Dr Kaitlin Morrison is responsible for the leadership and oversight of the LCCC clinical research infrastructure, and co-leads strategic planning driving clinical research infrastructure optimization, process improvements, recruitment/retention of employees and alignment of LCCC and UNC Healthcare system goals. Dr Morrison’s primary research interest is translation of basic and translational findings and discoveries from the bench into early phase clinical trials. She leads the office responsible for the oversight of LCCC’s clinical development program that includes investigator-initiated trials using investigational drugs/biologics provided by pharmaceutical partners, and UNC developed and/or manufactured investigational products. Her research interests focus on regulatory strategy, FDA interactions, clinical protocol development and patient education with a focus on developing clinical trials that are operationally feasible, data driven and patient friendly. She completed her understudies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and PhD at Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.

Leslie Michelle Dowling is the Site Manager at Sun Valley Research Center, where she has dedicated the past 13 years to advancing clinical research and ensuring operational excellence. A proud Hispanic professional and fluent bilingual speaker, Michelle brings a culturally competent approach to patient care and community engagement. She has extensive experience in regulatory compliance, team leadership, and patient-centered trial coordination. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Management and is deeply committed to fostering ethical, collaborative, and impactful research practices. Her leadership is grounded in a servant leadership philosophy that prioritizes team development, patient care, and long-term success.

Michael V. Seiden, M.D., Ph.D., is a physician and healthcare executive with a broad collection of leadership positions across the healthcare ecosystem, Dr. Seiden serves as the Chief Medical Officer of N Power Medicine, an innovative platform company that empowers community oncology practices to strengthen their culture of research. Dr. Seiden is responsible for growing and supporting a national network of community oncology sites.

Prior to joining N Power Medicine, he held numerous roles included serving as the president of The US Oncology Network, a McKesson owned company that includes the largest collection of community-based oncology care practices in the US. Prior to serving as President of the network, Seiden served as the senior vice president and Chief Medical Officer of US Oncology and McKesson Specialty Health. Before joining McKesson, he served as CEO and President of Fox Chase Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, research facility and hospital in Philadelphia. Prior to his time at Fox Chase Cancer Center he held a variety of leadership roles at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Dana Farber Cancer Institute including the Director of the Clinical and Translational Research Programs at MGH Cancer Center and the leader of the Gynecologic Oncology Program awarded by the NCI to the Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center.

Michael Pearlman is currently a Sr. Manager, Patient Recruitment Services within Labcorp’s Clinical Trial Enablement team. He has a 12-year background in clinical research, exclusively in patient recruitment focused roles. Prior to his first industry role Michael spent 7 years working in Quality Management & Analyst roles in the Market Research industry. Through these past roles Michael developed core competencies in project management, data analysis, and process optimization. With these skillsets the transition to working in clinical research operations was a seamless one. He used his first couple years in the industry learning the ins and outs clinical trial recruitment. Of particular focus was the tremendous challenges sponsors faced in recruiting enough participants. Michael has dedicated his career to developing expertise in all facets of clinical trial recruitment. This includes social media outreach, search/display advertising, database outreach, working with advocacy groups, site-specific recruitment strategies, affiliate networks, and others.

In his role at Labcorp, Michael leverages proprietary real-world patient diagnostic data to build and optimize patient cohorts; to subsequently email about clinical trial opportunities. In his spare time Michael enjoys fishing, hiking, attending sporting events, and the occasional concert.

Rozanno Gonzales, M.S., is a clinical trial professional with over 17 years of experience, specializing in innovative technology and vendor oversight within the clinical trial landscape. He is dedicated to integrating and enhancing partnerships and collaborations to innovate purposefully with stakeholders. 

He holds an M.S. in Clinical Research Administration from Walden University (2013) and a B.S. in Biological Sciences from UC Irvine (2002). As Clinical Trial Innovation and Technology Leader at Genentech, Rozanno is at the forefront of industry trends, leading the development of evidence generation initiatives and acting as a trusted thought partner for innovative solutions. His role involves evaluating health technology systems and understanding the changing healthcare environment to enable broader clinical trial participation and bolster the real-world effectiveness of the Genentech portfolio. He actively promotes a culture of innovation and strategic risk-taking, working globally to streamline processes and share best practices. He also identifies and evaluates technology service providers to accelerate and innovate clinical trial execution.

Shannon Edwards is a Site Engagement Lead at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, where she plays a pivotal role in managing the Partners in Care Network. Since joining AstraZeneca in 2023, Shannon has collaborated closely with sites to alleviate site burden and enhance site engagement across AstraZeneca clinical trials.

