The AVANZA Scientific Team

 

Steven Godin, PhD, DABT - Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Godin has experience in the contract research arena dating back to the mid 1980s, resulting in a diverse and unique combination of experience and leadership.  He currently serves as the Chief Scientific Officer, responsible for overall scientific leadership and direction of the toxicology program.  Most recently he served as Senior Director of Toxicology for Bridge Laboratories and has held other scientific and leadership roles at Gene Logic Laboratories, MPI Research, White Eagle Laboratories, and Cephalon.  Dr. Godin has published more than 30 manuscripts in scientific journals and presented over 50 abstracts at national and international meetings.  His areas of expertise include: ocular toxicity and PK studies, safety studies of oncology products, vaccine safety and biodistribution studies involving several novel routes of administration, reproductive toxicity studies in canines and felines, target animal safety studies of veterinary pharmaceuticals, juvenile toxicology studies, dermal toxicity, and wound healing studies.  Dr. Godin holds a BA in Biology from the University of Massachusetts, a MS in Biology from the University of Kentucky, and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Kentucky and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology.

 

 

Gary Wolfe, PhD, DABT - Vice President Non-Clinical Program Management

Dr. Wolfe has experience in the drug development arena dating back to late 1970’s, including holding positions of significant responsibility with CROs such as Hazleton Laboratories, TherImmune Research Corporation, and Gene Logic Laboratories as well with drug development consulting firms including Summit Drug Development, Aclairo Pharmaceutical Development, and most recently his own toxicology consulting business called Gary Wolfe Toxicology LLC. He currently serves as AVANZA’s Vice President of Non-Clinical Program Management and is able to provide guidance to clients and other study directors on drug development programs and non-clinical study designs. Dr. Wolfe has participated in 19 publications and 36 presentations. Dr. Wolfe received his M.S. and Ph. D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from Purdue University and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology.

 

 

Bernadette Alisantosa, DVM, MPVM, DACLAM, CPIA - Attending Veterinarian

Dr. Alisantosa is an ACLAM-Boarded Veterinarian with over 20 years experience in the veterinary field and over 15 years experience managing AAALAC accredited animal care and use programs in academia and in the pharmaceutical industry. Her expertise is in functional and project management, and she has a broad research background in comparative medicine, infectious diseases, and veterinary animal models, including animal models for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington, Arthritis, Diabetes and Obesity, Cancer and Oncology, Aerosol and Infectious diseases, and Select Agent models. She has extensive experience with IACUC protocol development and review, writing Standard Operating Procedures and GLP protocols, and managing regulatory inspections and audits from the FDA, USDA, CDC, PHS, NIH, DEA, and IBC. Dr. Alisantosa holds a DVM from Airlanga University and a Masters of Preventive Veterinary Medicine degree from the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis.  She is an Institute of Laboratory Animal Management graduate and a Certified Professional IACUC Administrator.

 

 

Monica Vegarra, BS – Executive Director, Toxicology Support Services

Ms. Vegarra has experience in the contract research arena dating back to the late 1980s.  Currently she serves as a Study Director and also manages the Toxicology Support Services group.  Prior to this she was the Director of Vivarium Operations for Bridge Laboratories, Senior Manager of Operations for Gene Logic Laboratories, and Study Director at Covance Laboratories.  She holds a BS in Biology from Bowie State University.

 

 

 

 

 

Elisabeth A. Hanan, MS – Associate Study Director

Ms. Hanan has experience in the drug development industry since 2003 and has worked in preclinical contract research since 2006. Prior to serving as an Associate Study Director for AVANZA, she has held senior positions in the Toxicology Support Services department for Bridge Laboratories and Gene Logic and has worked in immunoassay development for ELISA and cell-based platforms at Human Genome Sciences and CoGenesys. She holds a BA in Biology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and an MS in Microbiology and Immunology from Georgetown University.