Dr. Gavin Samuels assumed the role Chief Business Officer at CinRx Pharma in June 2022. Prior to this, he served as Strategic Business Advisor to CinRx since August 2021. In his role, Dr. Samuels is responsible for leading strategic, business & corporate development functions and transactions for the CinRx portfolio.

Dr. Samuels has 25 years of experience across large and emerging biotech settings in various functions including business development, private and public financing, investor relations, and strategy. Before joining CinRx, he served as Global Head of Strategy & Growth Initiatives at Lonza Biologics, where he oversaw strategic development and implementation of new business models and strategies. Prior to this, Dr. Samuels held transactional and business development positions at Merck, Pfizer and Teva Pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Samuels received a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (M.D.) from the University of Witwatersrand, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of New England.

Beth Moriarity is the Director of Clinical Monitoring at CinRx Pharma, a position she has held since January 2020. In this role, Beth is responsible for overseeing site selection, reviewing monitoring activities, and ensuring adherence to study protocols. She serves as the primary contact for monitoring-related issues and collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to enhance study plans. Beth also provides oversight to CRO Clinical Research Associates (CRAs) and manages escalations and updates to ensure smooth and efficient study operations.

With over 22 years of experience in clinical research and regulatory affairs, Beth brings extensive expertise in leading and managing clinical monitoring activities. Her background equips her with a deep understanding of the complexities involved in clinical trials and the regulatory landscape.

Beth holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northern Kentucky University.

Smita Singh is the Project Manager of Clinical Operations at CinRx Pharma, where she oversees the management of goals, tasks, and deliverables throughout the project lifecycle. Her role involves coordinating communication among team members and stakeholders, tracking the progress of clinical studies from initiation to completion, and assessing risks while developing effective mitigation strategies.

Smita has 14 years of experience in preclinical and clinical operations, including specialized work in gastroenterology. She managed a network of 12 GI specialty care sites, playing a role in the development of several gastrointestinal drugs with FDA breakthrough therapy designation. Her extensive expertise in clinical development and operations is instrumental in supporting CinRx’s commitment to advancing therapeutic innovations.

Smita holds a Bachelor of Dentistry from Christian Dental College and a Master’s in Pharma Management from ICFAI University. She is a certified Clinical Research Professional and also holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Outside of CinRx, Smita enjoys cooking, traveling, and serving her community.

Dalia Hope Levine is the Senior Director of Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) at CinRx Pharma. In this role, Dalia leads the CMC development efforts for multiple assets in the portfolio at various stages of the drug development lifecycle. She implements strategic CMC initiatives to ensure seamless program progression and the manufacture of high-quality products, overseeing everything from drug substance to the final packaged drug product.Dalia brings over 15 years of experience from leading pharmaceutical companies, including Merck & Co., Johnson & Johnson, Atox Bio, and Eloxx. Her extensive background provides her with a profound expertise in the complexities of drug development and manufacturing, which she applies to manage and advance the CinRx portfolio effectively.

She earned her Bachelor’s of Engineering from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art and holds a Master’s and PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. During her undergraduate studies, Dalia also spent junior year abroad at Tel Aviv University, Lowy School for Overseas Studies, supported by a U.S. government NSEP Scholarship.

Outside of CinRx, Dalia is passionate about running and swimming, with a newfound enthusiasm for open water swimming, inspired by her first Mediterranean Sea swim. She also enjoys indulging in coffee and chocolate. Additionally, Dalia serves as Co-President of The Penn Club of Israel (UPENN).

Jason Westerheide is the Executive Director of Business Development at CinRx, where he leads the search and evaluation of new assets and oversees partnering activities across the CinRx portfolio. In this role, Jason is also responsible for driving strategic branding, marketing, and communications efforts for the CinCo’s.

With over 15 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and clinical development sectors, Jason has a proven track record of forging successful, strategic partnerships in clinical development, trial supplies, and expanded access programs. Before joining CinRx, he spent the majority of his career in various business development roles at Medpace, a leading global Contract Research Organization (CRO).

Jason earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Xavier University in Cincinnati and is based in New York City with his bernedoodle, Jasper.

Yuan Lu serves as the Director of Toxicology at CinRx, where she plays a pivotal role in the non-clinical safety assessment strategy design, execution, and risk evaluation across all CinRx portfolio pipelines. Her responsibilities include managing non-clinical safety assessment programs from IND through NDA for all CinRx subsidiaries.

