Altasciences Clinical Research has hired Dr. Gaetano Morelli as part of their medical team. Dr. Morelli has over two decades of experience in clinical research, Phases I to III, as a Principal Investigator and Medical Director. He is the Director of Gastroenterology/Endoscopy at St. Mary’s Hospital, McGill University, in Montreal, Canada, and maintains both private and academic GI practices in the area.
“Dr. Morelli’s work has been instrumental in our ongoing GI-related Phase I studies, including those intended to investigate the efficacy of drugs in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), an advanced form of fatty liver disease that causes scarring and inflammation. In addition to acting as sub-investigator on studies, he supports the development of protocols, participates in Safety Review Committee meetings, and performs endoscopies and other therapeutic techniques that are often primary endpoints of GI studies,” said Ingrid Holmes, vice president, Clinical Operations, at Altasciences.
Altasciences has developed collaborations with multiple hospitals, therefore facilitating access and identification of NASH patients, which has resulted in enhanced subject recruitment and engagement. Furthermore, the company says its operational team has the expertise to conduct these early phase trials that require specific imaging and biomarker services, in addition to an understanding of metabolic and gastrointestinal disease therapeutic areas.