How to Build Effective Data Standards in Pharma

With Priya Gopal — Founder, Inferential Data LLC | Former Takeda & GSK

Why are strong data standards so important in pharma and why are they so difficult to implement consistently?

In this episode, Ben Parker speaks with Priya Gopal about what it takes to build and implement effective data standards across complex pharmaceutical organisations.

Drawing on her experience across clinical research and major pharma companies including Takeda and GSK, Priya explores the importance of cultural readiness, the challenges of implementing standards across global teams, and how organisations can balance regulatory requirements with internal Data Governance.

The conversation also examines how better data standards can enable innovation, the growing role of AI and automation, and why greater collaboration across the industry could help pharma move faster.

You’ll hear practical insights on:

• Why data standards matter in pharma
• The biggest barriers to implementing standards consistently
• Balancing global regulation with internal Data Governance
• Why culture matters when driving Data transformation
• How stronger standards can enable innovation
• The role of AI and automation
• Why cross-industry collaboration matters

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:23 Priya's career and leadership journey
10:20 Lessons from Data transformation in pharma
20:34 Building effective Data standards
28:42 Balancing regulation and Data Governance
34:18 AI and automation in pharma
39:42 Collaboration and the future of pharma Data

Thank you for listening!