Moving Medicine Forward

Summer Farmen and Jeff Sturm share their personal cancer journeys and the mission behind ALK Positive, CTI’s Q3 Charity of the Quarter. ALK Positive is a patient-driven organization dedicated to improving outcomes for individuals living with ALK-positive cancer. Together, they discuss how they became advocates within a global patient community, the importance of genetic testing and second opinions...

This week, we're revisiting a previous conversation with Jon Koch, CEO, and Brian Lawrence, CFO and President, as they share their perspective on what’s next for CTI as the organization enters a new phase of growth. They reflect on CTI’s legacy of partnership and execution while outlining how they plan to expand its impact across complex clinical trials. From scaling capabilities and investing...

What does it take to design clinical trials that truly put patients first—especially when those patients are children? In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward , Dr. Radhika Peddinti, Medical Director at CTI, discusses her journey from pediatric hematology/oncology at the bedside to shaping clinical research at a global scale. Drawing on more than two decades of experience caring for children an...

In this episode, we’re joined by Rafael Miñana Prieto, Senior Manager of Operations for Laboratory Services at CTI, who oversees global biorepository operations across the U.S. and Europe. He walks through the full specimen lifecycle—from kit design and sample collection to storage, retrieval, and delivery—and explains why biological specimens are the foundation of clinical research. Rafael shares...

In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward , Dr. Robert Fisher—one of the pioneers of modern transplant surgery—explores the rapidly advancing field of xenotransplantation and why it may represent a true turning point in medicine. From CRISPR-driven genetic engineering to breakthroughs in immunosuppression and scalable organ production, Dr. Fisher breaks down how decades of research are converging...

What does a recovering clinical research market actually look like in 2026? In this episode, Joel White , Owner of Market Cap Consulting, and Ryan Gifford , Vice President, Global Laboratory Services, Business Development & Client Management at CTI, join us to unpack the state of the industry—from the rebound in biotech funding to the growing importance of execution, site relationships, and sm...

In this MMF Rewind, we’re bringing back an important conversation with Lynda Lee Smith—one that shines a light on the ongoing challenges transplant families face and the critical role of research in improving outcomes. Lynda Lee Smith, CEO of Enduring Hearts, is featured on the Moving Medicine Forward Podcast to discuss the mission and impact of the nation’s only nonprofit dedicated to funding ped...

In this episode, Jon Koch, CEO, and Brian Lawrence, CFO and President, share their perspective on what’s next for CTI as the organization enters a new phase of growth. They reflect on CTI’s legacy of partnership and execution while outlining how they plan to expand its impact across complex clinical trials. From scaling capabilities and investing in talent to strengthening operational discipline a...

What does effective medical leadership look like in today’s complex research environment? In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward , Dr. Sliman discusses his path from patient care to clinical research leadership. Drawing on decades of experience, Dr. Sliman shares lessons on staying patient‑centered, navigating regulatory realities, and leading teams within evolving healthcare systems—offering...

Dr. Robert Wagner, Senior Medical Director and Principal Investigator at CTI’s Clinical Research Center, shares more about clinical trial operations at research sites.  Reflecting on nearly three decades in internal medicine and hospital‑based care, Dr. Wagner shares his path from patient care into clinical research, how that experience shapes his approach as an investigator, and why strong resear...

Halle Raicevich, Research Associates Manager; Rick Renko, Project Manager, Regulatory & Scientific Affairs; and Alexa Kehoe, Senior Clinical Project Coordinator, are featured on this episode of the Moving Medicine Forward podcast to discuss CTI’s Research Associate (RA) Program. This pathway is designed to help emerging talent gain real‑world experience while exploring opportunities across the...

Vincent Drouillon, Vice President of Global Central Lab Strategy and Growth at CTI, discusses how central laboratory services support clinical trials. He shares his path into laboratory medicine, explains why early collaboration and partnership are key to trial success, and outlines how global alignment and integrated lab solutions help sponsors move medicine forward.   00:36 Overview of Vincent’s...

