An exceptional partnership with a team of experts

Kamal Saini, MD, executive medical director at Fortrea Inc., is a board-certified medical oncologist based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, where he also practices part-time at the Addenbrooke’s (Cambridge University) Hospital. He contributes to the scientific strategic leadership of the oncology therapeutic area at Fortrea and provides clinical and medical expertise to project teams and other Fortrea departments on clients’ drug development projects. He liaises with key opinion leaders and academic cooperative groups with regard to the design, setup, and execution of cancer trials, especially in the breast cancer subdomain. He manages a team of high-performing medical monitors who are a part of the European oncology team. He leads the Precision Medicine and Emerging Therapies Leadership Center at Fortrea, and is also our global Scientific Publications Lead (Oncology). He brings more than 15 years of experience in clinical research and development to Fortrea. He is the author or co-author of several peer-reviewed journal articles. He joined our company in 2015.

Publications

• The Evolving Landscape in Multiple Myeloma: From Risk Stratification to T Cell-Directed Advanced Therapies
• Unraveling the link between cholesterol and immune system in cancer: From biological mechanistic insights to clinical evidence. A narrative review
• CAMBRIA-1 & CAMBRIA-2 phase III trials: camizestrant versus standard endocrine therapy in ER+/HER2– early breast cancer
• Bladder Cancer, Loss of Y Chromosome, and New Opportunities for Immunotherapy
• The Convergence of Radiology and Genomics: Advancing Breast Cancer Diagnosis with Radiogenomics

Luca Cantini, MD, PhD, is Medical Director at Fortrea, based in Leiden, the Netherlands. Dr. Cantini has 8 years of experience in oncology clinical drug development from academia to CROs, dealing with all aspects of early and late phase clinical trials. As a Medical Oncologist, he has been actively involved in translational research in Immuno-Oncology with a special focus on thoracic cancers. He earned his medical degree from the University of Pisa, Italy and completed his medical oncology fellowship training at the Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy. In 2020, he was awarded with the ESMO Translational Research Fellowship, to carry on a project titled “ENSURE study - dENdritic cell therapy combined with SURgEry in mesothelioma” at the Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. During the Fellowship, he decided to pursue a PhD trajectory at the same Institution, which has been finalized in 2022. Besides the ESMO Fellowship, he has been awarded with the IASLC Early Career Education Award, the ESO Grant for participating to the “18th ESO/ESMO Masterclass in Clinical Oncology,” the ESMO Grant for participating to the “Translational Research Unit Visit,” the ESMO Travel Grant for participating to the “2022 European Lung Cancer Conference,” and the NRS Travel Grant. He has authored 53 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals. He joined our company in December 2022.

Publications

• Determinants of 5-year survival in patients with advanced NSCLC with PD-L1≥50% treated with first-line pembrolizumab outside of clinical trials: results from the Pembro-real 5Y global registry
• Unraveling the link between cholesterol and immune system in cancer: From biological mechanistic insights to clinical evidence. A narrative review
• Differential impact of lipid profile according to neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio status in patients with advanced cancer treated with immunotherapy
• Biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: unraveling the path to precision immunotherapy
• Neoadjuvant therapy in hormone Receptor-Positive/HER2-Negative breast cancer

Isagani (Gani) M. Chico, MD, is Vice President and Global Head for Oncology Therapeutic Expertise, Fortrea Clinical Development Services, based in Baltimore, Maryland. Gani has more than 35 years of experience in oncology clinical drug development from small and medium sized biotechnology companies, CROs and the FDA, focused on planning and execution global oncology clinical development projects from early phase to post approval, leadership of cross-functional strategic teams within medical affairs and clinical development organizations, and management of pharmaceutical, academic and regulatory interactions. Gani earned his medical degree from the University of the Philippines, completed his Internal Medicine residency at the Cook County Hospital in Chicago, and completed his Medical Oncology fellowship training at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. 

At Fortrea, Gani leads a dedicated team of more than 50 oncology physicians with an average of 23 years of academic and industry-related clinical experience in countries across Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia. The oncology medical team executes program and study level medical oversight that span early phase clinical development through late-phase and post-marketing studies. Fortrea also offers a group of consultants that provide expertise in specific tumor indications, technologies and drug classes, including study protocol and clinical development planning and strategy, establishment of target product profiles, feasibility and risk assessment.

