Unlocking Trusted Digital Transformation in Life Sciences

Digital Transformation in Life Sciences Requires More Than Technology

Life sciences organizations are advancing digital initiatives to accelerate innovation in R&D, diagnostics, and regulatory processes. But despite significant investment in AI, ML, and cloud platforms, many efforts stall due to fragmented data, regulatory complexity, and a lack of alignment between digital tools and clinical workflows.

This report distils executive conversations across the Pharmaceutical, BioTech, and MedTech sectors to uncover what is holding digital transformation back and outlines a practical path forward rooted in interoperability, data governance, and trust-building.

What’s in the report

AI Is a Strategic Priority but ROI Remains Elusive
Life sciences leaders agree AI is transformative but face significant hurdles around data quality, technical readiness, and regulatory clarity.
Interoperability and Data Governance Are Critical Enablers
Without consistent data standards and FHIR or HL7 compliance, even the most advanced tools struggle to scale in real-world clinical environments.
Workflow Misalignment Limits Adoption
Digital health tools must fit into clinician and researcher workflows. Learn how to design with integration in mind to earn stakeholder trust.
Regulatory Oversight Comes Earlier Than You Think
AI-driven diagnostics and patient-facing solutions may be classified as medical devices. Ignoring compliance risks early on can lead to costly delays later.
A Readiness Framework for Sustainable Scale
The report introduces a six-step process to assess enterprise readiness across systems, data, workflows, and governance.

From Vision to Viability: Emids Can Help

Emids partners with life sciences organizations to:

Align stakeholders through strategic workshops

Define data and interoperability standards such as FHIR, HL7, and LOINC

Design governance frameworks that support compliance and adoption

Integrate digital tools with clinical and research workflows

Build scalable and effective digital health solutions

Our team blends healthcare expertise with technical execution to help life sciences enterprises move confidently from strategy to scale.

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About the Authors

David Box

Vice President, BU Leader Life Sciences & MedTech

Healthcare technology innovation executive with 20+ years of experience in building businesses globally. An accomplished P&L leader with a proven track record in leadership, business strategy, commercial excellence, and change management. Extensive understanding of the healthcare verticals in IT consulting, product strategy, regulatory strategy, UX research and design, software engineering, platform development, data science strategy, and implementation. Successful in defining and implementing go-to-market strategy, and building high-performing sales and delivery organizations.

David spent the past 10 years working with customers in the healthcare industry to develop market-leading products and services that improve patient outcomes and experience and increase engagement. He has earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Science in International Marketing Management from Boston University.

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Nancy Maher

CTO/CIO, AIVA Health Tech

Nancy Maher is an advisor to Emids, bringing more than 25 years of global leadership experience as a Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Officer across the pharmaceutical, biotech, and digital health industries. Her insights strengthen Emids’ ability to scale future-ready Life Sciences technology services.

She has held senior leadership roles at Ergomed, Kyowa Kirin, Gilead Sciences, Teva, Merck, Allergan, and Schering-Plough, influencing the entire healthcare value chain from R&D and Commercial to Manufacturing and Patient Services.

Her expertise spans AI-powered innovation, ERP modernization, and digital manufacturing, all underpinned by clinical relevance and strategic execution. Renowned for her ability to connect science, systems, and stakeholders with clarity and trust, Nancy is driven by a patient-first mindset and a commitment to ethical innovation.

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Ajay Dhaul

Founder and CEO, OMNEA Ventures

Ajay Dhaul is an Advisor to Emids, bringing more than 25 years of C-suite and senior executive experience at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and consumer goods. His insights help Emids’ advance AI-driven innovation and enterprise transformation for the Lifesciences sector.

Most recently, as Senior Vice President at Johnson & Johnson and later Kenvue, Ajay led global data, applied AI, and digital transformation initiatives, driving measurable value through automation, enterprise reinvention, and AI strategy. He has a proven track record in growth strategy, supply chain transformation, data monetization, and large-scale M&A integrations.

As a founder and CEO of Omnea Ventures, Ajay advises Fortune 500 companies, private equity firms, and Boards on growth, operating model transformation, and AI-powered innovation. Recognized for his ability to translate complex insights into actionable strategy while building people-first cultures, Ajay brings valuable perspective to Emids.

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Lyndon McPhail

President, L.A.M Healthcare IT Consulting

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