Archives: Speakers

Viviënne van de Walle studied medicine both at the University of Maastricht and at the University of Oxford. In addition to her MD degree she holds a medical research degree in Genetics, Pediatrics and Genetics.  In 2004 she successfully defended her thesis for her PhD in Auxology and in 2011 she passed the CPI exam. She has always combined clinical research with patient care and has been a full time principal investigator at independent clinical research sites. She co-founded and owns the independent research site PT&R (www.ptr.nu) since 2006. Her entrepreneurship is reflected by her skills as thought leader and in consulting, educating and managing at CROs, pharma, nutritional companies and in executive and advisory board functions at eCOA vendors and trade organizations i.e. ACRP, SCRS, TransCelerate, CISCRIP and the NVFG. With her PT&R-team she was also the proud winner of the inaugural SPRIA EU award of the SCRS . In 2019 she was nominated for the Clinical Trial Europe – Christine Pierre Life Time Achievement Award and in 2020 she was nominated at the 5th World Congress on Advanced Clinical Trials and Clinical Research for Women in Science Awards / Women Scientist. She started her research career as a participant in a clinical trial and is now participating in a preventive COVID trial for HCP. As a result, Viviënne has a unique perspective of the various sides of the table in clinical research and is eager to share her many years of experience. As she states: “I love it when you pick my brain”.

Melissa Collett is Professional Standards Director at the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), leading its professional standards, ethics and conduct activity as a united profession across insurance and financial planning. She is also responsible for the professional body’s legal affairs, risk management, disciplinary matters and governance. She is keen to raise awareness of best practice and drive ethical behaviour through engagement with the profession and external stakeholders.

Melissa has an extensive background in consumer and legal issues. She spent over a decade at the Financial Ombudsman Service, was a Director at Fairer Finance and sits as a Tribunal Judge. She is also qualified solicitor, specialising in insurance law at Hogan Lovells. She is a frequent speaker at conference and events, sits on judging panels, and is the author of numerous articles and publications on consumer law subjects.

Carol Tester, Vice President, eCOA Partnerships, focuses on development of global customer relationships to identify ways that YPrime can serve its biopharmaceutical clients. A recognized subject matter expert in eCOA technology, she brings 20 years of industry experience with more than 15 years of operational and strategic business experience.

Carol began her career as a member of the Royal Navy before moving into the Life Science industry after 5 years of service. Her industry tenure started in Data Management at Novo Nordisk, Pfizer and Novartis before accepting a Consultant role for Actelion in Switzerland.

Her eCOA experience stems from positions as Relationship Manager, Director of Client Relations as well as Program Director with various eCOA vendors.  Carol has overseen global study programs, supervised project management teams and managed key account relationships.

Celeste A. Elash, MS, is the Vice President of eCOA Science for YPrime. Throughout her 25-year industry career, Celeste has served as a clinical research scientist, with a variety of contributions to the advancement of patient-focused drug development and eCOA adoption. Celeste has conducted research for Purdue University, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. She also contributed to some of the earliest electronic patient-reported outcomes studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to joining YPrime, Celeste served as an independent consultant to biopharmaceutical companies and both in operations and as clinical science advisor for two eCOA providers. She currently represents YPrime on the Critical Path Institute’s ePRO Consortium.

Beenu Kapoor is a creator of platform technology products leveraging her Business Operations, IT, Product Development and Consulting skills to augment digital transformation in R&D Clinical Development. Beenu has more than 25 years of experience focused on driving business outcomes by defining and implementing strategies, roadmaps, solutions involving innovative business operating models, process redesign and technology digitization agenda. She is currently serving as a leader on the IQVIA Technology team responsible for IQVIA’s Trial Management Product Suite