Oren Cohen, M.D., has been named senior vice president and global head of Quintiles‘ Phase I Clinical Research division, which includes facilities in Overland Park, KS, London and Hyderabad. Dr. Cohen will leverage the company’s breadth of clinical trial services and expertise in biomarker development to provide sponsors with an integrated early clinical development platform that “reduces overall study costs, simplifies trial management and accelerates development, while ensuring quality and patient safety,” according to a company statement.

“Oren brings a deep understanding of the patient and a wealth of clinical and scientific expertise from his tenure as Quintiles’ chief medical and scientific officer (CMSO),” said Paula Brown Stafford, president of Quintiles Clinical Development.

Dr. Cohen completed a fellowship in infectious diseases at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and then held several scientific and administrative positions within NIAID. He joined Quintiles as a medical advisor in 2001 and was appointed CMSO in 2004.

“The Phase I clinical research space is changing rapidly, with fewer new molecules entering development and a fundamental shift in target study populations from healthy volunteers to patient groups,” said Dr. Cohen.