Publications

• Equitable inclusion of diverse populations in oncology clinical trials: deterrents and drivers
• Cancer Trials Ecosystem in India—Ready for Prime Time?
• Biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: unraveling the path to precision immunotherapy
• Antibody-drug conjugates, immune-checkpoint inhibitors, and their combination in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Maria Ignacia Berraondo, MD, is Executive Medical Director and Head of Americas Oncology Therapeutic Expertise. Is a board-certified medical hematologist based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Dr. Berraondo has +12 years of experience in clinical research, providing clinical and medical expertise to project teams and other Fortrea departments to advance clients’ drug development programs and contributing to the planning and execution of the scientific strategic leadership of the Oncology-Hematologic therapeutic area.

She manages a team of high-performing medical monitors who are part of the North America and Latin America oncology team. She leads the Hematologic Leadership Center at Fortrea, and contributes to strategic partnership development in the region.

Publications

• Equitable inclusion of diverse populations in oncology clinical trials: deterrents and drivers
• Antibody-drug conjugates, immune-checkpoint inhibitors, and their combination in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Ken has over 30 years Clinical development experience across CROs, pharma & Biotech. He has significant experience from Pre-clinical validation, Global Clinical development planning, Program study execution and reporting, including licence application and approval to post registrational medical affairs activities.

With significant experience leading project management groups globally for over 20 years, through his 8 year tenure at FORTREA he transitioned from leading the PM group into a leadership role integrating the end to end solutions for Labcorp from preclinical through clinical & Laboratory services. In his current role he globally leads the Strategic Delivery and Growth team for Oncology, who are tasked with establishing compelling strategies aligned with our customers clinical development needs from FTIH Phase I to pre and post registrational study planning and delivery.

The primary focus for his team is leveraging the internal and external resources available to ensure a robust data driven study delivery strategy is established for clients needs and then working closely with the operational team to ensure delivery of that strategy. Although aligned to Oncology this team is truly cross therapeutic in background and experience from Cell and Gene therapy, immune-Oncology, radiotherapeutics, auto-immune disease and beyond to devices.

• 26+ years of drug development experience specializing in immuno-oncology in Pharma/Biotech and CRO environments
• Provides operational executive leadership for Oncology study portfolio at Fortrea
• Chief Development Officer experience managing cancer vaccine clinical development program
• Pragmatic and innovative Clinical Development Leader, building and managing early phase immuno-oncology portfolios, and operationalising various early/late phase protocols and programs in Oncology and Cell & Gene Therapy field

Diana Aguirre, MD, is Senior Medical Director in oncology for Fortrea Clinical Development Services, based in France. Dr. Aguirre has more than 25 years of experience in both oncology clinical practice and drug development within mid and large size Pharma companies, focused on solid tumors and systemic treatments development, planning and implementation of global oncology studies from phase II to phase IV and strategic interactions with different key stakeholders in oncology clinical development. 

Dr. Aguirre earned her Medical degree from the University of Caldas in Colombia and completed her Medical oncology training at the national Cancer Institute in Colombia. She completed a Masters degree in pharmacogenomics and molecular biomarkers in oncology at Paris XI University. She joined our company in January 2014.

Victor Angélico, MD, is a Senior Medical Director for Fortrea, based in Paris, France. He provides clinical and medical expertise to project teams and other Fortrea departments to advance clients’ drug development programs. Dr. Angélico performs medical monitoring on assigned projects; reviews protocols, case report forms and other data and materials, and contributes to the scientific leadership of the Oncology area at Fortrea with a special focus in early phase clinical studies and hematological malignancies. 

Dr. Angélico is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Oncology with 16 years in the clinic and has significant medical and pharmaceutical expertise with 14 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Before his current position, he served as Senior Medical Officer for Chiltern, France and as Medical Director at IQVIA France. Dr. Angelico joined our company in January 2019.

