Transitions in the age of biomedical AI
BIG DATA
small data
Your Data
FREIBURG | GERMANY
27.09. - 01.10.26
Mini Symposia
SmallData Symposium
Organizers: Harald Binder, Nadine Binder, Sophia Nolde, Marc Schumacher, Iván Acevedo Monterrosa, Angelika Rohde, Anna Köttgen, Rolf Backofen
Join our event for shaping the small data community to advance AI and modeling in settings with limited data — hosted by the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1597 “Small Data. Discover the forefront of small data innovation at the SmallData Symposium, October 1st, 2026. The event will feature experts within the field of small data, panel discussions, and poster sessions to foster interdisciplinary exchange and create a shared small data language.
Agenda
09:00 – 09:10
Harald Binder
Opening Remarks
Session 1: Similarity
09:10 – 09:30
Nadine Binder & Jan Hasenauer
Topic TBD
09:30 – 09:50
Maria Kalweit & Evelyn Ullrich
Topic TBD
09:50 – 10:30
Panel Discussion
10:30 – 11:00
Break
Session 2: Transfer
11:00 – 11:25
Frank Hutter & Pascal Schlosser
Advancing Tabular Foundation Models for longitudinal data integration
11:25 – 11:50
Anna Köttgen & Johannes Hertel
From population studies to whole body modeling and back
11:50 – 12:30
Early career researcher flash presentations on collaborative work
12:30 – 13:30
Lunch & poster session
Session 3: Uncertainty
13:30 – 13:50
Heinz Wiendl & Susanne Weber
From clinical categories to statistical trajectories: An interdisciplinary approach to modeling disease progression in Multiple Sclerosis.
13:50 – 14:10
Martin Wolkewitz & Maria Elena Maccari
Causal models and target trial emulation in rare pediatric diseases: from limited data to optimal clinical management
14:10 – 14:50
Panel Discussion
14:50 – 15:00
Outlook on the small data landscape
Mini-Symposium of the STRATOS Initiative
Organizers: Georg Heinze, Willi Sauerbrei
Symposium Title: Application of Statistical Methods Needs to Improve – On the Critical Role of Guidance for Analysis and Knowledge Translation
The international STRATOS (STRengthening Analytical Thinking for Observational Studies) initiative was founded in 2013 at the ISCB Annual Conference and organizes a mini-symposium at each annual meeting on methodological aspects of planning and analysing data in observational studies.
Agenda
This time, STRATOS is organizing a mini-symposium for two different target groups.
The morning session (09:00–12:30) is designed in the usual format for methodologists (similar to the mini- symposia at several ISCB conferences in recent years; programs and slides are available on the STRATOS website (https://www.stratos-initiative.org/news/).
In the afternoon (13:30–17:00), there will be, for the first time, a workshop for clinicians and data analysts with less training and experience in statistical topics.
Sessions 1 and 2
09:00 – 12.30
- Michal Abrahamowicz (Montreal, Canada) about the TG8 paper “Re-assessing the hazards of Hazard Ratios “
- Marianne Huebner (Michigan State University, USA) about the SAPI statement (Statistical Analysis Plan for observational studies with Initial data analysis)
- James Carpenter (London, UK) on “P-values & hypothesis testing: beyond polemics to practical solutions”
- The results of a simulation study about methods for adjusting for covariate measurement error in flexible modelling of functional form (cooperation of TGs 2 and 4, speaker TBD)
About three more talks will be announced in due time.
Sessions 3 and 4
13:30 – 17:00
Keynotes Sessions:
- Gary Collins (Birmingham, UK)
- Speaker 2 TBA
Furthermore, there will be talks about recent STRATOS guidance papers and projects:
- Sekula, P., Steinbrenner, I., Schultheiss, U. T., Valveny, N., Rebora, P., Halabi, S. & topic group 5 of the STRATOS initiative. (2025).
Design aspects for prognostic factor studies. BMJ Open, 15(8), e095065. - Van Calster, B., Collins, G. S., Vickers, A. J., Wynants, L., Kerr, K. F., Barreñada, L. & Steyerberg, E. W. (2025).
Evaluation of performance measures in predictive artificial intelligence models to support medical decisions: overview and guidance. The Lancet Digital Health. - Saskia le Cessie (Leiden,The Netherlands)
Brief overview of the Setting International Standards in Analyzing Patient-Reported Outcomes and Quality of Life Endpoints (SISAQOL) project (https://www.sisaqol-imi.org/). A summary of the STRATOS involvement is available in two short articles published in the Biometrical Bulletin (3/2024,4/2025), available on the STRATOS website. - STRATOS is compiling a collection of statistical articles published in series of medical journals (including Deutsches Ärzteblatt International). Using a predefined classification of statistical topics (36 categories, some with multiple subcategories), we have categorized approximately 850 articles from 35 journals. Each article was assigned to up to three categories. The project is nearly complete and will be presented for the first time at the mini-symposium.
Additional short presentations and a brief panel discussion are planned. The final program with abstracts will be available by the end of May.
Early Career Research Day
Organizers: ISCB Early Career in Biostatistics (ECB) Subcommittee and GMDS Early Career Representatives
Join the ISCB GMDS 2026 Early Career Research Day on October 1st, 2026 — a full-day event for early career researchers in biostatistics, bioinformatics, epidemiology, and medical informatics. The program brings together the ISCB and GMDS early career communities for a day of talks, interactive sessions, and networking. Highlights include an expert keynote on AI in the life sciences, speed networking, the Dilemma Game, a hands-on model building session, and a cross-domain podium discussion. Whether you are a PhD student, postdoc, or early-stage professional, this day is designed to connect you with peers and mentors across both societies.
Agenda
Session 1
09:00 – 09:15
Opening remarks
09:15 – 10:00
Speaker 1 TBD
10:00 – 10:30
Speed Networking
10:30 – 11:00
Coffee Break
Session 2
11:00 – 11:30
Speaker 2 TBD
11:30 – 12:00
Speaker 3 TBD
12:00 – 12:30
Dilemma Game
12:30 – 13:00
Lunch Break
Session 3
13:30 – 14:30
Interactive Session
14:30 – 15:00
Podium Session
Speakers for the sessions to be announced in due course.