Shakirah Bradford, Senior Director of Vendor Management and Sourcing at CTI, discusses the key relationships that support clinical research. She also shares her unconventional path into sourcing and highlights why vendor management is uniquely complex within regulated environments. Since joining CTI, Shakirah has helped shift vendor relationships from transactional to strategic, equipping teams wi...

Lynda Lee Smith, CEO of Enduring Hearts, is featured on the Moving Medicine Forward Podcast to discuss the mission and impact of the nation’s only nonprofit dedicated to funding pediatric heart transplant research. In this conversation, Lynda addresses the challenges transplant families face and how research is improving outcomes and quality of life. Listen now and consider donating to Enduring He...

What drives success at a clinical research site? Adam Roth , VP of Research Site Services, and Nick Finan , Director of Business Development and Client Management, share insights on site operations at CTI’s Clinical Research Center. They discuss feasibility, patient experience, trust based partnerships, and why operational realism is key to delivering high-quality clinical trials. Throughout the c...

Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) are transforming cancer research — but how do they actually work, and what does it take to bring them safely to patients? In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward , we speak with scientist Lidia Blasco about the science and promise of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) in cancer research. Lidia shares her journey from pharmacy and forensic analysis to oncology resear...

Paul Ayoub, co‑founder of Rarity PBC, joins this episode of Moving Medicine Forward to take us behind the scenes of developing sustainable, patient‑first gene therapies for rare genetic diseases. Paul explains how the guidance of influential mentors, combined with his experience in cell and gene therapy, shaped who he is and ultimately guided Rarity’s mission. This episode explores ADA‑SCID, the r...

In honor of World Kidney Day , we’re rereleasing this timely and insightful episode of Moving Medicine Forward . In this conversation, we sit down with Dr. Helio Tedesco , a globally recognized transplant nephrologist from São Paulo, Brazil, who leads one of the world’s largest kidney transplant programs and is now part of the CTI team . Joined by Dr. Christopher Boshkos , Senior Medical Director...

Christin Godale, Executive Director of LifeSciKY, and Savannah Doliboa, Chief Commercial Officer at CTI and LifeSciKY board member, explore how purpose built infrastructure can unlock the next generation of medical breakthroughs in our latest podcast episode. Together, they discuss why infrastructure is often the missing link in drug development, how regional collaboration fuels innovation, and wh...

What happens when patients become true partners in healthcare innovation? In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward , we speak with Dr. Karin Hehenberger , physician, scientist, transplant recipient, and Founder & President of Lyfebulb , about how lived experience can reshape chronic disease care. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a teenager, Karin’s journey through medicine, biotech, and ult...

In honor of Rare Disease Day, we sat down with Tammy Black, Chief Communications Officer at the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) , to discuss primary immunodeficiency (PI): a rare, lifelong condition that affects thousands of people and is frequently misdiagnosed. Tammy shares how living with a chronic illness shapes daily life and why education, advocacy, and strong community support are essent...

In honor of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we sit down with Megan Kamm , Head of Global Clinical Project Management at CTI, and Dr. Amanda King , nurse practitioner, PhD, and clinical researcher in oncology and rare disease. Together, they explore their career paths, early scientific inspirations, the promise of personalized medicine, and how women are driving innovation acro...

In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward, we speak with CTI Founder & CEO Tim Schroeder and Managing Director of Latin America Jaqueline Aguiar about the region’s scientific strength, evolving regulatory landscape, exceptional patient retention, and growing role in rare disease and advanced therapies. They share real‑world examples of record‑speed approvals, high‑quality data, and the cultur...

In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward , Dr. Monica Shah, Chief Medical Officer at CTI and President-Elect of the American Heart Association's Greater Washington Region Board of Directors, reflects on why Wear Red Day holds personal significance to her.  Dr. Shah shares her path through cardiology and clinical research, the American Heart Association’s community impact across the region, a...

In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward , we talk with Earnestine Walker and Ali Manson of ZERO Prostate Cancer about their mission to ensure every man—regardless of background—has access to early detection, support services, and quality care. They break down Blitz the Barriers , ZERO’s major initiative targeting disparities in the hardest‑hit communities, and share how programs like ZERO360 an...