FieldTraining
In an era defined by the rise of precision medicine, oncology training must keep pace with the science supporting it. At AstraZeneca, we’re pushing the boundaries of science, aiming to provide precision medicines that are matched to the patients who can benefit most from them.
It’s with this science-led foundation that we seek to empower and prepare commercial and medical teams to engage in increasingly complex, biomarker-driven conversations. What began as a traditional, tumor-based learning model has transformed into a scalable, biomarker-centric framework designed to reflect the realities of modern cancer care.
As our oncology pipeline expanded — and the role of biomarkers in diagnosis, treatment selection and monitoring grew — it became clear that siloed tumor-type training was no longer optimal. Instead, learners needed a unified understanding of core biomarker-based concepts and emerging signatures, regardless of tumor indication.
Moreover, as diagnostic tools like next-generation sequencing (NGS) became more central to care, our training had to enhance cross-functional fluency across roles and geographies.
The shift wasn’t only about keeping up with the science — it was about equipping our field teams to have more integrated, informed conversations with customers and stakeholders. We needed a curriculum that empowered teams to connect scientific advances with patient impact across the portfolio.
These goals could only be accomplished with the biomarker taking center stage for our precision medicine field team and its primary customers: pathologists and other personnel in pathology labs.
The transition from tumor-based to biomarker-based training was not a linear path. It required input from clinical experts, brand leads, learning partners and field representatives.
The resulting strategy was a modular, tiered framework built around:
Foundational biomarker literacy for all roles.
Tumor-agnostic pathways to reinforce clinical application.
Scenario-based learning to promote cross-functional discussions.
Clear integration with companion diagnostics and testing guidelines.
Importantly, we prioritized adaptability — ensuring that core concepts could be customized by region or role while still maintaining scientific consistency.
Of course, change didn’t come without a few challenges.
Tumor-specific training had been the norm for years and shifting that mindset to biomarkerbased strategy required careful communication, evidence of efficiency and repeated reinforcement of the “why.”
Another key challenge was content standardization, ensuring scientific alignment while maintaining engaging delivery was critical. We leaned on cross-functional review boards, pilot testing with learners and robust feedback loops to refine and validate the curriculum at each stage.
What emerged was a more agile and learner-friendly curriculum that better mirrors how AstraZeneca’s precision medicine team engages with its call points.
After implementing this new training, field teams reported increased confidence in discussing biomarkers across indications, and role-specific knowledge checks revealed stronger baseline competency in molecular diagnostics. More importantly, the curriculum laid the groundwork for consistent onboarding, easier updates and more strategic internal collaboration.
For L&D professionals supporting scientific teams, this case study offers key takeaways:
Anchor in business strategy: Training should evolve with the science, not after it.
Design for flexibility: Build modular content that scales across roles, tumor types and markets.
Drive change through alignment: Early stakeholder engagement and visible leadership support are essential.
Measure what matters: Use learner feedback, confidence scores and readiness metrics to continuously adapt.
As precision oncology continues to evolve, so must the way we train. A biomarker-based approach is not just a scientific necessity — it’s a strategic imperative that empowers teams to deliver better conversations and, ultimately, better outcomes for patients.
Ashley Moreland is director, specialized roles, oncology learning & capability development, for AstraZeneca. Email her at ashley.moreland1@astrazeneca.com or connect through linkedin.com/in/ashley-moreland-pmp-80763723.
Leanne Strope retired from AstraZeneca as a senior training manager, precision medicine.
Scott Hillmeyer is scientific director for Red Nucleus. Email him at shillmeyer@rednucleus.com or connect through https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-hillmeyer-86b2b810/.