Yuan’s role involves extensive communications with regulatory agencies, preparing regulatory documents for global submissions, and facilitating the pharmacology, PK/TK, and toxicology functions to ensure the progress of all programs. She leverages her broad expertise to design and oversee studies, assess safety, and establish safe-use conditions for novel therapies in clinical trials.

Her experience includes as a Study Director at Charles River and an Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University.  Yuan holds a Master of Science in Molecular Pharmacology from Peking Union Medical College and a Doctor of Medicine from Ningxia Medical University.

Tonya Conner is a highly skilled Executive Assistant at CinRx Pharma, where she plays a crucial role in providing strategic support to the Chief Executive Officer and other C-Suite executives. Her ability to manage complex executive functions with efficiency ensures the seamless operation and productivity of the organization.

Before joining CinRx Pharma, Tonya held prominent roles including Chief of Staff at The Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio and R&D Administrator at The Procter & Gamble Company. These positions allowed her to develop a broad range of skills in leadership, organizational management, and strategic planning. Tonya is also a Notary Public for the state of Ohio.

Outside of her career, Tonya is actively involved in her community and enjoys attending live performances and sporting events.

Jan Chambers serves as the Shared Service Lead at CinRx Pharma, where she provides essential support to the Finance and Accounting functions. In this role, Jan is responsible for processing transactions across all CinRx subsidiaries, managing purchase orders, and offering comprehensive financial administrative assistance to her team.

Before joining CinRx, Jan owned and managed a small construction company, gaining valuable experience in office management and financial operations.

 Jan holds an Associate of Business Management degree from Southern Ohio College.

 Outside of work, Jan is a devoted mother of four wonderful children. She has a passion for the ocean, enjoys cooking, and loves spending time in her garden.

Brendan Doran, PharmD, is the Executive Director of Clinical Operations at CinRx Pharma, where he leads the development and execution of late-phase clinical programs for the CinCo’s. His focus is on accelerating the progress of therapeutics toward marketing approval or a successful exit from the portfolio. In his role, Brendan is instrumental in establishing and managing relationships with key opinion leaders (KOLs), subject matter experts, and patient advocacy groups to support scientifically sound development programs. He also oversees external vendors, including clinical research organizations (CROs) and central laboratories, handling contract negotiations, performance oversight, and ensuring deliverables meet quality standards.

With over 18 years of experience in clinical research and practice, Brendan’s career includes roles in clinical, regulatory, investigational pharmacy, and monitoring within the contract research organization (CRO) setting. His professional background is complemented by his training as a pharmacist, with experience in both inpatient and ambulatory care hospital settings.

Brendan earned his PharmD from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Mercyhurst University. He is a licensed pharmacist in Ohio and Kentucky and serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, where he teaches in the Masters of Drug Development Program.

 Brendan lives in Cincinnati with his wife, Elizabeth, and their daughter, Ava.

Joanne Salageanu is the Associate Director of Clinical Pharmacology at CinRx Pharma, where she leads the development of clinical pharmacology strategies for the portfolio. Her role involves providing expert guidance on regulatory submissions and collaborating with cross-functional teams to advance all pre-clinical and clinical stage assets in the pipeline.

Joanne excels in identifying modeling opportunities and applying Model-Informed Drug Development (MIDD) strategies to refine Phase 1 study designs, including optimizing dose-finding strategies to ensure efficacy and safety. She oversees the end-to-end design, execution, interpretation, and reporting of clinical pharmacology studies, drafts protocol components, and analyzes pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) data to inform strategic decisions which drive compound progression.

Her extensive experience encompasses roles at major pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Merck, Bayer, and Boehringer Ingelheim. Joanne has expertise in clinical pharmacology and pharmacometrics, preclinical and clinical pharmacokinetics (PK), bioanalysis of peptides and proteins, as well as analytical chemistry, structure elucidation, and safety assessment/toxicology studies.

Joanne earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science.

Kyndal Michel Marks serves as the Director of Finance & Accounting at CinRx Pharma, overseeing the financial management and accounting operations for CinRx and its portfolio companies. In this role, Kyndal is responsible for maintaining accurate books and records, managing accounts payable, and coordinating with external service providers for audit and tax purposes. She plays a key role in the fundraising process, contributing her expertise to support CinRx’s financial strategy and growth.

Kyndal began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Boston, where she spent eight years specializing in tax services. She also spent time in Boston broadening her experiences as a Financial Analyst at Summit Partners. After relocating to Cincinnati in 2019, Kyndal took on the role of Manager of Fund Operations at Fund Evaluation Group (FEG), further honing her skills in fund management and financial operations.

