Lydia King, PhD, MPH, is the Director of Biostatistics at Ce3 Inc. In this role, she provides strategic direction for biostatistics across multiple study teams, ensuring appropriate statistical techniques for all endpoints. Dr. King offers more than 20 years of experience in SAS programming, study design, and statistical analysis, with an emphasis in oncology trials in most recent years. Prior to her work in clinical trials, Dr. King spent a decade in academia where her research and analytical skills were displayed at professional conferences as well as in peer-reviewed publications. Dr. King holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alabama, a Master of Public Health from Emory University, and a PhD in Epidemiology from the Medical University of South Carolina.
Archives: Speakers
Melissa Hill
Melissa Hill MPH is a clinical programmer at Ce3 Inc. In this role, she balances the requirements of multi-disciplinary teams to develop cross-functional tools for reviewing clinical trial data in real-time. Prior to her role as a clinical programmer, Ms. Hill worked at the Yale University Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology as a Research Associate. Specifically, she provided programming support, performed biostatistical analyses, and coordinated research teams for NIH funded grants. Ms. Hill has co-authored a book Data Management Essentials using SAS and JMP (2016) as well as multiple peer-reviewed publications of epidemiological analyses (2010-2015) and regularly shares her work at relevant industry conferences. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Arts from Villanova University and a Master of Public Health from Yale University.
Gina Prochilo-Cawston
Kathleen McCarthy Kirby
Kathleen Kirby is Head of Clinical Development Operations. Focused primarily on supporting early phase start-up companies using novel therapies to treat rare diseases, Kathleen’s areas of expertise include gene therapy (stem cell transplantation, direct administration), global clinical program management (strategic and tactical implementation), vendor out-sourcing, and regulatory strategy. Kathleen was responsible for Clinical Development Operations at bluebird bio and Voyager Therapeutics, in addition to supporting a number of start-ups working in gene therapy and performing grant review for CIRM. Experience with natural history studies and enrolling challenging patient populations is a cornerstone for rare disease drug development and Kathleen has deep expertise with both. She has participated in several global product approvals, clinical trial applications and other significant regulatory filings. Kathleen’s primary role is to translate the company’s program strategy into an operational strategy and an executable plan
Kiran Dole
Kiran Dole started her pharma career with Novartis Pharmaceuticals in NJ, where she joined as a Clinical Trial Leader in the Translational Sciences group, designing and overseeing early phase clinical studies. She transitioned to NIBR in 2008 where the focus of her work evolved to the identification and implementation of novel technologies to design more data-rich, and patient-centric trials. Her passion for innovative technologies has led her to a career at Pear Therapeutics as the Director of Clinical Operations. Kiran holds a PharmD from SUNY Buffalo as well as a Bachelors in Biochemistry from the University of Toronto .
Omar Merhi
Omar Merhi is a resourceful executive in the Medical Device Industry, with success and experience in the broad areas of clinical development, operations and program management. He’s known for his strong strategic thinking, and for his analytic and communication skills. He currently Heads the Global Clinical Operations at Smith and Nephew. Prior to that, Dr. Merhi headed the Clinical Research Operations organization at Abiomed in addition to numerous prior leadership roles at companies like Alcon, Novartis, St. Jude Medical (now Abbott), Boston Scientific and 3M. Dr. Merhi lives in Northshore of the Greater Boston Area with his wife and their 4 children.
Petros Papaghiannakis
Petros Papaghiannakis is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of LFP, a mixed-traffic cross-border line between Perpignan (France) and Figueras (Spain). During his carrier, Petros Papaghiannakis acquired a high level of expertise in railways technology, rolling stock, signalling, project management, operations, maintenance and safety. He has also acquired a significant experience in project finance and debt restructuring in the frame of the concession’s refinancing process.
