Practical Statistics Course for Medical Affairs: Interpretation & Application
With Stef De Reys, PhD
Course Details
THE CONTENT
Medical Affairs professionals are expected to interpret clinical data confidently, yet statistics often remain a source of uncertainty. Many Medical Affairs professionals can read clinical results but feel less confident interpreting the statistics behind them, especially what the numbers actually say about reliability, uncertainty, and clinical relevance.
This highly practical course provides a non-mathematical, Medical Affairs–focused approach to understanding and applying statistics. Using real clinical examples, you will learn how to interpret p-values, confidence intervals, hazard ratios, survival curves, AE/SAE tables, and forest plots in a meaningful and clinically relevant way.
You will also learn how to spot common pitfalls, recognise misleading claims or visuals, and assess whether a result is statistically significant and clinically important.
Finally, you will gain practical tools to communicate data responsibly.
If you want to strengthen your ability to evaluate evidence and translate statistics into credible Medical Affairs insights, this course is a must-attend!
THE EXPERT
Stef De Reys, PhD, is a medical statistics expert with over 30 years of experience applying biostatistics across research, Medical Affairs, and commercial functions.
As an independent consultant, Stef helps biotech and life science companies use data to optimise processes and make evidence-based strategic decisions.
He has held global Medical Affairs positions for international companies, where he used data and analytics to improve Medical Affairs operations, from evidence-generation planning to field medical strategy and performance measurement.
Stef is known for his ability to translate complex statistical outcomes into simple, clinically meaningful messages, making data feel less abstract and more directly applicable to daily practice and long-term strategy.
THE AUDIENCE & INTERACTIVE LEARNING FORMAT
This course is designed for Medical Affairs professionals, including MSLs, Medical Managers, Medical Information specialists and others who work with clinical evidence and want greater confidence in interpreting and communicating statistics.
Through expert-led teaching, real-life cases, and interactive group exercises, you will learn how to interpret clinical trial results, survival curves, and meta-analyses, and how to communicate findings in a fair-balanced, compliant, and audience-appropriate way. The sessions include practical examples, hands-on interpretation tasks, and peer discussions to help you build skills you can apply immediately in your daily Medical Affairs role.
If you are a consultant, please contact Annelies Swaan, who will check with the faculty whether you can attend.
How to recognise and avoid common pitfalls in statistical thinking that lead to incorrect interpretation of data.
How to interpret key statistical outputs in clinical trials, including p-values, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, Type I/II errors, and safety data (AE/SAE tables) from different study designs.
How to interpret survival analyses, including Kaplan–Meier curves, hazard ratios, proportional hazards, and crossing curves.
How to interpret meta-analyses, including forest plots, heterogeneity, and the statistical limits of meta-analysis.
How to communicate statistical findings clearly, fairly, and compliantly, including recognising spin, avoiding misleading visuals, tailoring messages and applying good-practice templates.
| Welcome & General Introduction (~15 min) |
| The Importance of Proper Statistical Thinking and Interpretation in Medical Affairs (~30 min) |
|
| Reading Clinical Trial Results: From Statistically Significant to Clinically Relevant (~1 h 15 min) |
|
| Survival Curves Demystified: What They Mean for Patient Outcomes (~1 h 30 min) |
|
| Lunch Break |
| Making Sense of Meta-Analysis (~1 h 30 min) |
|
| Fair-Balanced Communication & Critical Interpretation of Clinical Data (~1 h 15 min) |
|
| Quiz, Wrap-Up & Q&A (~45 min) |
|
UPCOMING DATES & FORMATS - FEES
11 March 2026
Live online
Early bird € 1 570
(until 06/02/2026)
(Full fee € 1 770)
TIMING & LOCATION
Live Online: Zoom sessions between 9 AM and 5 PM CET (Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris time).
All practical details will be shared upon registration. For any questions, please contact Margherita Mutto or call +32 472 03 11 38 .
GROUP DISCOUNTS
Team discounts can be offered to 2 or more delegates from the same company.
Email Annelies Swaan for more details.
HOW TO REGISTER
Click the green “Register” button on your preferred course session.
The registration wizard will guide you through the process.Alternatively, download the offline registration form and send the completed form to Annelies Swaan.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Credit Card: You’ll receive a secure payment link with your invoice (no immediate payment required).
Bank Transfer: Details provided with your invoice.
For help with registration, email Annelies Swaan or contact her by phone at +32 486 98 52 49.
INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION FEE
Access to a highly interactive, small-group online course (max 20 participants)
Course materials in both digital and hard copy format
Certificate of attendance signed by the experts and CELforPharma
VAT INFORMATION
Prices exclude VAT. VAT application depends on course format and your location:
Face-to-Face in Belgium: 21% Belgian VAT applies
Live online courses: The applicable VAT depends on your invoicing address. Contact your local VAT office for refund procedures where applicable.
TRANSFER & CANCELLATION POLICY
Flexible Transfer
If a registrant is unable to attend the scheduled course, they can avoid any cancellation charges by providing a suitable replacement participant.
Alternatively, the registrant may transfer once, on a 'space-available' basis and at no extra cost, to another course of the same value held within one year of the original course date, provided this is done at least three weeks prior to the event.
Registration Cancellation
Less than 14 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay the full invoiced registration fee.
Between 15 and 30 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay 50% of the invoiced registration fee.
More than 30 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay a cancellation fee of € 450 per registrant.
If a registrant postpones their participation to a future course and subsequently cancels again, no refund will be issued for the registration fees.
People attending this course are typically also interested in the below courses.
Need help to find the right course? Email Inge Cornelis or call +32 473 65 15 77.
