Clinical research underpins the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and is the driver behind many areas of discussion and debate.
ICON employs some of the leading experts in clinical development and they are available to answer your questions and provide comment on the key issues in clinical research.
If you need to speak to an expert, require comment for your article or just need some insight to the pharmaceutical industry, please contact us.
Learn more about some of ICON’s leading spokespeople by downloading this pdf »
The senior ICON spokes-person and commentator on the state of the clinical research landscape.
Background:
Peter was appointed to his current position of Chief Executive Officer in 2002. The previous year, Peter held the position of Chief Operating Officer. Having joined ICON plc as CFO in 1997, he orchestrated its entry to the NASDAQ public market in 1998. The company has grown from revenues of $42m and staff of 400 when it went public in 1998 to over $600m and over 5,500 staff in 2007.
Prior to joining ICON, Peter worked at Unidare plc, an Irish Engineering and Distribution conglomerate, between 1992 -1997. Peter moved to Unidare from Food Industries plc, a publicly quoted Irish food conglomerate, where he held the position of Finance Director from 1990-1992. Between 1983-1990, Peter was employed by Elan Corporation plc, an Irish-headquartered pharmaceutical development company. He was involved in Elan’s entry to the NASDAQ public market in 1984 and subsequently acted as CFO and Vice President of operations at Elan’s Athlone headquarters.
Before joining Elan, Peter was the finance director at a small construction-related company where he started his career. Peter qualified as an accountant in 1980.
Publications / Commentary:
Peter is a regular industry commentator.
Commentator on the strategy, management and execution of product development and early phase clinical development.
Background:Prior to his current role as President, ICON Development Solutions, Thomas served as Chief Operating Officer for ICON Europe since June 2001 and has also served as Vice President of ICON Clinical Operations Europe from January 2000 to May 2001.
Thomas has over 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical research and development. Prior to joining ICON, Thomas was Senior Director of Clinical Development Europe at Hoechst Marion Roussel, where he worked from 1995 to the end of 1999.
He started his career in 1987 with Hoechst Pharmaceuticals.
Education / Degree:Thomas received his medical degree in 1980 from the University of Heidelberg. Before joining the pharmaceutical industry he gained medical experience as a resident in surgery and intensive care for 4 years and practiced as a family doctor for 3 years.
Publications / Commentary:Thomas regularly attends and speaks at industry events on clinical research. He is a member of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine, UK and Drug Information Association.
Commentator on the role and implementation of medical imaging in clinical trials.
Background:
Ted is President and co-founder of ICON Medical Imaging (formerly Beacon Bioscience). Prior to Beacon, Ted co-founded Intelligent Imaging, a research company specialising in imaging, which was acquired by Quintiles in 1997. From 1997-2000 he served as Senior Vice-President and Business Unit Head within Quintiles.
Ted has more than 18 years experience in imaging for drug development and has worked closely with industry, FDA, and academia to establish best practices in place today.
Education / Degree:
Ted has held academic positions with the University of Maryland, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Cambridge University, and The Smithsonian Institution. Ted received a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Marshall University and pursued a Ph.D. in neurophysiology prior to founding Intelligent Imaging.
Publications / Commentary: Ted has six lead author publications within the field of zoology and has co-authored a further eight publications during his academic career in the 1990’s.
Commentator on the state of the staffing market with specific focus on contract staffing within clinical research.
Background:
In 2007 Sean was appointed to President of ICON Contracting Solutions, a division that focuses on providing experienced contract and permanent clinical research individuals and teams. Sean led the recent acquisition of DOCS International, a leading European based clinical research staffing organisation that establishes ICON as a global provider of contract staffing solutions.
Sean has also held the role of Executive Vice President of Commercial and Organisational Development where he worked on key management and strategic initiatives and before this spent over 4 years as the Chief Financial Officer of ICON.
Prior to joining ICON in 1999, Sean was Group Financial Controller of Jones Group plc, a shipping, manufacturing and fuel distribution company based in Ireland.
Education / Degree:
Sean qualified as Accountant in 1993 and is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of
Management Accountants.
Primary spokesperson for ICON Clinical Research and an expert commentator on the industry.
Background:John has been with ICON since 1999. He has more than 22 years of experience in pharmaceutical research and development and has held senior management positions at Clinical Studies, Ltd., PAREXEL International Corporation, Hoechst Marion Roussel Pharmaceuticals, and Revlon Health Care.