Liliana Baila, MD, is Senior Medical Director for Fortrea, based in Brussels, Belgium. She serves as lead project physician on clients’ drug development projects. Dr. Baila provides medical/scientific support to project teams, performs medical and safety monitoring on assigned projects, and develops and reviews protocols, case report forms and other data and materials. Dr. Baila has more than 25 years of experience as a physician, research clinician and medical director. Before joining Fortrea, she served as Clinical Research Physician for the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) in Brussels. Dr. Baila began her career as a physician training in neonatology and pediatrics at University Hospital in Romania. She joined our company in June 2020.

Moez Benali, MD, PhD, Senior Medical Director at Fortrea, also member of our global medical team, holds a medical degree and board certification in oncology supported by a PhD in molecular biology and anti-cancer drug development. He has over 22 years of overall working experience, 17 of which have been within the pharmaceutical industry (J&J, GSK, BMS, SOBI and Novartis Oncology) across Europe. As a well-rounded medical affairs and clinical development strategist, he has led activities across the life cycle drug development, and registered and launched 11 drugs at EMA, nine of them being the standard of care. 

Dr. Benali is a member of several cooperative groups such as ELN, EORTC and EBMT and head of Oncologues Sans Frontières. He joined our company in October 2022.

Publications

• CAR-T-Cell Therapy in Multiple Myeloma: B-Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) and Beyond

Carmen Besliu, MD, is Senior Medical Director in Bucharest, Romania. She serves as global lead project physician on clients’ drug development projects and provides medical/scientific expertise to project teams. Dr. Besliu reviews medical data and other materials, is responsible for medical and safety monitoring, and provides training in disease states and protocol-specific requirements to advance knowledge of good clinical practices across the company. She has more than 25 years of experience as a physician, research clinician, medical affairs head, and medical director. Before joining Fortrea, she was Oncology Medical Affairs Head for Novartis Pharma Services in Bucharest. She also has held medical affairs and clinical research positions with Baxter Healthcare, Sandoz, Roche, and AstraZeneca. Carmen joined our company in February 2021.

Publications

• The Evolving Landscape in Multiple Myeloma: From Risk Stratification to T Cell-Directed Advanced Therapies

Olga Bodriagova, MD, PhD, is a Medical Director in Oncology for Fortrea Clinical Development Services, based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Dr. Bodriagova has more than 20 years of experience in oncology clinical drug development as an Investigator, CRA and Medical Monitor in all phases of clinical development projects from early phase to post approval in different therapeutic areas, mainly oncology and women’s health. Dr. Bodriagova is serving as global lead project physician, providing medical and safety monitoring on assigned projects. 

Dr. Bodriagova earned her medical degree from the Kyiv Medical Institute in Ukraine and completed OB/GYN residency at the Kyiv City Hospital #2. Dr. Bodriagova received an oncogynecology certification from the Kyiv Institute of Postgraduate and defended her PhD thesis in the field of endocrine gynecology. She joined our company in 2014.

Publications

• Bladder Cancer, Loss of Y Chromosome, and New Opportunities for Immunotherapy
• Recent Advances in Gynecological Malignancies: Focus on ASCO 2023

Patrícia Andrade Brandalise, MD, is a boarded clinical oncologist in Brazil since 2005. Dr. Brandalise earned her MD and MsC degrees at Campinas State University (UNICAMP), Brazil, and received her oncology qualifications in the Campinas Institute of Oncology. She is an active member of the Brazilian Society of Oncology. 

Dr. Brandalise has more than 18 years of experience in clinical oncology with clinical, investigational and administrative responsibilities and 15 years serving in pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Fortrea, Patrícia worked for Janssen and Abbvie as Medical Director for Latin America in the Hematology and Oncology Business Unit. She also served as Oncology Medical Leader for Roche Brazil implementing several compassionate use programs in Latin America, preparing and delivering launches for new molecules/indications. She also has been designing and implementing Phase I-II-III-IV trials in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, México, Peru, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Korea and Australia, many as lead physician.

