Showcases and Special Sessions

There is much more information to come regarding these sessions. In the meantime, please review the preliminary information shown below and check back often for updates. 

Special Luncheon Panel - Responding to Uncertainty in Times of Global Change

NEW IBC FORMAT! This panel discussion focuses on how to respond more proactively and visibly to urgent global challenges such as pandemics, climate change, and artificial intelligence. 

Organizer: Iris Pigeot and Frank Bretz

Speakers:

Cailin O´Connor - Philosopher of social and behavioral science, a philosopher of science, and an evolutionary game theorist, Cailin is Chancellor’s Professor in the Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science and director of the Center for Socially Engaged Philosophy at UC Irvine.  Her central research areas are misinformation, epistemic disfunction, and scientific communities which resulted in her book “The Misinformation Age”, published with the philosopher James Weatherall.   She also researches norms and conventions of inequity.

Alex John London -  K&L Gates Professor of Ethics and Computational Technologies at Carnegie Mellon University, Alex's work focuses on ethical and policy issues surrounding the development and deployment of novel technologies in medicine, biotechnology and artificial intelligence, on methodological issues in theoretical and practical ethics, and on cross-national issues of justice and fairness. He published a book on “For the Common Good: Philosophical Foundations of Research Ethics”. Moreover, being engaged with policy and oversight concerning innovation in science with a special emphasis on artificial intelligence, health, and biosecurity, he is a member of the WHO Expert Group on Ethics and Governance of AI whose “Guidance on Large Multi-Modal Models” was published in 2024 and whose report “Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health” was published in 2021. 

Special Invited Session - Spotlight on the Korean Region

A session celebrating our host region, showcasing cutting-edge research and leadership from the Korean biostatistical community.

Organizer: TBD

Speakers: TBD

Critical Methodological Advances in Survival Analysis

Abstract

Survival analysis is a foundational domain in biostatistics, with wide-ranging applications in clinical trials, observational studies, and epidemiological research. This invited session brings together four speakers whose work addresses key frontiers in survival analysis, including overcoming limitations of standard parametric accelerated failure time (AFT) models, flexible modeling of complex censoring structures, advancing causal interpretation of population-level risk, and applying deep learning to genomics in survival contexts.

The first presentation focuses on the limitations of standard parametric AFT models, which face two major challenges: (1) sensitivity to distributional assumptions and (2) bias when time-dependent covariates are omitted or misrepresented. To address these issues, the speaker evaluates the bias introduced by ignoring time-dependent covariates and proposes a flexible Gaussian scale mixture AFT model that accommodates a broader range of failure time distributions. Simulation studies and real-world applications demonstrate substantial improvements in bias reduction and model robustness.

The second talk addresses innovations for interval-censored survival data. The presenter introduces a neural network approach based on ordinary differential equations (ODE-NNs), which enables flexible, data-adaptive modeling. This method provides a powerful alternative to traditional parametric or semiparametric models, particularly under complex censoring scenarios.

The third presentation bridges survival analysis with causal inference by considering the attributable fraction (AF) for time-to-event outcomes—a key measure for quantifying the proportion of risk that can be eliminated by removing an exposure. Recognizing that AF estimates rely on untestable assumptions, the speaker develops a sensitivity analysis framework that enables researchers to transparently assess how conclusions vary under different causal structures or model specifications.

The final presentation highlights deep learning methods for genomic data in survival contexts. The speaker explores how deep learning architectures can enhance our understanding of prognostic biomarkers and risk stratification in biomedical research.

Together, these four talks showcase critical methodological advances in survival analysis. This session will appeal to researchers seeking to improve the rigor, flexibility, and interpretability of survival models in modern biomedical and epidemiological research.



About the Speakers

To be announced
Specialties: 

About the Discussant:

To be announced

Biometric Showcase

Highlighting recent advances published in Biometrics, featuring editor-selected talks and discussions with authors.

Organizer: Geert Molenberghs, Hasselt University & KU Leuven

Speakers: Speakers and topics will be identified in February 2026

Alex John London

Cailin O'Connor

Bioethics Roundtable

A cross-disciplinary discussion exploring ethical considerations in the design, conduct, and interpretation of modern biomedical research, and how to respond more proactively and visibly to urgent global challenges such as pandemics, climate change, and artificial intelligence.

Organizers: Iris Pigeot (German Region) and Frank Bretz (Austro-Swiss Region)

Chair: TBD

Speakers: TBD

ISI Young Ambassador to IBC Showcase

A featured session in partnership with the International Statistical Institute, bridging communities and promoting global statistical collaboration. This session recognizes the winners of the ISI Young Ambassador competition. 

Organizer: Peter Doherty, Executive Director, International Biometric Society

Speakers: TBD

Women in Biostatistics Special Session

A celebration of the achievements and impact of women in biostatistics, with a focus on mentorship, leadership, and future directions.

Organizer: Gabriela Cendoya (Argentinian Region) and Sarah Ratcliffe (ENAR)

Speakers: TBD

JABES Showcase

Highlighting recent advances published in JABES, featuring editor-selected talks and discussions with authors.

Organizer: TBD

Speakers: TBD

Stat In Practice Showcase

An IBC tradition, and open to all attendees. See the Short Course page for details.

Young Researchers Showcase and Panel

Two dedicated sessions to highlight the innovation, challenges, and career paths of the next generation of biometricians—through research presentations and a live career panel.

Organizer: TBD

Speakers: TBD

IBS Regional Networks Showcase

Highlights from the five IBS Regional Networks, showcasing collaborative activities and joint scientific initiatives that strengthen regional ties.

The East Asian Network

Organizer: Xiao-Hua Zhou, Professor, Department of Biostatistics, Peking University

Speakers: 

  • Korean Region - Min Jin Ha, Associate professor, Biohealth Data Science, Yonsei University
  • Chinese Region - Molei (Bob) Liu,  Professor, Department of Biostatistics, Peking University
  • Japanese Region - Tomohiro Ohigashi, Assistant professor, Department of Information and Computer Technology, Tokyo University of Science
  • Indian Region - TBD

Young Statistician Showcase (YSS) 

Organizer: TBD

Speakers: TBD