Race appoints Australian Clinical Program Director

Race Oncology is pleased to welcome highly experienced oncology clinical trials specialist Dr Marinella Messina as its Australian Clinical Program Director.

Dr Messina will commence of 16 March 2020 and will be responsible for progressing the Australian trials, part of the Company’s new ‘5 path’ strategy.

Dr Messina has managed a wide range of clinical trials over the past 10 years, across all development phases (I, II, III and IV). She has also worked with a number of pharmaceutical companies and research investigators during this time. 

Dr Messina was previously employed at Datapharm, an Australian Clinical Research Organisation (CRO), where she progressed from a Clinical Research Associate to Senior Clinical Project Manager over a six-year period. During her time with Datapharm, she oversaw the start-up, recruitment and management of numerous clinical trials. 

Dr Messina subsequently worked for ASX-listed drug development biotech, Noxopharm Limited for nearly four years as both Clinical Operations Manager and Clinical Program Manager for Noxopharm’s anti-cancer drug candidate Veylonda. 

“I am very pleased to welcome Marinella into the Race Oncology team. I am confident that her background in clinical trial management and design, particularly in oncology, will prove invaluable as we advance Bisantrene in the clinic both in Australia and internationally,” said Race Oncology CSO Dr Daniel Tillett.

Dr Messina holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sydney, and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the Department of Microbiology at the University of Sydney. She is also a Certified Medical Publication Professional and has been published extensively in a broad range of peer-reviewed publications. 

The Company is confident that Dr Messina’s considerable experience in cancer clinical trials and medical writing will greatly assist Race in progressing the ‘5 path’ strategy and associated Australian based clinical trials.