Industry experts from across the clinical trial ecosystem discuss the challenges of conducting a clinical trial and the complex relationship between sites and sponsors. Learn how to overcome obstacles to collaboration that, when left unaddressed, lead to site selection and patient enrollment issues for sponsors and operational challenges for sites.
SVP Life Sciences Strategic Business Unit Cognizant
Avi Kulkarni leads Cognizant’s life sciences strategic business unit. He serves biopharma and medical device clients across R&D, commercial and digital health. He is responsible for commercial development and planning and for the west region P&L across all services, products, and platforms. Avi has been a leader in the industry for over three decades, building new drug formulations and diagnostic tests, conducting clinical studies, and publishing in personalized medicine.
Global IT Business Partner, Trial Execution Roche
Heike Prior is Global IT Business Partner, Trial Execution at Roche. She joined Roche in 2008 and has over 25 years of experience in IT leadership and consulting. Heike currently partners with Global Clinical Operations to co-create and deliver consolidated strategies aligned to customer and patient engagement strategic business objectives. She also leads various initiatives seeking to improve patient and investigator experiences and promotes patient-centric practices within Roche and beyond.
Clinical Research Collaborations Manager Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)
Nicholas Cimaglia is the Clinical Research Collaborations Manager at MSK. He acts as the high-level main point of contact and relationship manager between MSK’s clinical research division and MSK’s sponsor, CRO, vendor, and licensing partners. He has been in this role for almost 5 years and has been at MSK for 13 years.
Vice President, Site Engagement Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS)
Jimmy Bechtel is VP of Site Engagement at SCRS. He brings experience from both the site and sponsor sides of the clinical research industry. At SCRS, Jimmy is in charge of developing and executing the company's site-facing initiatives, and works closely with key industry partners to build out various SCRS partnership programs. Additionally, Jimmy drives the implementation of the Membership department’s site-focused operations as well as design and marketing.