Oxana Bzhadug, MD, PhD, is a Medical Monitor of Fortrea's global team, based in Moscow, Russia. Dr. Bzhadug has significant medical and pharmaceutical expertise with 14 years in the industry. Dr. Bzhadug received extensive scientific and clinical experience as a medical oncologist at Cancer Research Center (Moscow, Russia) for nine years. She has more than 23 years of experience in clinical trials, starting as sub-investigator in Phase I-III clinical trials and continuing in the industry supporting Phase I-IV trials within biotech (Amgen) and CRO. 

Dr. Bzhadug earned her Medical Degree in Moscow Medical and Dentist University and completed her Medical Oncology Fellowship in Cancer Research Center (Moscow). She has PhD degree in molecular biology of Breast Cancer. She joined our company in 2019.

Dr. Paulina Czajka-Francuz is a clinical oncologist with more than 25 years of experience in clinical trials. Acute hematological malignancies, as well as mechanisms of cancer resistance, have always been her main scientific interests. At Fortrea, Dr. Czajka-Francuz is primarily involved in Phase I and II hematological and oncological clinical trials.

Begoña de las Heras, MD, is Senior Medical Director in the Oncology Therapeutic Area, based in Madrid, Spain. Dr. de las Heras has more than 23 years of national and international clinical/clinical research oncology experience including the pharmaceutical and CRO industry, focused on planning and execution of global oncology clinical development from FIH to registration. Dr. de las Heras has held regional and global positions of increasing responsibility in oncology clinical drug, being her main area of expertise the development of early phase oncology programs. She has provided significant contribution to INDs, orphan drug applications and one NDA submission. She has co-authored of 8 book chapters, authored/co-authored more than 20 papers in oncology and named as inventor of two patent applications, according to her contribution to the clinical trials. Dr. de las Heras earned her medical degree from the University Autonoma of Madrid and completed her oncology residence at La Paz Hospital in Madrid. She joined our company in 2016.

Publications

• Bladder Cancer, Loss of Y Chromosome, and New Opportunities for Immunotherapy

Ashok Deenabandu MD is a Medical Director for Oncology at Fortrea, based in India supporting Asia-Pacific and EU region. With over 20 years of experience-including 14 years in global clinical development-Ashok has led numerous drug and device trials across leading CROs and product companies. He has served as Medical Lead for multiple global studies for both large pharmaceutical sponsors and emerging biotech firms.

His domain expertise includes both Immuno oncology and Cell/gene therapies, with focussed interest in lung cancer,hepatocellular carcinoma,gastric cancer,sarcoma,radiopharmaceuticals-in neuroendocrine,prostate cancers and early-phase trials involving CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapies targeting solid tumors.

As a core member of the Global Oncology Team at Fortrea, he focuses on advancing clinical operations in India and the Asia-Pacific region. His role integrates scientific leadership with strategic oversight, supporting regulatory compliant trial design, cross-functional process optimization, and engagement with investigators and key opinion leaders (KOLs) to ensure successful study delivery.Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a consistent ability to translate regulatory insights into actionable business strategy, supporting global submission efforts, and shape internal frameworks that enhance operational excellence and client engagement.

Ashok is board certified Physician with specialist training in Radiology and Clinical Oncology from TN Dr MGR Medical University,India.He has also completed Fellowship in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of New South Wales, and holds an advanced training credential in Cell and Gene Therapy from Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine/ACTRIS, Singapore, thereby broadening his expertise in translational research and cutting-edge therapeutic modalities.

Marco Durini, MD, PhD, is senior medical director of oncology for Fortrea, based in Milano, Italy. He brings more than 25 years of experience in clinical research for CRO and Pharma. Before joining the company, he held medic positions with Ipsen, Pfizer, Sanofi, Roche. His expertise in oncology ranges from biomarkers/precision medicine to immuno-target therapies and vaccines in solid and non-solid malignancies. Oncogenomics and Radiomics are latest areas of interest. 

Dr. Durini is board certified medical doctor at the Milan physician registry, and hold a business school training mastership at the SDA Bocconi Milan. He received his medical degree with summa laude from the University of Milan in Italy, and a granted post-degree research fellowship at ICP - University of Milan. He is author of papers submitted to ESMO/ASCO congresses. He joined Fortrea (formerly Labcorp) early 2019.