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CHRISTINE GISPEN-DE WIED: Regulatory science is very important.
It's the fuel of the MEB,
and it's also the science behind our decision-making process.
BERT LEUFKENS: We believe that regulatory science is at the heart
of serving and ensuring patient benefit.
The MEB is at the forefront of regulatory science,
at the national level and also at the European level.
LEUFKENS: And that whole concept of bringing
the really important research questions, the best methods,
but also support from the regulatory space, has been a key role
for the, I think, very important position of the MEB at the moment.
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When we look at the real challenges of regulatory science,
they are very close to finding the right methods,
also to improve methods to evaluate the benefit-risk
in the most efficient and advanced way.
The MEB is at the spot to bring that further,
also in more excellence, in more alignment with stakeholders,
but at the end of the day also ensuring patient benefit.
And that's essential for the vision of regulatory science.
The MEB should focus on maintaining their strong regulatory science network,
but more importantly, also bring the data that they generated, to the work floor.
LEUFKENS: And in my view, there are three areas I would invest in.
The first is very much on the regulatory system as it is and how it can be improved.
The second is very much on how we evaluate clinical benefit.
And the third is very much on how we can align with other stakeholders,
including payers, patient groups and prescribers.
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In the whole context of bringing the Dutch position of regulatory science
to an even higher level, the regulatory science network is a key platform.
GISPEN-DE WIED: Well, the Regulatory Science Network Netherlands
was created two years ago, and it brings together four important parties,
who all work on direct development, being regulatory authorities,
industry, society at large and academia.
It's a unique network, in the context of other networks and institutes in Europe.
And I believe that the MEB is in a key role, also,
to expand that role even further than we have today.
I'm very happy that I was given the opportunity
to keep on working for the Regulatory Science Network Netherlands,
and give a second boost
to the sustainability and further progress of this network.
LEUFKENS: Actually, we were very privileged that we could take the initiative,
and we were also supported by the leadership of the MEB.
And actually, I'm very eager also to continue
in that leadership role for the next couple of years,
and the future will tell, of course, what's next.
But at the moment, we are in a position to contribute.
I think the MEB can maintain its position
by investing in the right people at the right place.
People who see the challenges of regulatory science
and keep connecting to the outside world.
And in that respect, it's great that Bert has a chair in regulatory science
at the University of Utrecht.