Icon,a global provider of outsourced development, has formed a collaboration with DIA, a neutral, global, professional, member-driven association of nearly 18,000 pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device professionals, to deliver the first solution-provider webinar, which offers free access to knowledge and innovative solutions to overcome some of the key challenges in medical product development.

Icon is the first to collaborate with DIA’s newly-created Solution Provider Webinar Program. Icon experts, together with leading scientists and thought leaders from the biopharma industry, will present four 90-minute webinars throughout 2013. The webinars are free to DIA members and will feature topics including oncology, strategies for late phase development, biomarkers and technology as an enabler of clinical development services.

The first webinar, taking place on March 11, 2013, is titled “Oncology Clinical Trial Endpoints—Keys to Maximizing Success in your Development Programs.” Speakers include: Dr. Jamal Gasmi, vice president and global leader, oncology and hematology drug development, Icon Clinical Research; Dr. Gregory V. Goldmacher, director, medical and scientific affairs, head of oncology imaging, Icon Medical Imaging; Dr. James J. Conklin, senior vice president, medical and scientific affairs, Icon Medical Imaging; Dr. Samuel Blackman, executive director, head of translational medicine, Seattle Genetics.

“We are delighted to work with an organisation as respected as DIA to share and disseminate the industry insights we have gained from more than 20 years of helping biopharma companies bring their drugs to market faster,” said Robert L. Howie, Jr., chief marketing officer of Icon. “The webinars will discuss some of the burning challenges faced by our customers today and how Icon is bringing new ways of thinking as well as innovative solutions to help them overcome these challenges.”

Susan Cantrell, director, North America at DIA, added, “As the global forum for knowledge exchange, we are very excited to be launching our new Solution Provider Webinar program. The program, supported by companies like Icon, is intended to bring their solutions and experience to DIA members. Having expert presenters from both the solution-provider and industry perspectives ensures that these webinars will meet the high-quality standards that DIA members have come to expect.”