When Arlene Jiang arrived in Vancouver for the Society for Clinical Trials Annual Meeting in May 2025, it marked more than just another conference—it was a defining moment in her journey as an early-career researcher. With the support of a CAN TAP TALENT Travel Award, Arlene had the opportunity to share her work on expert elicitation in Bayesian clinical trials, engage with global leaders in the field, and strengthen her skills as a communicator and collaborator.

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Over four impactful days, Arlene delivered an oral presentation titled:
“Remote, bivariate expert elicitation to determine the prior probability distribution for a Bayesian non-inferiority multicenter randomized controlled trial.”

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Her talk focused on how expert opinion can be used to construct prior distributions in Bayesian trials—particularly when empirical data is limited or unavailable. The method of eliciting structured expert input is both rigorous and nuanced, and Arlene’s presentation offered practical insights into how her team conducted remote, bivariate elicitation sessions to inform trial design.

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The session sparked lively discussion among researchers who have tackled similar methodological challenges. Arlene connected with teams exploring different approaches to elicitation and reflected on how context—such as remote vs. in-person engagement—can influence both feasibility and outcomes.

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“This conference gave me the chance to learn from others who are also using elicitation in creative and complex ways,” Arlene shared. “It helped me think more critically about how we can adapt and improve our approach in future trials.”

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Beyond sharing her research, Arlene also used the opportunity to grow professionally. She honed her ability to communicate complex statistical ideas to a multidisciplinary audience using clear language and visual storytelling. These skills are critical not only for academic presentations but for ensuring that research findings can be translated into real-world impact.

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In the hallways and between sessions, Arlene made valuable connections with clinical trialists and methodologists from across North America. These new relationships will help her continue developing elicitation frameworks and may lead to future collaborations in this emerging area of clinical research.

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None of this would have been possible without support. The CAN TAP TALENT Travel Award covered Arlene’s registration fees, airfare, and accommodations, enabling her full participation in the conference and supporting her continued growth as a researcher.

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“Receiving the travel award made this opportunity possible,” Arlene said. “Presenting at the SCT Annual Meeting was not just an academic milestone—it was a chance to exchange ideas, build relationships, and gain experience that will guide my work for years to come.”

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Arlene also expressed deep gratitude to her co-authors: Alex Aregbesola, Apoorva Gangwani, Terry P. Klassen, Amy C. Plint, Elisabete Doyle, William Craig, Mohamed Eltorki, Banke Oketola, Hoda Badra, Yongdong Ouyang, and Anna Heath. Special thanks went to Apoorva Gangwani, who co-facilitated the elicitation sessions, and to Arlene’s supervisors, Yongdong Ouyang and Anna Heath, for their ongoing mentorship and support.

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For Arlene, the Society for Clinical Trials Annual Meeting wasn’t just a conference—it was a launchpad. From skill-building to new collaborations, the experience will have a lasting impact on her career and on the future of clinical trials in Canada.

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At CAN TAP TALENT, we’re proud to support driven researchers like Arlene. Because when we invest in emerging talent, we’re not just funding travel—we’re helping shape the future of clinical research through opportunity, connection, and discovery.