Introducing Vial CRO’s ‘First in Human: The Panel Series’

As a global tech-forward CRO (contract research organization), Vial is committed to leveraging innovative technology solutions to streamline Clinical trial management and improve patient outcomes. The ‘First in Human: The Panel Series’ is an extension of this commitment, providing a platform for industry leaders to share their knowledge and drive forward innovation in the field. Vial CRO’s ‘First in Human: The Panel Series’ aims to bring together influential decision-makers from small to medium biotech and pharma to discuss the latest advancements and challenges in clinical research. This latest initiative is a new online web series that will consist of a monthly panel series hosted as a live roundtable which is set to launch Wednesday, September 13, 2023.

“Vial’s commitment to fostering knowledge-sharing and driving advancements in clinical trials led us to create the First in Human: The Panel Series,” said Simon Burns, CEO of Vial. “We are honored to have Bruno Gagnon, a respected figure in the industry, as the host of our inaugural episode, and we look forward to delivering valuable insights and actionable takeaways to our audience.”

The Inaugural Topic: Building a World-Class Clinical Organization to Optimize Operational Excellence

CROs like Vial play a crucial role in the development of new medical treatments and therapies. In order to achieve success in this field, it is essential for CROs to optimize their Clinical Operations. The first installment of Vial CRO’s ‘First in Human: The Panel Series’ will focus on this very topic, providing valuable insights and practical advice to listeners. The panelists for this discussion are experts in the field of clinical research, each bringing their own unique perspective and experience to the conversation. They will explore the key elements of building a world-class clinical organization, including operational excellence, effective resource management, and innovative technology solutions.

Listeners will gain invaluable knowledge from this panel discussion, learning how to optimize their clinical operations for success. They will gain insights into how to streamline their processes, reduce costs, and improve the quality of their clinical trials. The panelists will provide practical advice on how to align organizational goals with operational strategies, and how to effectively manage resources to achieve maximum efficiency. This discussion will provide listeners with the knowledge and tools they need to stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving field.

Meet the Host

Bruno Gagnon, BPharm, MSc, will be the host for the first edition of the panel series. Mr. Gagnon is the Senior Vice President for Global Clinical Operations at Opthea, a public biotechnology company. Mr. Gagnon received his Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Laval University and a Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Montreal.

With over twenty-five years of experience in clinical operations, Mr. Gagnon is a proven leader in the clinical trial space, bringing extensive knowledge in optimizing trial design, site selection, study initiation, and execution. He has taught courses on clinical trial design & management and good clinical practice as an instructor at the San Francisco State University for over twelve years. Mr. Gagnon has also worked in various leadership roles at Paraxel, FibroGen Inc., Roche, and BioMarin. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Development Operations at BridgeBio and Eidos Therapeutics.

Connect with Bruno Gagnon on LinkedIn here!

Meet the Panelists

The inaugural 60-minute panel for the ‘First in Human: The Panel Series’ will feature influential ClinOps executives from across the biotech and pharma industry, each bringing their unique perspectives and experiences to the conversation. The following three confirmed panelists will be sitting down with Bruno Gagnon, Senior Vice President of Global Clinical Operations at Opthea, and Rich McCormick, EVP of Clinical Strategy and Vice President of Oncology at Vial CRO.

Natalie Masterton, VP of Clinical Development Operations at Chinook Therapeutics

Natalie Masterton is the Vice President of Clinical Development Operations at Chinook Therapeutics, Inc., where she manages a team of high-performing project managers to advance the treatment landscape for preserving kidney function. Prior to joining Chinook Therapeutics, Masterton was the Senior Director of Operations at Allen Institute for Brain Science, where she managed the planning and execution of operations to support clinical projects. Before that, she spent over a decade at Seattle Genetics, where she held the roles of Director, Clinical Project Management, then Senior Director, Head of Program Management.

In addition to her Master of Science degree in Business Administration and Management from McGill University, Masterton has over 20 years of experience in clinical research and managing clinical projects and operations. This makes her a valuable panelist for discussions related to optimizing clinical operations for success. With her expertise in this area, Masterton has managed numerous projects throughout her career and has played a vital role in the infrastructure development of organizations to support continued growth.

