17th Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD), 2024

Vikas Mohan Sharma, MD, joined Fortrea in December 2023 and serves as its Global Head of Neuroscience and Ophthalmology therapeutic areas. He is a recognized industry leader with more than 23 years of experience in healthcare and clinical development, known for his expertise in research ethics and patient safety. 

Dr. Sharma has held various leadership roles in healthcare, CROs and the biopharmaceutical industry and is considered a key opinion leader in the field of drug development. He leads and collaborates on various industry, consortia and non-governmental efforts to advance progress in precision psychiatry, digital biomarkers and the use of technologies to address healthcare access and “last mile” challenges. 

In his most recent role with Boehringer Ingelheim, Dr. Sharma was responsible for the end-to-end clinical development strategy and execution of early and late-stage products, as well as leading global clinical development, medical affairs and scientific relations teams spanning multiple therapeutic areas. With 16 years of clinical experience in psychiatry and as an investigator in CNS trials, Dr. Sharma has a track record of success in developing and executing first-in-class, “blue ocean” and “beyond the pill” product strategies for pharmacological as well as digital assets. He is known to champion early investment in biomarker development and has a passion for bringing the right stakeholders together. 

Dr. Sharma also serves an independent ethics expert with the European Research Council and other non-governmental organizations. He is passionate about helping children with special needs and volunteers for this cause by sharing his time and expertise. He earned his MD in Psychological Medicine from Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College (GSMC) and the King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital in Mumbai, India.

Dr. Gutiu is a board-certified neurologist with more than 15 years of clinical experience in a hospital setting across a wide range of neurological and psychiatric indications. He spent 10 years in academia as Assistant Professor of Neurology and attended doctoral courses in neuropharmacology. His 25 years of clinical research experience includes roles as an investigator, medical monitor and medical leadership positions spanning Phase I-IV studies. 

He has broad range of experience across product modalities, including biologics and cell and gene therapies as well as medical expertise in neuro and psychiatric diseases, including, but not limited to, neurodegenerative, pain, neuromuscular and demyelinating.

Dr. Korchak has more than 23 years of drug development industry experience across broad indication of neuroscience, supporting studies for small molecules, biologics and cell and gene therapies. Her expertise extends from early phase development through late phase/post-marketing studies in capacity of investigator, operational leader and head of clinical development of autologous cell therapy at a biotech company. As an investigator, Dr. Korchak held various COA certifications, e.g., EDSS, ADAS-cog, MMSE and CDR. Her expertise encompasses neurodegenerative, acute and rare neurology and various psychiatry diseases.