Our team of seasoned industry veterans can anticipate your study challenges and proactively seek solutions.
Global Head,
Clinical Science
Assistant Director,
External Partnerships, Liberia, PREVAIL
Deputy Director,
Clinical Operations,
Liberia, PREVAIL
Medical Affairs
Global Head,
Regulatory Affairs
Director,
Clinical Operations
Clinical Operations (Africa)
Quality Management Systems and Standards
FHI Clinical Headquarters
359 Blackwell Street, Suite 200
Durham, NC 27701 USA
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Rob King brings more than 30 years of clinical research industry experience to his role as FHI Clinical’s Chief Executive Officer. King has extensive experience in global clinical operations and executive leadership, with a professional and academic focus in quality management and compliance.
King has contributed to consistent double-digit growth at his last four organizations, and he is experienced in leading the acquisition and integration of global CRO and biotech companies. Prior to joining FHI Clinical, he held the position of COO at Asklepios Biopharmacetical, Inc (AskBio), a gene therapy biotech. While there, he oversaw corporate growth, fundraising, integrations and facility expansion to allow for development of six adeno-associated virus (AAV) investigational products.
King also held the position of COO at Novella Clinical (now IQVIA Biotech), an oncology and medical device-focused global CRO. At Novella, he was responsible for global operations and client delivery across 1,500 staff and 52 countries. Prior to joining Novella, King was COO at Health Decisions, a CRO focused on women’s health. At Health Decisions, he oversaw global operations and served as project director for the clinical and statistical coordinating center for the National Institutes of Health-sponsored Contraceptive Clinical Network.
King served for seven years as an Adjunct Professor at Campbell University, lecturing in clinical research, and he continues to serve on the Durham Technical Community College Clinical Trials Research Advisory Committee.
King holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and is certified in nonprofit management from Duke University.
Chief Commercial Officer
Claudia Christian has over 30 years’ experience in the execution of global clinical programs. Christian has held multiple positions from fieldwork to executive leadership in biotech, pharma and both large and niche CROs across all phases and multiple indications. She has broad experience managing industry-, government- and grant-funded portfolios.
Christian has successfully participated in executive ownership programs through mergers & acquisitions (M&A) and has a passion for corporate growth targeting challenging international markets with a focus on accessible and sustainable improvements in resource-constrained settings.
Prior to joining FHI Clinical, she served as Vice President, Global Operations for a niche CRO where she was instrumental in developing the commercial pipeline, tripling the book of business in less than 3 years, and completing due diligence and sale well ahead of planned timelines.
In her capacity as the Chief Commercial Officer, Claudia is responsible for our strategic commercial and business expansion objectives. She leads the effort to strengthen the awareness of the FHI Clinical value proposition through innovation, data driven analysis, and reinforcing our growth trajectory while amplifying our impact. Christian serves as a Company Level Officer (CLO) as designated by and at the discretion of the Board. Additionally, she functions as the principal advisor to the President & CEO, offering guidance on all matters pertaining to strategic commercial affairs.
Vice President, Global Strategy
With more than twenty years of experience in clinical research monitoring and management, Ghiorghis Belai serves as FHI Clinical’s Vice President, Global Strategy. In this role, Belai is responsible for managing FHI Clinical’s relationships with sponsors and sites, and he works on project feasibility to ensure optimal implementation of trials.
Belai previously served as Director of Clinical Operations for FHI 360, where he managed the clinical research unit based in Nairobi, Kenya, while supervising and mentoring the FHI 360 Africa Regional Clinical Research Unit. In this role, Belai was responsible for reviewing study protocols, coordinating study implementation of multi-center and multi-country trials in Africa, and ensuring that studies adhered to protocol requirements and applicable regulations and guidelines.
With a background in clinical research, Belai has also worked as a clinical research associate for PharmaNet Development Group, Inc., and PPD, where he participated in multiple multi-center clinical research studies, assisted with project data clinical review and management, and presented at investigator meetings for assigned studies. In addition, Belai monitored sites according to applicable standard operating procedures and Food and Drug Administration guidelines and reviewed case report forms for adherence to protocol requirements.
Belai holds a bachelor’s degree in Clinical Laboratory Science from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and a master’s degree in Clinical Research from the University of Liverpool.
Abraham Van Wyk brings more than 15 years of clinical research industry experience to his role as FHI Clinical’s Managing Director of EU and Africa. Abraham previously served as the CEO of Triclinium Clinical Development (TCD) Global, where he executed the company’s acquisition by FHI Clinical.
While managing the TCD Group of companies, van Wyk led the M&A strategy, which included the acquisition of HeXor (now Value in Research), a health economics and outcomes research company, as well as being the co-founder of an eClinical solutions company (now NuvoteQ) and establishing TCD Global as a full-service CRO specializing in infectious disease and vaccine research across sub-Saharan Africa. The TCD Group of companies was sold to EOH (JSE Listed Group).
Abraham previously held the position of Managing Director of Africa at Cytespace Research (acquired by Premier Research). Prior to that position, Abraham established the East African region for Quintiles (now IQVIA) and managed the East and West African operations as Regional Head.
Abraham serves on the board of several biotech, medical device and medtech companies, including AMR-focused Bugworks; Burl Concepts, a medical device company; and NuvoteQ, an eClinical solutions company, among others.
Abraham holds a bachelor’s degree in medical sciences and a bachelor’s (Hons) degree in cellular biology from the University of Pretoria, in addition to an MBA from the University of South Africa.
Senior Director, Finance
Alan Hampton has 20 years of Financial Management experience in the hospital and health care industry. As Senior Director, Finance at FHI Clinical, he manages financial activities including project budgeting, reporting and forecasting, while partnering with Business Operations.
Alan previously served as the Associate Director, Finance at FHI 360. Prior to joining FHI 360, he held various positions at Siemens Medical Solutions, INC Research (now Syneos Health) and PPD. He is experienced in budgeting, managerial finance, accounting and financial planning.
Alan served as a Senior Airman in the United States Air Force and holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an MBA from North Carolina State University.
Joy Carson brings more than 30 years of clinical research industry experience to her role as FHI Global Head of Clinical Science. Carson draws on her experience from academia, industry and contract research organizations to support the clinical development of small and large molecules, diagnostics and gene therapies from pre-clinical stages through product launch. She has designed and led studies from early phase and clinical pharmacology through registration and post-marketing in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa.
Prior to joining FHI Clinical, Carson served as VP of Clinical Development and VP of Medical Communications at Asklepios Biopharmaceutical, where, in addition to contributing to the clinical development strategy for gene therapy candidates in rare diseases, she established a patient advocacy program to integrate the patient voice into the clinical development process.
Through her career, Carson held multiple positions of increasing responsibility in project management and clinical strategy. She designed and ran the first drug lottery programs for HIV protease inhibitors. Carson led the clinical development of what would become one of the first liquid biopsy assays for cancer detection. She advised global emerging biopharma clients on the development of their oncology assets, with specific experience assisting Asia-Pacific clients to transition their early-phase drug candidates through INDs in North America and Europe. She engaged with regulatory agencies across all phases of drug development and supported global regulatory submissions from IND through market launch.
Carson’s involvement in protocol design across therapeutic indications and phases of development allows her to bring insights into the evolution of study design and methods that support the most direct path to market for new products. Her recruitment and coordination of Clinical and Scientific Advisory Boards has introduced her to global key opinion leaders across clinical indications. Her leadership roles through the years included media relations and government outreach, including the recruitment of a US President and members of the US Congress and Senate in support of a patient advocacy fundraiser. Carson’s passion is coordinating clinicians, regulators, government, industry and patient advocates to advance global health initiatives.
Carson holds a BA in neuropsychology from Boston University and an MBA from the D’Amore-McKim School of Business High Technology Program at Northeastern University.
As Global Head of Clinical Affairs, Herbst is responsible for leading a dispersed team in regional offices and specific countries to deliver quality services and functions in alignment with corporate strategy, policies, procedures and applicable regulations.
Herbst brings 22 years of clinical research experience to the team. He previously held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Triclinium Clinical Development (TCD) prior to its acquisition by FHI Clinical.
His career started in data management at a global CRO and expanded into research and development and various other positions within several multi-international pharmaceutical companies. His therapeutic experience includes cardiovascular, dermatology, gastroenterology, immunology, infectious diseases, oncology, otolaryngology, respiratory, rheumatology, urology and vaccinology.
Herbst holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and physiology as well as bachelor’s (Hons) degree in pharmacology clinical and analytical research from the University of Free State, South Africa.
Deputy Director, Clinical Operations,
Liberia, PREVAIL
Melvin has a diploma in nursing from the Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts (TNIMA) in Liberia, a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Mother Patern College of Health Sciences in Liberia, and master’s degree in Healthcare Policy and Management from Cuttington University Graduate School of Professional Studies in Liberia.
In her role as Global Head of Medical Affairs, Sanchia is responsible for leading a dispersed global team in the development and execution of all medical affairs activities, including medical monitoring, pharmacovigilance and medical writing.
Theron previously served as associate medical director at Triclinium Clinical Development (TCD) and led the company’s business development program prior to its acquisition by FHI Clinical. In addition, during her time at TCD, she held roles including research physician and head of medical affairs where she served as a medical and pharmacovigilance expert on several large projects with local and international sponsors, ensuring all activities occurred in accordance with ICH GCP, SA GCP and global regulatory guidelines.
After completing her medical degree, Theron gained valuable hands-on clinical experience working in both the public and private health sectors in South Africa. She also acted as investigator on several clinical trials before joining TCD. Although her therapeutic area experience includes a wide range of indications, the majority is focused on infectious disease and vaccine trials, especially in vulnerable populations, including children and pregnant women.
Theron completed her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) from the University of Pretoria.
Marié van Wyk brings 25 years of professional experience, including more than 12 years of clinical research industry experience to her role as FHI Clinical SA’s Global Head of Regulatory Affairs. She is responsible for global delivery of regulatory functions in alignment with the corporate strategy, policies, procedures and applicable regulations while maintaining the highest ethical, regulatory and scientific standards.
Her experience in regulatory affairs therapeutic areas includes an extensive range of indications and applications. The list of critical areas includes, but is not limited, to infectious diseases (including tuberculosis and HIV), oncology and vaccine trials (including COVID-19). Marié’s experience typically involves managing a clinical trial project from start-up to project completion. Her responsibilities include people management, trial management, budget management and customer interaction.
This regulatory affairs experience followed her extensive experience in various pharmacy environments as a retail pharmacist and hospital pharmacist in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Marié not only holds a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from the North West University, South Africa but furthered her studies in the United Kingdom, where she obtained her MRPharmS (OSP) from Sunderland University. She also holds a management qualification from the Institute of Leadership & Management in the United Kingdom.
As Global Head of Global Contracts & Procurement, Chris Mikaelian leads a global team responsible for the negotiation and execution of FHI Clinical’s customer and vendor contract portfolio. Chris is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of contracts & procurement experience in the public health, pharmaceuticals and aerospace sectors. With extensive experience in both government and commercial contracting, Chris leads his team as it supports the pursuit of the organization’s strategic goals.
Previously, Chris served as the Senior Manager of Contracts & Procurement at DLH Corporation, where he was responsible for managing sponsor and vendor contracts in support of a >$100 million line of business supporting both government and commercial clients. Prior to that, Chris was Senior Manager of Contracts at Seqirus, Inc. (formerly Novartis), supporting the organization’s relationship with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in support of the U.S. Government’s efforts to ensure pandemic preparedness for a future influenza pandemic. During his time at Seqirus, Chris worked closely with Global Project Management, Manufacturing, Regulatory and Clinical teams to ensure Seqirus’ facilities were ready to meet emerging infectious disease (influenza) threats. Prior to his time at Seqirus, Chris worked in Contracts & Procurement at Draper Laboratory and BAE Systems on platforms and systems critical to national defense.
Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bryant University in Smithfield, RI and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Corporate Finance from Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA. Chris is a 2007 graduate of BAE Systems’ Finance Leadership Development Program and a 2013 graduate of the National Contract Management Association’s (NCMA) Contract Management Leadership Development Program (CMLDP). Chris lives in Fuquay-Varina with his wife and four children.
As Global Head of Global Strategy, Joy Toro manages administrative operations of the country offices and oversees the study feasibility function, driving the operational oversight of tools and systems to support sponsor and site alliances. In addition, she is responsible for the recruitment and oversight of the Scientific Advisory Expert team. With more than 15 years of experience in business and clinical operations, Toro brings experience in project management, team facilitation, field monitoring and training for international project work in resource-limited settings.
Prior to joining FHI Clinical, Toro served as the Associate Director of Business Operations at IQVIA Biotech, where she was responsible for a large systems migration and process improvement. She was also Associate Director of Clinical Operations for North America at Novella Clinical, working with CRA managers, clinical research associates (CRAs) and project management teams to ensure delivery of quality services, standardization and performance across company projects. Toro’s experience also includes leadership roles at ICON Clinical Research and FHI 360 with field experience in multi-country trials in Asia and Latin America.
Toro is PMP-certified and holds bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Romance Languages from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, master’s degrees in Trans-Atlantic Studies and Social Work and a graduate certificate in Core Public Health Concepts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Global Head, Information Technology
With more than 17 years of experience in the clinical research industry, Gary Cook brings extensive experience deploying and operating IT infrastructure and applications in highly regulated environments, including clinical systems (21CFR11/validated systems), healthcare (HIPAA) and federal government (FISMA/NIST).
In his current position at FHI Clinical, Gary leads the IT department and serves as Information Security Officer and Data Protection Officer.
Before joining FHI Clinical, Gary served as Director of IT at Asklepios Biopharmaceutical, Inc (AskBio), a gene therapy biotech. He designed and built infrastructure and systems to support the fast-growing biotech, while supporting facility expansion.
During his 15-year tenure as Senior Director of IT at Health Decisions, a CRO focused on women’s health, Gary planned and directed company-wide initiatives, such as operational excellence, strategic direction and Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) compliance. He also initiated and led the establishment of the company’s IT service desk, which developed training, processes and procedures to support 120 employees and 500 external customers.
Marlie Smit brings more than 20 years of experience in clinical research to her role as Director, Clinical Operations, under the FHI Clinical SA umbrella. Starting as a clinical assistant at a large multinational CRO in 2000, she has since held roles as a clinical research associate (CRA), Senior CRA, clinical team lead, project manager, and clinical operations manager as well as the Associate Director of Clinical Operations and Associate Director of Regulatory and Start-up. She joined a private development partner in 2014 as Associate Director and was promoted to Director Clinical Operations in 2017. She subsequently joined TCD in 2018 as a Senior Project Manager, following which she was promoted to Head of Project Management and the Associate Director of Operations before moving to her current role in February 2022. Marlie’s therapeutic area experience includes cardiology, vascular (devices), dermatology, gynecology, HIV prevention, musculoskeletal, oncology, psychiatry, psychology and urology (devices).
Marlie holds a bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from the University of Pretoria.
Craig McNees has over 10 years of experience in the clinical research industry. Craig’s experience ranges from project management to business development and strategic account management. Most recently, Craig managed and provided oversight to key, strategic accounts at a mid-sized CRO. Before that, he was a business development director at a larger CRO and was accountable for bringing in new business while overseeing current clients and growing and maintaining the client relationship. Craig is very passionate about creating a trusting and growth-promoting relationship with clients and team members.
Craig holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Pennsylvania State University. He lives in Cary, NC, with his wife and two children.
Fiona brings 25 years of experience in clinical research to her role as Director, Clinical Operations. She commenced her career as a study site coordinator at a large multinational CRO in 1997 and has since held roles as a clinical research associate (CRA), senior CRA, global clinical team lead and clinical operations manager. She also held the position of Associate Director, Business Development for four years before moving back to clinical operations as a global Clinical Team Leader. Upon leaving the multinational CRO after almost 14 years, she contracted as a Senior CRA prior to joining a local CRO as a Line Manager. Two years later, Fiona joined TCD in a Business Development role for 2 years, transitioned to a project management position again in 2017, was promoted to Associate Director of Project Management in 2022 and became Director of Clinical Operations, Project Management in 2023.
Fiona has experience in a wide range of therapeutic areas including cardiology, dermatology, gastroenterology, gynecology, hematology, infectious diseases (HIV and tuberculosis), infectious wounds, musculoskeletal, oncology, pediatrics, respiratory, rheumatology and urology.
Fiona holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Witwatersrand as well as a diploma in Intensive Nursing Science and a certificate in Practical Project Management.
Director, Clinical Operations (Africa)
Spanning the spectrum of roles from study coordination to site and clinical team management to quality assurance, Felicia Ricks brings more than 20 years’ experience in clinical research to her role as Director, Quality Management Systems & Standards. Ms. Ricks is responsible for the overall management of quality at FHI Clinical, including development, support and maintenance of the quality management system. She and her team focus on risk identification and mitigation by promoting a culture of collaboration and proactive quality improvement. Her therapeutic areas of focus include chronic and end-stage kidney disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, anemia of chronic disease and mineral dysmetabolism, in addition to infectious diseases.
Ricks is a Certified Clinical Research Professional and holds a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She is also a Six Sigma Green Belt.
Director, Finance
Linda Duursema has more than 30 years’ experience in various roles and positions in the clinical research setting, of which, more than 14 years have been in a quality assurance position.
Linda has formal clinical research audit training, including certificates in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Auditing, Auditing Computerized Systems, and Systems Audits (British Association of Research Quality Assurance [BARQA]). She has completed a number of GCP training courses as well as various courses related to clinical research and has expert knowledge of ICH GCP; South African GCP and local legal requirements; and European, FDA and other relevant international guidelines applicable to clinical research. She is a committed, meticulous person with uncompromising attention to detail, the ability to think analytically, efficient problem-solving abilities and good interpersonal skills. She also encourages a collaborative team spirit. Linda has proficient knowledge in a wide range of therapeutic areas and is able to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing.
A registered pharmacist with the South African Pharmacy Council, her academic qualifications include a BPharm (cum laude), BMedSc (Hons), MMedSc (cum laude) and PhD in Pharmacology.