Connect with Natalie Masterton on LinkedIn here!

Kristi Clark, VP of Clinical Operations at Avidity Biosciences, Inc.

Kristi Clark, Vice President of Clinical Operations at Avidity Biosciences, Inc., is one of the esteemed panelists for the ‘First in Human: The Panel Series‘ live discussion. Since obtaining her M.B.A. in Business and Health Care Administration from National University, Clark has amassed over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Clark has a diverse background, having served in various leadership positions in clinical operations and project management at Agility Clinical, Inc., Precision for Medicine, Synteract, Parexel, and more.

She has a reputation for being a strategic leader who can develop and execute global clinical operations strategies across all development programs while maintaining clinical study conduct and integrity to the highest standards. As VP of Clinical Operations at Avidity Biosciences, Inc., Clark is responsible for ensuring the success of all clinical development programs through the development and implementation of global clinical operations strategies. She is committed to optimizing clinical operations and ensuring that clinical study conduct and integrity adhere to the highest standards and best practices. Her knowledge and expertise will provide valuable insights into the topic of building a world-class clinical organization.

Connect with Kristi Clark on LinkedIn here!

Suliat Oyelami-Davies, Director of Clinical Operations at Eidos Therapeutics

We are also excited to introduce Suliat Oyelami-Davies as one of the panelists for our inaugural panel discussion. Suliat is currently the Director of Clinical Operations at Eidos Therapeutics, where she leads the clinical operations team in the development and execution of clinical trials for the treatment of transthyretin amyloidosis. In addition to her 9 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, she holds a Master of Science degree in Health Science from Ohio State University, as well as a certification from the Association of Clinical Research Professionals.

Prior to joining Eidos Therapeutics, she worked at Akebia Therapeutics as a Senior Clinical Project Manager and at Parexel as a Manager of Clinical Operations. Throughout her career, Oyelami-Davies has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing the field of clinical research by playing an integral role in the development and execution of numerous clinical trials, with a focus on operational excellence and patient-centricity. Oyelami-Davies’s expertise in clinical operations and her contributions to the field make her an invaluable addition to our panel. Her insights into the latest trends and innovations in clinical research will provide valuable insights to attendees, helping them to optimize their operations for success.

Connect with Suliat Oyelami-Davies on LinkedIn here!

How to Engage with the Panel Series and Our Panelists

Vial CRO’s ‘First in Human: The Panel Series’ is an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in the biotech and pharma industry to engage with influential decision-makers and stay informed about the latest advancements in clinical research.

Event registration

To participate in the live discussion, interested individuals can register here for the event. The registration process is simple and straightforward, requiring attendees to provide their basic information and contact details. Once registered, attendees will receive a confirmation email with details about the event and instructions on how to access the live discussion on Wednesday, September 13, 2023.

Accessing the discussion

The ‘First in Human: The Panel Series’ will be hosted online, and attendees can access the live discussion from any device with an internet connection. Once registered, attendees will receive a unique link that will grant them access to the live discussion. The discussion will be recorded, and attendees will have access to the recording after the event.

Participation

The live discussion will be hosted as a roundtable featuring influential decision-makers from the biotech and pharma industries. The panelists will share their unique perspectives and experiences, providing well-rounded and informative discussion on the strategies, challenges, and best practices that underpin a world-class clinical organization. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with the panelists by submitting their questions and comments via the chat feature.

Don’t Miss Out on Vial CRO’s ‘First in Human: The Panel Series’

The significance of our esteemed panelists in shaping the series cannot be overstated. Their years of experience and expertise have helped to shape the pharmaceutical field and will provide valuable insights into the latest advancements in clinical research. Attendees will gain first-hand knowledge and practical advice from the experts, who will shed light on cutting-edge developments in the clinical trial pipeline and the pharmaceutical industry as a whole.

Vial CRO’s ‘First in Human: The Panel Series’ is an invaluable resource for clinical research professionals looking to optimize their operations for success. Don’t miss this and future panel discussions to stay ahead of the curve in the world of clinical research. Register now for the first installment of ‘First in Human: The Panel Series’ and take the first step towards building a world-class clinical organization.