With more than 20 years of prior experience in organ donation and transplantation, Shannon brings a deep commitment to building strategic partnerships and a proven track record in team leadership. Her dedication to advancing patient care and her expertise in healthcare collaboration continue to drive meaningful outcomes within the clinical research community.

Gerri Gallagher is an experienced clinical operations leader with over two decades driving strategic site engagement and operational excellence across the pharmaceutical and CRO landscape. Currently serving as Sr. Director, Site Engagement at GSK in Collegeville, PA, Gerri leads initiatives that foster long-term partnerships with clinical sites, enhance stakeholder experiences, and implement innovative approaches to accelerate drug development.

Prior to her current role, Gerri held leadership positions, where she oversaw Vendor Operations and Engagement across the Americas and led Global Alliance Management efforts. Her earlier roles focused on program and trial management, where she was accountable for study deliverables and FSP oversight.

Gerri holds a Bachelor of Science from Penn State University and a Master of Science from George Washington University. She is recognized for her ability to build high-performing teams, navigate complex operational landscapes, and champion patient-centric solutions in clinical research.

Carissa Dukes has a decade of experience in the industry, specializing in epidemiology and real-world evidence. Her expertise in mental health has led her to work on numerous projects aimed at improving the quality of life for individuals with mental health conditions. Through her observational studies, she has provided valuable insights that are shaping the development of innovative and effective treatments. She has led various initiatives to integrate real-world data into clinical research. Her research helps bridge the gap between clinical trials and real-world practice, accelerating clinical adoption. Carissa has played a pivotal role in the implementation of tokenization within her company. She leads a cross-functional working group and panel of experts, providing consultation on tokenization and developing detailed guidance documents that will be critical in standardizing successful implementation throughout the organization. Carissa earned a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from Indiana University and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) at Johns Hopkins University, where she is focusing on a specialized public health program designed to enhance her expertise in health systems, implementation science, and clinical trials.

Brian Mitchell holds both bachelor's and master’s degrees in Nutrition and Dietetics from California State University, Northridge. Beginning his career as a Nutrition Counselor, he transitioned into clinical research in 2010 as a Study Coordinator, later gaining experience in a large cardiology clinic. His passion for advancing clinical science led him to join IQVIA in 2015 as a Clinical Research Associate supporting Amgen trials.

Progressing rapidly, Brian moved into project management in 2018 and was hired directly by Amgen in 2019 as a Development Feasibility Manager. He was promoted to Sr. Manager in 2020, leading U.S. feasibility, study start-up, and contracts/budgets. In 2023, he became Director of Development Operations, overseeing U.S. clinical site operations, and in 2025, accepted a stretch assignment as Regional Head of the United States.

With a family rooted in medicine—his father a cardiologist and mother a nurse—Brian brings a uniquely patient- and site-centric perspective to drug development. His cross-functional experience enables him to apply operational insight with strategic leadership, maintaining a strong emphasis on quality and speed in clinical trial execution.

Outside of work, Brian remains engaged with the wellness community, staying current in nutrition, dietetics, and exercise science. Throughout his career, he has made meaningful contributions to Amgen’s pipeline and exemplifies a holistic approach to clinical development.

Grégoire Cosendai is a seasoned leader with over 30 years of expertise in the medical devices industry, specializing in neuro, ophthalmology, endocrinology, audiology, and digital health. With a strong background spanning from innovative R&D, clinical validation, regulatory approvals, to market access and commercialization, he has successfully led cross-functional teams from start-up environments to large publicly traded companies.

Currently serving as Category Lead at Ypsomed, Grégoire is passionate about developing life-changing medical technologies. His previous roles include Device Operations Manager at Verily (Google Life Sciences), Vice President Clinical at Second Sight Medical Products, and Director of Business Development at the Alfred Mann Foundation.

Having worked in USA, UK and Switzerland he brings a global perspective to his leadership. Grégoire’s innovative mindset, strategic vision, and dedication to advancing medical solutions make him a valued speaker and expert in medical device development and commercialization.

Junwei Li is an innovation leader with extensive experience across the pharmaceutical development spectrum, including research, clinical, and product supply functions. With a strong foundation in global, cross-functional collaboration, Junwei has successfully led initiatives spanning drug development and device innovation. Junwei’s expertise includes advancing injectable, oral, and software-based therapeutics, with a particular focus on combination product development. Junwei has also played a key role in strategic partnerships, business development, and alliance management.