Catawba Research Adds Two Members to its Advisory Board

Catawba Research has expanded its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) with the appointments of Mary Spellman, M.D., and Cornelis (Cees) Wortel, Ph.D. 

The new appointments add further value to Catawba Research’s customer-centric support model and expertise in dermatology and immunology—both of which are pertinent to developing cutting-edge therapies. This enhanced expertise enables customers to better navigate the complexities of clinical trials with greater confidence, ultimately accelerating the path to market.

“The addition of Spellman and Wortel to our SAB is a testament to our dedication to scientific excellence and innovation and will be invaluable in supporting the development of groundbreaking therapies. As we celebrate our company’s 10th anniversary, we continue to strengthen our position as the top choice for companies seeking a CRO with deep, specialized knowledge in these rapidly expanding areas of clinical development,” Catawba Research Chief Scientific Officer and Advisory Board Chairman Jack McLane, Ph.D., said.

Spellman and Wortel are the most recent additions to Catawba Research’s team of scientific and regulatory advisors who support sponsors across various therapeutic areas and provide clinical development and regulatory strategy across North America, Europe and Asia.

Spellman is a board-certified dermatologist with more than 30 years of experience in biopharmaceutical development. Her focus has been on inflammatory and infectious diseases, acne vulgaris, rare genetic skin conditions and cutaneous carcinomas. Her clinical oversight includes NDAs for topical corticosteroids, antifungals, antibiotics, retinoids, the PDE4 inhibitor crisaborole, and systemic agents for dermatologic and oncologic indications. She has also collaborated with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to develop and validate clinical endpoints for novel indications.

Spellman has held senior leadership roles at Castle Creek Biosciences, Menlo Therapeutics, Revance Therapeutics, Biogen Idec, Connetics Corporation, and Novartis, providing clinical leadership for numerous global regulatory submissions. She has served on the Board of Directors and as president of Dermatologists in Industry, on the Board of Directors for Women’s Dermatology Society, and as associate editor for the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Spellman earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin and is a diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology and a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology.
 
Dr. Wortel is a senior executive with more than 25 years of experience and has a proven track record in designing and implementing clinical development plans and regulatory strategy. His expertise spans a wide range of indications with a focus on autoimmune and immuno-oncology indications. After earning his medical degree and doctorate in immunology research at the University of Amsterdam, Dr. Wortel joined Centocor as a clinical team leader to develop Remicade. He most recently served as chief medical officer at Bingli and has held senior consulting leadership roles at Critical Therapeutics, Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Galapagos, and Molecular Partners AG.

Dr. Wortel is a venture partner at Vesalius Biocapital III, has chaired and presented at regulatory agency meetings in both the United States and Europe, and has extensive experience in digital health, data science, real-world data, and artificial intelligence/machine learning.
 
Catawba Research is a full-service contract research organization (CRO) providing clinical management expertise and services. Its executive leadership team has more than 160 years of combined experience and is comprised of industry professionals from large global pharmaceutical, small- and medium-sized biotechnology, global full-service CRO, and eClinical technology backgrounds. Its cross functional team of clinical trial professionals have successfully supported 800-plus clinical trials across their careers and since 2014, the company’s work has delivered 33 regulatory agency approvals. As an international service provider, Catawba Research is headquartered in North Carolina, and Mumbai, India. Its service offering also includes a Site Management Organization (SMO) based in Texas.