DIA 2024 in sunny San Diego.

This year marked the 60th anniversary of the Drug Information Association’s Annual Meeting, and this milestone event was impactful as ever. San Diego greeted us with sunny skies and an even brighter perspective on the future of our industry.

The primary topics of discussion at this year’s conference included advancing the importance and execution of diversity, the continued evolution of decentralized clinical trials to reduce participation barriers, and a dozen lectures focused on AI and how we can leverage it to be more productive.

But perhaps the most dynamic session of all took place when keynote speakers Tom and Emily Whitehead took the stage to share their powerful and inspirational story. Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age five, Emily was the first pediatric patient in the world to undergo investigational CAR T cell therapy, saving her life. She and her family now spearhead the Emily Whitehead Foundation, with the mission of creating scalable patient support programs and advancing global cell therapy accessibility worldwide. With multiple standing ovations and not a dry eye in the auditorium, the session was a wonderful reminder of why what we do matters.

Coming out of DIA 2024 on such a high note, we look forward to the rest of the industry events on our calendar this year. Find out where we’re headed next!