Where and How DCTs Can Truly Close the Gaps between Clinical Research and Clinical Care

Christina Brennan, MD has devoted her career to clinical research and currently serves as Northwell Health’s vice president of clinical research. Committed to the advancement of science and medicine, Dr Brennan has more than 22 years of extensive clinical research experience, including over 17 years in clinical research management roles. She is on the board of trustees for the Association of Clinical Research Professionals. She is the immediate past president of the NY Metropolitan Chapter of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals.  She is on the steering committee of the Clinical Trial Transformation Initiative (CTTI), with Duke University and the FDA.  She is on the leadership council for Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS), where she also sits on the oncology advisory board and technology site advocacy group.  She is an adjunct professor for a Masters of Science program with Yeshiva University.  She is also an active member of the Women in Bio and the American College of Healthcare Executives. Dr Brennan also has authored chapters in textbooks, coauthored many manuscripts and abstracts, and has presented at numerous scientific and research meetings. 

Ms Sharon Hanlon is Group Director, Clinical Trial Engagement & Enrollment at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS). Her team supports clinical trial execution by ensuring that the development and recruitment plans reflect the patient disease journey. Ms Hanlon and her team partner with patients, caregivers, patient advocacy groups and clinical trial sites to gather insights which, when applied to development efforts, create a more patient-friendly experience. Additionally, with a strong focus on diversity in clinical trials, her team seeks to ensure that our clinical trial populations reflect the patient population of the disease or condition under study. Ms Hanlon has worked at BMS for 20 years and has held clinical operations positions of increasing responsibility from Line Management to Project Management across multiple therapeutic areas. Ms Hanlon is a nurse by training and prior to her time in the pharmaceutical industry, she had a career as a critical care nurse, nurse educator and research nurse coordinator at hospitals in the Philadelphia area. Ms Hanlon received her Master of Sciences in Nursing from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA.

As Vice President of Site Solutions & Engagement for WCG Clinical, Jamie Harper develops and executes strategical solutions mitigating the challenges experienced at clinical research sites around the globe. Ms. Harper is driven to help sites meet critical study endpoints and reach important milestones to accelerate clinical research.Ms. Harper has many years of experience building successful clinical research programs and developing strategies that take into account the individual needs of each institution. This experience includes a 13-year tenure as Director of Clinical Research for a large community oncology practice that provides NCORP (NCI Community Oncology Research Program) and industry-funded clinical trial opportunities. As past president of the Society of Clinical Research Associates, she has well-rounded, real world knowledge of all aspects of a clinical trial with a focus on the site perspective.

As the Chief Clinical Trials Officer at Walgreens, Ramita Tandon is responsible for leading and driving growth for the Company’s new clinical trials business. In her role, Ms Tandon works across the healthcare and life sciences industries to enable next-generation clinical trials so that breakthrough treatments reach patients faster. Her team is focused on unlocking value and improving access, awareness and trust by efficiently matching diverse patient populations to sponsor-led trials, reducing trial operational complexities and patient burdens, as well as capitalizing on Walgreens deep patient insights and leveraging real-world data from owned and partner assets.Ms Tandon brings more than 25 years of leadership and operational experience across a portfolio of industry-leading businesses and services in real-world evidence and patient-centered health outcomes. Prior to joining Walgreens, she served as the Chief Operating Officer at Trio Health, and prior to that she was the Executive Vice President, Commercialization and Outcomes at ICON. As a transformational leader, Ms Tandon is passionate in her belief that a best-in-class operating model employing insights and innovation can deliver gains in operations and forge stronger connections with all stakeholders, including biopharmaceutical companies, healthcare systems and payers. She was a recipient of the 2018 PharmaVOICE Top 100, recognized for her contributions in bringing visionary and pioneering ideas into the clinical R&D landscape and product lifecycle to optimize biopharmaceuticals’ product value.Ms Tandon is an internationally recognized speaker and author whose focus is on how to bridge the gap between commercial and clinical development. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the Boston University School of Public Health.

Susan Wong has been part of the industry for over 25+ years within Clinical Development and Operations in various roles. She’s been most specifically immersed in DCTs for approximately 7-8 years via Roche, Science 37, Transparency Life Sciences and Drumroll Health Sciences. Her current role, as Clinical Compliance Team Leader in Early Clinical Development, focuses on strategy and solutions as well as establishing guardrails to accelerate innovations such as DCTs within Roche-Genentech.Formally trained as a Physician Assistant, Ms Wong continues to utilize her medical skills by participating in medical missions (eg, in China, India and Ecuador). She has a personal quest to connect with colleagues, alumni and new graduates (UCLA and USC) to pass the baton and “pay it forward” wherever possible.