In this edition of our Career Perspectives series, we had the pleasure of speaking with Vidyadhar Phadke, Director, Software Statistics at Cytel. Moving from theoretical statistics to applied statistics, Vidyadhar discusses his career journey, the power of revolutionary software to design clinical trials more efficiently and improve patients’ lives, emerging trends, and more.

Can you give us a little background on your career so far?

I was born and brought up in a small village near Pune, India. After completing my Masters in Statistics from Pune University, I went to Bowling Green State University in Ohio, USA for my PhD in Statistics. My PhD was in theoretical statistics, but I knew I wanted to work within applied statistics. And although I didn’t have a background in clinical trials, my wish to focus on applied statistics is how I ended up working for Cytel, where I’ve been for the last 16 years.

Initially, I worked as an individual contributor, testing statistical algorithms and then started writing specifications for engineering teams, combining my statistical knowledge with software design and development for the first time. As I grew within Cytel, I started managing other statisticians and currently work as Director of Statistics in our Software division.

I really enjoy discussing advanced algorithms and features with highly accomplished experts like Cyrus Mehta, James Bolognese, and Pantelis Vlachos as well as our product managers.

You’ve grown from a role within statistics to a software role at Cytel, eventually becoming Director of Software Statistics. What motivated that shift, and how did it come about?

This shift came about slowly. After working as an individual contributor testing the algorithms, I started appreciating the power of multiplying efforts through collaboration. Not only was our software and product better because of the collaboration between statisticians and developers, but I also felt like through software, the impact of our work could be multiplied. Working as a statistician on a study would allow me to help one study and one therapy at a time, but through the software, we could help multiple studies and organizations at once.

I also developed an interest in leadership and started reading more about related topics. As Cytel grew, I got opportunities to grow alongside it professionally and contribute at a higher level.

As someone who has been with Cytel for 16 years now, what has kept you motivated and engaged throughout this journey?

I really love our founders’ vision of designing clinical trials more efficiently to improve the lives of patients. I also believed that by creating revolutionary software we can multiply this impact. I loved our culture that has always promoted asking questions and valued opinions. The combination of these aspects keeps me enthusiastic and motivated.

You’ve spoken about the power of software to have a large impact, supporting many clients, and ultimately patients, at once. What’s one product or feature you’ve worked on that really exemplifies that, and what was your role in shaping it?

A few years ago, we started working on our East Horizon™ platform, which can simulate a large amount of trial designs and optimize to improve trial duration, ultimately saving crucial time for patients. I had the privilege of working on this platform from its conception while I was in Boston. The brainstorming sessions and interactions with other experts were incredibly enjoyable! Now, our platform has launched, and we’re already able to see the difference it can make for clients and patients.

Could you share a project you have worked on that you feel particularly proud of, and why?

I got an opportunity to work on improving the underlying probability computations at the back end of our proprietary engines for advanced adaptive designs. I enjoyed this work immensely, which involved core mathematics and made our engines more robust.

How do you balance statistical rigor with user-friendly product design when contributing to software development?

Although I am not an expert in UX development, over the years, I have learned that understanding user personas and their pain points is very important when developing software. Presenting complicated ideas in intuitive UX while not overwhelming the user is a form of art.

You’ve been described as instrumental in building a strong statistical foundation at Cytel. What were some of the key challenges and milestones in that journey?

Understanding all our products and the statistical theory behind them was very important to me so I focused on teaching myself that. Then I learned how to discuss those and communicate clearly with non-statisticians.

Each software platform has been a milestone for me. After I joined Cytel, we expanded the capabilities of the East and Xact products with more advanced features, helping our customers design more complicated and efficient adaptive trials. And for the last few years, we have been building our East Horizon™ platform, which allows our customers to benefit from modern technology, cloud compute power, and the use of AI.

These expansions and the launch of a new software platform required me to learn more about advanced biostatistical methods as well as agile methods to deliver faster.

What does a typical day look like for you, and how do you maintain balance between deep technical and expertise work and leadership responsibilities?

A typical day for me involves discussing requirements with experts and product managers. I work with the engineering team by explaining features and answering their questions, and I guide statisticians on developing algorithms and testing them. During my career, I learned the importance of delegation and mentoring my team to develop a problem-solving attitude. Our work is very niche and often has a steep learning curve, so initially I helped out more. Sometimes, it can be a little tricky to change your mindset quickly and manage your time effectively. For the last few years, I’ve thus focused on learning more about time management. Dave Cranshaw’s time management method is one I find particularly helpful!

How did you navigate the transition from an individual contributor in a statistics-heavy role to managing and leading others? What advice would you give to someone looking to grow into a leadership role from a technical background?

Having an appreciation of the power and influence you have is incredibly important. Honesty, trust, and living by the values you preach are crucial if you want to be an effective leader. I’m not a fan of strict hierarchy, and always found that the culture at Cytel allowed me to ask tough questions ― even to Cyrus Mehta, our co-founder ― which I absolutely love. I think it is useful to remain involved in technical work, at least part-time, even for a leader, because that gives you a better perspective and understanding.

How do you see the role of statisticians evolving in the development of software products at Cytel?

I hope to see statisticians developing better understanding of User Personas and context of clinical trials and working closely together in feature definition. I also feel there is a lot of scope for statisticians to use AI and develop innovative statistical methods.

What emerging trends in biostatistics or software development are you most excited about, and how do you see them influencing Cytel’s roadmap?

AI is going to have a big impact on biostatistics in clinical trials and software development. We already have an AI tool for developing R code, which is integrated with our platform, and we’re developing an AI chatbot for our products. There are a lot of opportunities in making software development and testing more automated and efficient!

What advice would you give to colleagues looking to upskill in statistics or software development, and how do you personally stay ahead of emerging trends?

For upskilling in statistics, I suggest reading about novel methods for designing and analysis. There are a lot of opportunities for attending conferences both offline and online to keep up with latest trends and developing connections.

The movement towards building open-source solutions by various sponsors, either individually or collaboratively, is growing as well, which is a huge opportunity to learn and improve your skills.

Finally, there are ample opportunities to learn and develop innovative prototypes using AI technology.

Mentorship is very important to you. What do you think are the most critical skills or mindsets for young professionals entering the corporate world today?

As AI starts doing routine work, I think it will be important to develop deeper understand of context and focusing on the “why,” which will help us solve problems better. I would recommend young professionals develop deeper understanding of one area as well as a broad understanding of others. This will help them be an expert within their field who is easily capable of working with other teams and specialties.

What’s one piece of career advice you wish you had received earlier?

I think the importance of emotional intelligence is something I only started appreciating late in my career!

Finally, what are your main interests outside of work?

I love reading philosophy and playing chess. I also love reading about time management and agile methodologies. My son, Soham, is 11 years old and I love spending time with him. I often read fantasy books with him like Harry Potter and Wings of Fire series.

Thank you, Vidyadhar, for sharing your experience!

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