G & S Forum specializes in accessing bio-pharmaceutical thought leaders' perspectives through the medical meeting environment. We utilize multi-modal research methodologies to capture opinions and views that address our clients' information and strategic goals. G & S Forum provides the following services:

Medical Meetings

G & S Forum provides methodology development, data collection, analysis, and facilitation services to bio-pharmaceutical companies that would like to obtain feedback, therapeutic, and market information in the medical meeting environment. We utilize qualitative and quantitative methodologies in settings ranging from small dinner meetings to large national and international meetings. The information we gather from meetings as well as any additional research we may conduct (such as pre and post surveys, interactive surveys, or small group activities) is captured in a tailored, presentation-ready report.

Results, perceptions, and opinions obtained at medical meetings can be used to address more and different issues than those typically examined in traditional research settings. Some clients may use this information to help improve overall patient care while others may want to obtain informed advice from the participants about specific issues with their sales and marketing efforts.

CME Needs Assessment

Often a Needs Assessment is necessary to identify unmet needs, knowledge gaps, and other important topics for medical education based on a client's business strategy. These assessments help the client understand why certain medical and education needs of a therapeutic area are viewed as valuable, useful, and important. A CME Needs Assessment is also an effective tool for manufacturers seeking advice regarding selection criteria for funding unsolicited research grants or for effectively allocating budget monies to educate community healthcare providers.

Utilizing facilitator-led discussions, a group of advisors are brought together to obtain unbiased insight and feedback regarding:

• What information (and for which topics) is most needed?
• What are the best sources of information for a specific therapeutic area (organizations or leading academic and clinical institutions as sponsors)?
• Which members of the therapeutic team should receive this information?
• How should the information be shared with team members (webcast, live meeting, audio conference, direct mail, CD-ROM)?

KOL Identification

Selecting the right key opinion leader (KOL) to present your CME program or to serve as a speaker is critical to your event's success. In addition, since bio-pharmaceutical companies often receive an array of research proposals that merit sponsorship, it's important to identify leading scientists or KOLs in a field. This improves the proposal-review process and enables companies to reach the largest possible audience for their efforts.

As an alternative to utilizing the traditional method of identifying KOLs via speaker searches, publication lists, or academic/clinical positions, consider going to the source. Asking your audience, such as community practitioners and other provider groups, to identify leading physicians in a specific field typically provides highly accurate information about which KOLs have the greatest impact.

Telephone interviews or Internet surveys can be utilized to query community practitioners regarding who they view as an expert in their field for complicated cases, who they would like to work with on a clinical trial, and who they believe is conducting cutting edge research. The information received from respondents can have a tremendous impact when designing CME or speaker series for the community.

Respondent' information is analyzed and maps are created that show the KOL's “reach,” or geographical areas in which the KOL is highly regarded. These maps become an effective tool to illustrate where a KOL's relative influence is strongest and, hence, where that KOL can be used for the maximum impact.

Reporting

G & S Forum provides a detailed and presentation-ready report that captures a project's findings and insights based on a client's strategic objectives. Client deliverables can be provided in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or Excel document—depending on the nature of the information and the client's needs and preferences.