SEMINAR (IN PERSON)

PREPARING ACADEMIC INVESTIGATORS FOR CLINICAL TRIAL READINESS IN  NEUROLOGY

Academic researchers often face unexpected hurdles when the time comes to transition promising neurological treatments from the lab to a clinical trial. It is crucial that they have a clear idea of the criteria needed to meet regulatory, ethical and legal requirements for clinical trials as they reach the later stages of research.

The team from the Platform for Advanced Clinical Therapies (PACT) and Investigator-Initiated Trials (IIT) in The Neuro’s Clinical Research Unit will discuss how they support late-stage preclinical development as well as what it takes to design, start-up, and manage clinical trials for neurological indications.

Seminar and Q&A

• 60-minute seminar followed by Q&A.
• Seminar will be held in English; questions will be answered in French and English.

Networking Event

• Light refreshments to follow.

Who should attend:

• Academic researchers
• Clinician-scientists
• Life science businesses

SPEAKERS

Gabriele Riva is the Manager of the Clinical Research Unit at The Neuro (Neuro CRU), where he oversees all facets of clinical trial operations, managing a team of 40 professionals.

His expertise—spanning fundamental and preclinical research, regulatory compliance, and large-scale trial management—provides a broad vision of navigating the complexities of clinical trials. He brings extensive experience in trial feasibility, start-up, and oversight.

Nisha Pulimood is a neuroscientist and clinical research leader with expertise spanning molecular neuroscience, stem cell-based disease modeling, and clinical trial management for rare neurological disorders.

As Team Lead for Investigator-Initiated Trials, she oversees grant development, protocol design, regulatory submissions, and site operations across Canada. Her dual background in academic and clinical research enables her to drive projects that bridge discovery science with patient-centered clinical trials.

Theresa Degenhard manages the Platform for Advanced Clinical Therapies (PACT), supporting investigators in advancing late-stage preclinical therapeutics—such as RNA, gene, and cell therapies—into clinical trials. She is also a Project Lead in the Investigator-Initiated Trials team, driving the design, start-up, and management of clinical trials.

A graduate of the John Molson School of Business’s Life Science Entrepreneurship Development Program, Theresa combines scientific insight with business acumen, aligning research goals with funding and regulatory requirements to accelerate the translation of discovery into impactful therapies.