Course Details
Dates & Locations
Upcoming Session
11 March 2026, Live online
Early bird € 1 570
(until 06/02/2026)
(Full fee € 1 770)
Prices are excl. VAT
THE CONTENT
Medical Affairs professionals are expected to interpret clinical data confidently, yet statistics often remain a source of uncertainty. Many Medical Affairs professionals can read clinical results but feel less confident interpreting the statistics behind them, especially what the numbers actually say about reliability, uncertainty, and clinical relevance.
This highly practical course provides a non-mathematical, Medical Affairs–focused approach to understanding and applying statistics. Using real clinical examples, you will learn how to interpret p-values, confidence intervals, hazard ratios, survival curves, AE/SAE tables, and forest plots in a meaningful and clinically relevant way.
You will also learn how to spot common pitfalls, recognise misleading claims or visuals, and assess whether a result is statistically significant and clinically important.
Finally, you will gain practical tools to communicate data responsibly.
If you want to strengthen your ability to evaluate evidence and translate statistics into credible Medical Affairs insights, this course is a must-attend!
THE EXPERT
Stef De Reys, PhD, is a medical statistics expert with over 30 years of experience applying biostatistics across research, Medical Affairs, and commercial functions.
As an independent consultant, Stef helps biotech and life science companies use data to optimise processes and make evidence-based strategic decisions.
He has held global Medical Affairs positions for international companies, where he used data and analytics to improve Medical Affairs operations, from evidence-generation planning to field medical strategy and performance measurement.
Stef is known for his ability to translate complex statistical outcomes into simple, clinically meaningful messages, making data feel less abstract and more directly applicable to daily practice and long-term strategy.
THE AUDIENCE & INTERACTIVE LEARNING FORMAT
This course is designed for Medical Affairs professionals, including MSLs, Medical Managers, Medical Information specialists and others who work with clinical evidence and want greater confidence in interpreting and communicating statistics.
Through expert-led teaching, real-life cases, and interactive group exercises, you will learn how to interpret clinical trial results, survival curves, and meta-analyses, and how to communicate findings in a fair-balanced, compliant, and audience-appropriate way. The sessions include practical examples, hands-on interpretation tasks, and peer discussions to help you build skills you can apply immediately in your daily Medical Affairs role.
If you are a consultant, please contact Annelies Swaan, who will check with the faculty whether you can attend.
How to recognise and avoid common pitfalls in statistical thinking that lead to incorrect interpretation of data.
How to interpret key statistical outputs in clinical trials, including p-values, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, Type I/II errors, and safety data (AE/SAE tables) from different study designs.
How to interpret survival analyses, including Kaplan–Meier curves, hazard ratios, proportional hazards, and crossing curves.
How to interpret meta-analyses, including forest plots, heterogeneity, and the statistical limits of meta-analysis.
How to communicate statistical findings clearly, fairly, and compliantly, including recognising spin, avoiding misleading visuals, tailoring messages and applying good-practice templates.
| Welcome & General Introduction (~15 min) |
| The Importance of Proper Statistical Thinking and Interpretation in Medical Affairs (~30 min) |
|
| Reading Clinical Trial Results: From Statistically Significant to Clinically Relevant (~1 h 15 min) |
|
| Survival Curves Demystified: What They Mean for Patient Outcomes (~1 h 30 min) |
|
| Lunch Break |
| Making Sense of Meta-Analysis (~1 h 30 min) |
|
| Fair-Balanced Communication & Critical Interpretation of Clinical Data (~1 h 15 min) |
|
| Quiz, Wrap-Up & Q&A (~45 min) |
|
UPCOMING DATES & FORMATS - FEES
11 March 2026
Live online
Early bird € 1 570
(until 06/02/2026)
(Full fee € 1 770)
TIMING & LOCATION
Live Online: Zoom sessions between 9 AM and 5 PM CET (Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris time).
All practical details will be shared upon registration. For any questions, please contact Margherita Mutto or call +32 472 03 11 38 .
GROUP DISCOUNTS
Team discounts can be offered to 2 or more delegates from the same company.
Email Annelies Swaan for more details.
HOW TO REGISTER
Click the green “Register” button on your preferred course session.
The registration wizard will guide you through the process.Alternatively, download the offline registration form and send the completed form to Annelies Swaan.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Credit Card: You’ll receive a secure payment link with your invoice (no immediate payment required).
Bank Transfer: Details provided with your invoice.
For help with registration, email Annelies Swaan or contact her by phone at +32 486 98 52 49.
INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION FEE
Access to a highly interactive, small-group online course (max 20 participants)
Course materials in both digital and hard copy format
Certificate of attendance signed by the experts and CELforPharma
VAT INFORMATION
Prices exclude VAT. VAT application depends on course format and your location:
Face-to-Face in Belgium: 21% Belgian VAT applies
Live online courses: The applicable VAT depends on your invoicing address. Contact your local VAT office for refund procedures where applicable.
TRANSFER & CANCELLATION POLICY
Flexible Transfer
If a registrant is unable to attend the scheduled course, they can avoid any cancellation charges by providing a suitable replacement participant.
Alternatively, the registrant may transfer once, on a 'space-available' basis and at no extra cost, to another course of the same value held within one year of the original course date, provided this is done at least three weeks prior to the event.
Registration Cancellation
Less than 14 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay the full invoiced registration fee.
Between 15 and 30 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay 50% of the invoiced registration fee.
More than 30 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay a cancellation fee of € 450 per registrant.
If a registrant postpones their participation to a future course and subsequently cancels again, no refund will be issued for the registration fees.
People attending this course are typically also interested in the below courses.
Need help to find the right course? Email Inge Cornelis or call +32 473 65 15 77.