Education / Degree:John received a B.S. in Biopsychology from the University of Santa Clara, a Ph.D. in Cardiovascular Physiology from the University of Tennessee, and was a National Institute of Health (NIH) Postdoctoral Fellow in Cardiovascular Pharmacology at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center. He is a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology and a Board Certified Diplomat in Applied Pharmacology by the American Board of Clinical Pharmacology.
Publications / Commentary:John has authored or co-authored three book chapters and 76 published articles and abstracts in the areas of cardiovascular / autonomic pharmacology, clinical pharmacology, and drug development.
Spokesperson for ICON Clinical Research and an expert commentator on the global clinical
research market and patient recruitment.
Background:
Alan joined ICON in August 2006 where he initially held the position of Vice President of Process Development for ICON plc, before appointment to President, ICON Clinical Research Europe. Prior to ICON, Alan was Global General Manager of the Phase II/IV business of MDS Pharma Services from
August 2005, having joined the company in September 2002 as General Manager of their European, Latin American and Asian Clinical Development operations. In both roles he was responsible for Clinical Operations, Data Management and Biostatistics, Regulatory Affairs, and all of the commercial operations of the business.
He joined MDS from Covance Inc, where he held a number of senior positions including General Manager of their Phase II/IV business in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Prior to moving into the clinical research market, Alan worked in the pharmaceutical industry - seven years with Glaxo Wellcome and two years with ICI Pharmaceuticals in various business financial roles.
Education / Degree:
Alan is a graduate of the City University Business School in London and a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants.
Publications / Commentary:
Alan is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, such as Partnerships in Clinical Trials, and has written articles on subjects including patient recruitment and the European clinical research landscape.
Senior ICON commentator on scientific advances and their impact on the clinical research industry.
Background:
Peter was appointed to his current role, as Chief Scientific Officer, for ICON Clinical Research in March 2007. Prior to this role, he had been President of ICON Clinical Research Europe since November 2003.
Before joining ICON, Peter held various positions at Covance Clinical and Periapproval Services, Ltd., including the position of Vicepresident Clinical Research. Prior to moving into the clinical trials industry, Peter worked at the RAF as a Medical Officer conducting and managing research in human physiology.
Education / Degree:
Peter was educated at the University of Cambridge in Medical Sciences and followed on to Oxford University where he took medical degrees. Dr. Sowood obtained his Ph.D. in 1988 and MBA in 1993.
Publications / Commentary:
Peter has spoken and written frequently on the management of clinical trials. Peter has also
published scientific work in the field of thermal physiology and survival.
Commentator on surveillance and management of safety issues within clinical trials from an academic and industry perspective.
Background:
Suzanne was appointed to the role of Global Head of Medical Affairs and Drug Safety in April 2006. Prior to her current role, Suzanne held the position of Sr. Vice President of US Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs and Scientific Writing. Suzanne joined ICON in 2001.
Suzanne has held various senior management positions in Medical Affairs and Clinical Research and Development at Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Luitpold Pharmaceuticals and Omnicare Clinical Research. Her background includes eight years in academic medicine at Boston University, the University of Miami and as the Director of Clinical Research at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.
Education / Degree:
Suzanne received her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine, is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. She has held a number of academic faculty appointments and has published articles and abstracts on drug safety and in therapeutic areas including HIV disease, chronic renal failure and oncology. She currently lectures in
Pharmaceutical Product Development and Drug Safety at West Chester University.
Publications / Commentary:
Suzanne has written widely and commented within articles on managing drug safety in clinical trials and still lectures on this subject, in addition to her management role at ICON.
Commentator on interactive technologies and observational research services.
Background:
Kris was promoted to his current role as Global Head of the Interactive Technologies business unit and the Life Sciences business unit in January 2007. He has been with ICON since 2000 in multiple roles and positions.
Prior to ICON, Kris was President and cofounder of Electronic Trial Management Technologies, a technology company specialising in IVR and IWR solutions for clinical trials, which was acquired by ICON in 2000. From 1995-1999 he served as Senior Director of Information Management at Applied Logic Associates. From 1990-1995 he worked as a Mechanical Engineer in the Nuclear sector.
Education / Degree:
Kris received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Washington State University in 1990.
Publications / Commentary:
Kris has authored a number of articles in recent years on the use of technology in clinical trials.