Management, communication and coordination

The management team is here to help the partners achieve the overall project objectives. We also help the partners communicate their findings.

The management team is led by the Coordinator (Uppsala University) and the Project Leader (Novartis). Together with other management board members, they ensure the overall progress of the project and coordinate internal and external communication. We also ensure the consortium carries out its contractual duties.

We have three stakeholder advisory groups: One for patients, one for HTA-bodies and one for regulators. These groups ensure PREFER researchers get the input they need from stakeholders.

DECISION-MAKING IN PREFER

The Coordinator (Uppsala University) and the Project Leader (Novartis) are responsible for the overall scientific and project-related management. Leadership is shared equally between public and private partners on all levels. Decisions on operational management are taken by the management board, while strategic decisions are taken by the steering committee.

The highest decision making body is the General Assembly. PREFER also has a Scientific and an Ethics Advisory Board. The coordinator and project leader make sure they have the information they need to do their work. They, together with the management board, ensure the overall progress of the project.

Strategic project management

The strategic project management in PREFER is led by Uppsala University and Novartis Pharma together with the University of Leuven and Eli Lilly and Company.

• Mats G. Hansson, Coordinator, Centre for Research Ethics & Bioethics (CRB) at Uppsala University.
• Conny Berlin, Project leader, Novartis Pharma
• Isabelle Huys, Deputy coordinator, KU Leuven
• Rebecca Noel, Deputy Project leader, Eli Lilly and Company
• Sheila Dickinson, Assistant project leader, Novartis Pharma

OPERATIONAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT

The operational project management in PREFER is led by Uppsala University and Merck KGaA together with Actelion Pharmaceuticals and Steinbeißer Project Management.

• Josepine Fernow, Public management lead & communications manager, Uppsala University
• Susan Bhatti, Private management lead, Merck
• Carl Steinbeißer, Public co-lead and project manager, Steinbeißer Project Management
• Monika Brand, Private management co-lead, Actelion Pharmaceuticals,

PREFER COMMUNICATIONS TEAM

The PREFER communications team consists of representatives from public and private partners. The work is led by a communications manager from Uppsala University, with task co-leads from Lilly. Communications to patient groups are led by ECPC. Communication activities for the HTA community are led by KCE. The private partners are also represented by Novartis.

• Josepine Fernow, Public management lead & communications manager, Uppsala University
• Kristin E. Bullok, Eli Lilly and Company
• Aina Errando, ECPC
• Gudrun Briat, Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE)
• Anna Holm, Uppsala University

HTA IN PREFER MANAGEMENT

The HTA advisory group is coordinated by the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE).

• Irina Cleemput, Public co-lead for recommendations, Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE)
• Gudrun Briat, Communications coordinator, Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE)

PATIENTS IN PREFER MANAGEMENT

The Patient advisory group is coordinated by the European Cancer Patients Coalition (ECPC) and consists of representatives from the European Patient Forum (EPF), International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO) and Muscular Dystrophy UK (MDUK). Input to the management work is led by ECPC and supported by MDUK and EPF.

• Antonella Cardone, ECPC
• Ziede Burage, IAPO
• Valentina Strammielloas, EPF
• Jenny Sharpe, MDUK