Christine Catalogna’s (B.Sc (Hons), PhD) first exposure to clinical research came via her clinically-based PhD studies which she undertook through the Melbourne University Department of Medicine based at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Her doctoral research focused generally on assessing the use of nerve stimulation for pain measurement and management but in particular, how this might be influenced by age using a comparison of younger and older adults. This work sparked a major interest in applied clinical research and soon after completing her academic studies, Christine made the move from the lab to the pharmaceutical industry. She joined global CRO, PPD in mid-1998, first as a Research Assistant, learning the industry from the ground up and then as a Clinical Research Associate in 1999. During this time, Christine gained extensive experience in many therapeutic areas such as Oncology, Ophthalmology, Female Reproductive Health, and Respiratory Disorders, including large-scale influenza vaccine trials, in both paediatric and adult populations. She has worked with a range of Sponsors – from large pharma to small biotech start-up companies – in all phases of trials (in particular phases II-III) and has seen many projects through from early start-up activities to close-out.

Christine stayed with PPD for 12 years, progressing through the CRA ladder (Senior, then Principal), eventually joining the Clinical Operations/CRA management group in 2005. Her responsibilities in this position were varied including: supporting senior management in the selection, mentoring, training and development of an 80-strong team of CRAs and Research Assistants (at both junior and senior levels); assisting in the recruitment, selection and project allocation of staff; developing and providing training on GCP, Standard Operating Procedures, Working Practice Documents and regulatory updates impacting on clinical operations; and co-ordinating the local Australia/New Zealand Regulatory Compliance Review process which ensured that all necessary documentation/approvals were in place prior to study start.

At the beginning of 2011, Christine took a sabbatical from the industry to focus on her young family. During this time, she remained an active member of the Association of Regulatory and Clinical Scientists to the Australian Pharmaceutical Industry Limited (ARCS) as she has been since 1998. Christine joined Five Corners as a Clinical Research Consultant in November 2011 and her key responsibilities lie in working with clients to undertake their Clinical Research activities in Australia and New Zealand.