Institutional Council Initiatives

The ISPOR Institutional Council (IC) Annual Strategic Meeting on August 6, 2020, commenced with a welcome and call to order, followed by an update on ISPOR and the Milan Conference. The agenda included discussions on Science Agenda Planning, the COVID Webinar Series & Survey, IC Sponsor-Vendor Relationship Project, RWE Transparency Initiative, Task Forces and other Science & Health Policy Initiatives Activities, as well as brainstorming IC project ideas for 2021, concluding with an open discussion. 

On August 4, 2021, the Institutional Council met to address the goal of reshaping ISPOR for the post-pandemic association/conference landscape. Emphasis was placed on advancing the digital aspects of our offerings. The meeting encompassed discussions on various ongoing initiatives such as the RWE Summit, Patient-Centered Methods Summit, Payer Engagement Summit, RWE Transparency Initiative, establishment of a Health Equity Research Special Interest Group, and updates to the Competency Framework. 

The ISPOR Institutional Council met virtually to discuss post-conference reflections from ISPOR 2022. This was followed by a presentation of the updated Competencies Framework project, which outlined 41 competencies with definitions and concepts, and plans for further refinement. The Sponsor-Vendor Project, aimed at enhancing interactions between sponsors and vendors was discussed, along with the introduction of a new project focusing on Scientific Research Practices and Real-World Data, emphasizing the need to revisit good practices for observational studies and differentiate between market research, exploratory analysis, and health economic and outcomes research studies. This would later come to be known as the RWE Working Group.  

The virtual Institutional Council quarterly meeting provided an update on ISPOR's 2022 plans, highlighting key focus areas. Brief updates included discussions on enhancing sponsor-vendor relationships, and details on the current work of the Competency Framework team, focusing on the "Statistics and Analytics" Competency. The meeting also addressed recent revisions to the ISPOR/ISPE/NPC/Duke-Margolis RWE Registry, with additional updates on US healthcare policy, the Minority Student Outreach project, and the RWE Working Group.  

This Institutional Council session featured insightful discussions on how ISPOR can enhance its impact on healthcare decision-making and better cater to the needs of companies and employees in health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) or related fields. The session also included a review of ISPOR's activities and content priorities for 2023. Updates to the Institutional Council mission, along with updates on the Workforce Diversity Working Group, Exploratory Real-World Evidence (RWE) Working Group, and the Competency Framework, were also presented at this event.  

The Institutional Council Luncheon provided attendees with key updates on ISPOR initiatives. The event featured a presentation by guest speaker Simon Reif, who discussed digital health evaluation, specifically exploring the German DiGA regulation and its implications on real-world evidence. Committee reports on Workforce Diversity, Real World Evidence Exploratory Studies, the Competency Framework, and the US Payer Short Course were presented, highlighting the council's progress and contributions in these strategic areas. 

At the ISPOR Institutional Council Luncheon, the CEO provided a strategic update, offering insights into ISPOR's direction and priorities. The event also celebrated Lou Garrison, the 2022 Avedis Donabedian Award winner, who spoke to members about the launch of the new Global Access to Medical Innovation Special Interest Group. Updates from the Real-World Evidence (RWE) and Competency Framework Working Groups highlighted ongoing efforts in these crucial areas. The luncheon concluded with a discussion on Institutional Council member needs and interests, fostering engagement and alignment across its membership.  

The ISPOR Institutional Council Annual Strategic Planning Session offered a preview of some of the upcoming highlights for ISPOR Europe 2023 in Copenhagen and updates on emerging Special Interest Groups and Task Forces. The session emphasized the Amplify HEOR initiative, showcasing ISPOR's commitment to advancing health economics and outcomes research. Working Group Updates from the Exploratory Real-World Evidence, Cross-Council Workforce Diversity, and Competency Framework groups highlighted ongoing initiatives. The event also explored potential new activities, including the Medicare DPN working group and an Industry HTA/JCA/Medicare roundtable.  

The ISPOR Institutional Council Luncheon featured a dynamic discussion on Medicare Drug Price Negotiations, led by guest speaker Kristina Martin, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Attendees gained valuable insights into this critical healthcare topic. Brief updates were provided by key working groups, including Exploratory Real-World Evidence (RWE), Workforce Diversity, EUnetHTA/JCA, and the HEOR Competency Framework, showcasing ongoing initiatives and progress. The event concluded by highlighting the potential for a benchmarking study presented by Sissi Pham, AESARA.  

The ISPOR Institutional Council Luncheon provided an overview of ISPOR’s plans to update the Strategic Plan, outlining the organization's future direction through to 2030. Guest speaker Patrice Verpillat led a presentation on the role of Real-World Evidence (RWE) in regulatory decisions, offering valuable insights. Attendees also got an exclusive first look at the latest ISPOR HEOR Top Ten Trends, providing a glimpse into emerging priorities in health economics and outcomes research. The event concluded with the introduction of two new working groups on Drug Price Negotiation (DPN) and Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA).