About Us

Management Team

PETER G. MILNER, MD, FACC - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GLOBAL STRATEGIC CONSULTING AND MEDICAL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Dr. Peter Milner is responsible for providing expert guidance on strategic development of therapeutic products. In 2007, Dr. Milner co-founded Optivia Biotechnology, a private company now recognized as a leader in the emerging field of transporter biology. In 1997, Dr. Milner co-founded ARYx Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ARYX) where he served as CEO until 2005, and President from 2005 to 2010 with overall responsibility for R&D. In 1990, he co-founded CV Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CVTX), where as a member of senior management from 1992-1996 he in-licensed and co-invented several successful pharmaceuticals. CV Therapeutics was acquired by Gilead for $1.5B in cash in 2009. In 2005, Dr. Milner was instrumental in restructuring his family pharmaceutical company ML Laboratories (MLB.LSE) and its subsequent merger to form Vectura (VEC.LSE), a profitable company and one of the world's leading makers of inhaled products.

Prior to 1992, Peter was as an assistant professor of medicine at Washington University in St. Louis. His research led to the discovery of pleiotrophin (PTN), a novel growth factor that regulates stem cell differentiation, organ development, and the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). He was educated at the University of Liverpool receiving his medical degree in 1980, before completing his postgraduate training at Johns Hopkins Hospital, The University of Virginia, and Washington University in St. Louis. Peter is co-inventor on 48 issued patents, and an author of 28 original scientific articles in Science, Biochemistry, Circulation, Cancer, JCI, and JBC. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC), and a board certified physician and cardiologist. He serves as adjunct clinical faculty at Stanford University School of Medicine, and as a board member of the California Healthcare Institute (CHI).

STEFAN DOSA, MD, FRCP - SENIOR MEDICAL CONSULTANT

Dr. Stefan Dosa serves as the Senior Medical Consultant and provides leadership advisory input for ensuring patient care in protocol execution. Dr. Stefan Dosa is a member of the Senior Leadership team. He has long-term academic and private practice experiences in nephrology with extensive experience in chronic kidney disease, renal transplantation and immunologically mediated kidney diseases both in clinical practice and research settings. Dr. Stefan Dosa has taught medicine as a Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University Medical Center. He served in various directorship positions at George Washington University Medical Center including the Acute Hemodialysis, Chronic Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Units, Tissue Typing Laboratory and the Plasmapheresis Program. For years he was the Director of the Medical Research Center Inc. in Washington, D.C. and the Medical Director of the Outpatient Hemodialysis Unit at the Washington Hospital Center. Dr. Doas has also served as a Professional Advisory Board Member of the American Kidney Foundation, National Capitol Area. He is a former senior partner of Washington Nephrology Associates, the second largest nephrology practice in the U.S. Dr. Dosa earned his medical degree (Magna Cum Laude) at the University JE Purkyne in Czechoslovakia and MRCP/LRCP in London, England. He is Board certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology. He has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (UK).

CATHERINE VAN DOREN -EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WORLDWIDE CLINICAL OPERATIONS

Ms. Van Doren serves as Executive Director Worldwide Clinical Operations. She is responsible for the supervision of the staff within Project Management and for the coordination of all projects worldwide. As a member of the Executive Management Committee, she assumes responsibility for strategic plans and objectives of the Clinical Operations Department including resource allocation, professional training, budgets, development and adherence to corporate SOPs and interface with other corporate divisions. She is also a member of the Business Development team and is instrumental in the development of project proposals.

Previously, she held the position of Senior Director of Clinical Research with Medifacts International, Inc. Prior to joining Medifacts Ms. Van Doren held the positions of Director of Clinical Operations for Celsion Corporation, Director of US Operations for the Belgian CRO, Medisearch International, and, Director of Clinical Operations for TherImmune Drug Development. She has been a Study Manager with Westat, Research Nurse Coordinator at UNC and the Clinical Recruiter for Yale New Haven Hospital and a critical care nurse practitioner.

Ms. Van Doren holds a Diploma in Nursing from St. Vincent's College of Nursing, Bridgeport, CT and her BS in Management from Teikyo Post University, Waterbury, CT.

MAREK SAWICKI, MD - DIRECTOR OF EUROPEAN CLINICAL OPERATIONS

Dr. Sawicki, as Director of European Clinical Operations is responsible for the management of all European projects including coordination of the project and monitoring teams. Based in the Warsaw, Poland office, he coordinates all project activities while also managing the Polish subsidiary. His most recent experience was as General Manager for Medifacts International Polska Sp. z o.o. where he was responsible for Polish clinical projects. Previously, he has held the positions of Regional Director of Premier Research Polska Sp. z o.o. and Inform Polska Sp. z o.o., and as Study Consultant for P & G Pharmaceuticals and Parexel. He practiced medicine as a Cardiologist in the prestigious National Institute of Cardiology in Warsaw from 1983-1998 and was involved in major clinical studies as a Principal Investigator.

Dr. Sawicki holds his medical degree from the Medical Academy of Warsaw, Poland, with specializations in internal medical and cardiology. He is the author of several scientific articles, monographs and has presented findings at international meetings. He is a member of the Polish Cardiac Society, Polish Hypertension Society and the European Society of Cardiology.

RAFAEL DIAZ, MD - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LATIN AMERICA

Dr. Rafael Diaz is responsible for the management of all projects in Latin America. Dr. Diaz is recognized as one of Latin America's leading cardiologists, with 30 years of clinical experience. With a specialty in clinical cardiology and echocardiography, he has been the Head of the Cardiology Department and Medical Director of ICBA. He is currently Director of Cardiology at ICR Rosario, Argentina and the President of Fundacion ECLA, a non-profit organization focusing on the development of clinical research in Latin America.

In addition to his clinical works, Dr. Diaz has written more than 30 articles, spoken at numerous international congresses and coordinated multiple studies at prestigious Universities and Medical institutions such as McMaster University, Duke University, Leuven University and the NIH. He was the Co-Director of EMERAS and has been an abstract reviewer for the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. In 2009, ECLA entered into an exclusive partnership agreement with GRS related to the conduct of clinical trials and related consulting services.

JILLIAN Z. LIN - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASIAN OPERATIONS

Ms. Lin is the Executive Director, Asian Operations for Global Research Services and is the General Manager of the China subsidiary, Global Medical Consulting Services (Shanghai) Ltd. Co. In these positions, Ms. Lin is responsible for corporate Asian strategy, business planning and management of all aspects of the Asian operations including budgets, human resources and study execution. Ms. Lin also serves on the executive management committee. She has served as a Project Leader in several regulatory consulting and feasibility studies for foreign pharmaceutical clients and has been the client liaison for multi-national projects involving the Shanghai staff. Ms. Lin held a similar position with Medifacts International, Inc. from 1997 until the creation of GRS' operations in 2007. Prior to joining Medifacts, Ms. Lin was the Director of China Development for Pepper International Associates, a division of Pepper, Hamilton and Scheetz, LLP from 1995 to 1997 and a Researcher and Policy Analyst for the American Enterprise Institute, Asian Studies Department from 1990 to 1995.

Ms. Lin holds her undergraduate degree from Fudan University in Shanghai, China and MA from Smith College, Northampton, MA with additional course work at both Georgetown and George Washington Universities.

She has presented at industry conferences on topics concerning clinical research and the regulatory environment in China and Asia for the DIA, Pharma Millennium and Partnerships with CROs. In addition, Ms. Lin jointly organized and executed a GCP training symposium with the Shanghai government and has been a Guest Lecturer to the Foreign Service Institute of the US Department of State.

NORMAN ELLIOTT - SENIOR DIRECTOR GLOBAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Mr. Elliott, in his role as Senior Director Global Business Development, is responsible for the creation of Business Development strategies for the corporation and is a member of the Executive Management Committee. His responsibilities include establishing sales targets, managing sales growth, developing strategic account plans for new clients, managing existing clients, hiring and managing the sales team, and overseeing RFP and proposal development. He held the position of Director, Business Development at Medifacts International, Inc. from 2002 to March 2007.

Mr. Elliott's prior industry experience includes Director Business Development, Quintiles Canada Inc. and various sales, marketing and business development roles with Merck- Frosst Canada Inc, Glaxo Canada Inc., Miles Canada Inc. and Burroughs-Wellcome Canada Inc.