Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 5/1/2026 12:00:00 AM
Ewoud-Jan van Hoogdalem, PharmD, PhD, Leiden, OC, Netherlands
Why did you decide to join ASCPT?
Like any science, the science of clinical pharmacology is a global one. ASCPT offers me, in Europe, the opportunity to connect with and learn from well-respected colleagues on the American continent, and from all others also attending ASCPT events and involved in ASCPT.
How has your membership in ASCPT benefited your career?
Being involved in ASCPT simply made my world bigger. Every involvement in an ASCPT event was and is an opportunity for me to learn, to do my job better, and to enjoy connecting with others. I hope and trust that my contributions in clinical pharmacology inspire and help others in their professional journey.
What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
At the risk of being perceived as self-promoting, I am most proud of several joint efforts that resulted in publications that encourage readers to move away from “tick box clinical pharmacology” in drug development and design studies that are truly tailored to the drug and the development questions to be answered. It took me a while to get to that point; it is the more recent work on topics such as adaptive dose escalation, ethnic bridging, use of sentinel groups and a niche topic as the refined tyramine challenge.
What is the most important leadership lesson you have learned the hard way?
Over the years, I have become comfortable with the concept that I will never be the smartest person in the room. It is truly a relief to be aware that, after having been wrong on my pre-conceived positions several times, there is infinite reward in being open to and eager to learn every day.
Who has inspired you in your career?
There are many giants in clinical pharmacology who have bruised shoulders because of me. I learned so much from Josh Posner, Adam Cohen, Malcolm Rowland, Richard Jones, my peers in Johnson & Johnson, Yamanouchi (now Astellas), my PhD professor Douwe Breimer, my current team and colleagues in the ICON Clin Pharm team and many others. I had only a few contact moments with Gerhard Levy, Les Benet and Geoff Tucker; these were early in my career and were truly high impact for me as a starter in the field.
How do you keep focused and motivated?
I feel very privileged; I love what I do. Focus and motivation follow.
What was your childhood dream job?
Archaeologist. It appears that the romance of discovery I was looking for in that profession came to me from a surprising other direction.
Dr. van Hoogdalem has been a member of ASCPT since 2022.
