NextStage Clinical Research Appoints Melissa Holbrook as New Chief Operating Officer

NextStage Clinical Research, a company dedicated to integrating clinical research into patient care settings, has announced the appointment of Melissa Holbrook as its new Chief Operating Officer. This marks Holbrook's first C-suite position, bringing her extensive experience in clinical research leadership to the growing organization.

A Veteran in Clinical Research Takes the Helm

Melissa Holbrook, a trained nurse practitioner with a master's degree in nursing from Duke University, joins NextStage with a wealth of experience in the clinical research industry. Her most recent role was as Executive Vice President of Operations at Velocity Clinical Research, where she served for four and a half years. Prior to that, Holbrook spent approximately 15 years in various director and vice president positions at IQVIA, spanning the company's evolution from Quintiles to QuintilesIMS and finally to IQVIA.

Ned Schwing, NextStage's co-founder and executive chairman, expressed confidence in Holbrook's appointment, stating, "Her experience with research makes her uniquely qualified to scale our integrated site network model." This sentiment underscores the company's commitment to leveraging Holbrook's expertise to drive growth and innovation.

Expanding NextStage's Research Network

In her new role, Holbrook will oversee NextStage's operations as the company aims to expand its network of 16 research sites. This expansion aligns with NextStage's mission to embed research teams directly into patient care settings, a model that promises to make clinical trials more accessible and integrated into patients' lives.

Holbrook herself emphasized this patient-centric approach, saying, "I have spent my career at the intersection of care and research. I am excited to join a team that believes patients deserve research that fits into their lives, not outside of them."

A Diverse Therapeutic Focus

NextStage's research capabilities span a wide range of therapeutic areas, including pain management, neurology, cardiovascular disease, and dermatology. This broad focus positions the company to address various medical needs through its integrated research model.

As the pharmaceutical industry continues to evolve, NextStage's appointment of Melissa Holbrook signals a strategic move to strengthen its operational leadership and further its mission of patient-centered clinical research.