. With a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from ETH Zurich and over 15 years of experience in clinical research, she brings deep expertise in analytical methods, digital health and precision medicine.

Dr. Valeria De Luca is director of data science and AI at Novartis, where she leads global initiatives to transform drug development processes and decision making with AI. With a background in engineering, a PhD in computer vision from ETH and a tenure at Novartis Biomedical Research as data scientist and team lead, she has advanced innovation in precision medicine and digital health. She is currently also pursuing a global EMBA at Columbia and London Business School.