Kyndal holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with a concentration in Accounting from Boston College.

Outside of work, Kyndal values time with her husband and two young children. She is an enthusiastic Cincinnati sports fan, avid traveler, and a dedicated runner. Additionally, she actively contributes to her community through her involvement with several local and philanthropic boards.

With nearly two decades of dedicated experience in Quality Control and Quality Assurance across biopharmaceutical and contract research laboratories, Beth Hill serves as a Senior Quality Assurance Specialist at CinRx. In her role, Beth provides critical quality support for Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) operations and manages the company’s Internal Quality Management System, ensuring that all processes meet rigorous industry standards and regulatory requirements.

Beth’s expertise is grounded in her extensive background, which includes a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Massachusetts. She has received multiple advanced certifications, including ISO 9001:2018 Lead Auditor Training and Internal Auditing / IEC 17025:2017 Training. These qualifications underscore her commitment to maintaining high standards of quality and compliance in her work.

Beth is also a certified yoga instructor and co-owner of Essence Haverhill, a community yoga studio located in Haverhill, MA.

Kristin Caniglia is the Executive Director of Clinical Data Management at CinRx, where she plays a pivotal role in all clinical data management operations. With a focus on ensuring the timely delivery of complete, reliable, and high-quality clinical trial data, Kristin is instrumental in the planning and execution of all clinical studies across phases for the CinCo’s.

Before joining CinRx in 2018, Kristin amassed 22 years of experience in clinical data management at the global CRO, Medpace. Her expertise spans therapeutic areas, but has particular focus on cardiovascular, metabolic, and oncology trials, underscoring her deep knowledge and proficiency in managing complex clinical trials.

Kristin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Zoology and an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, both from Miami University of Ohio.

BJ Privett, PhD, is the Director of Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) at CinRx Pharma. In this role, BJ leads the discovery and CMC development efforts for multiple programs within the CinRx Pharma portfolio, driving innovation and ensuring the highest standards in chemistry, manufacturing, and quality control.

Prior to joining CinRx, BJ accumulated 12 years of experience from Novan, Inc. (now Pelthos Therapeutics), a pharmaceutical startup where he played a key role in developing a new class of drugs. His responsibilities included leadership roles within chemistry, analytical, process, and product development across all phases, and culminated with a successful marketing application and the buildout of a commercial drug substance facility.

BJ holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Centre College in Danville, KY, and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Outside of his professional life, BJ lives in North Carolina with his wife and three daughters. The family also includes a gerbil and a flock of chickens.

Mackenzie Pater is the Executive Director of Portfolio Management at CinRx, where she plays a crucial role as a liaison between the company’s medical and scientific teams and its financing and business development functions. As a member of the Executive team, Mackenzie is responsible for maintaining a comprehensive and up-to-date view of CinRx’s portfolio, including individual companies and compounds. She closely oversees timelines, budgets, and key inflection points, ensuring that all aspects of the portfolio are effectively managed. Additionally, Mackenzie handles investor relations and evaluates the compatibility of new investment opportunities with the company’s strategic goals.

 Prior to her current role, Mackenzie spent three years as Director of Clinical Operations at CinRx, where she led the development of CinCor’s CIN-107 clinical program. Her career also includes five years in Clinical Operations at CTI Clinical Trials and Consulting, where she honed her expertise in managing complex clinical projects.

 Mackenzie holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton, a Master’s in Exercise Physiology from Wake Forest University, and a PhD in Biomechanics from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). She furthered her education with an MBA from Xavier University, equipping her with a strong blend of scientific and business insight.

 Outside of work, Mackenzie resides in Cincinnati with her husband, Jeff, and their two young sons. She is an avid marathoner and a humbled golfer.

Anthony Bucaro serves as the Senior Contract Specialist at CinRx, where he is responsible for reviewing and negotiating all clinical trial contracts and budgets for the CinCo’s. In addition to his critical study start up work across the portfolio, Anthony manages the contracting process for consultants and vendors, ensuring seamless collaboration and compliance.

Before joining CinRx, Anthony spent five years in the Contract Research Organization (CRO) industry, gaining valuable insights and expertise in contract management.

 Anthony holds a degree in Business Administration from Northern Kentucky University. Notably, before transitioning into the industry, he dedicated nine years to the United States Army as a Combat Medic.