Moving Medicine Forward

In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward, we speak with CTI Founder & CEO Tim Schroeder and Managing Director of Latin America Jaqueline Aguiar about the region’s scientific strength, evolving regulatory landscape, exceptional patient retention, and growing role in rare disease and advanced therapies. They share real‑world examples of record‑speed approvals, high‑quality data, and the cultural dynamics that make LATAM a uniquely powerful environment for clinical trials. A must‑listen for anyone involved in global development or curious about the future of research in emerging markets.
 
01:22 Why LATAM is a strategic hub: scientific capability, cost efficiency, patient diversity, centralized healthcare, and increasingly fast regulatory timelines.
03:32 Tim on LATAM’s standout strengths — exceptional data quality, major specialty centers, and cost‑effective trial execution.
05:15 CTI’s expansion in the region: driven by rare disease needs, global sponsor demand, and Jaclyn’s leadership building a resilient LATAM infrastructure.
08:04 How LATAM supported global studies during COVID‑19and the ongoing complexities of logistics, sample transport, and country‑specific operations.
10:11 Significant regulatory acceleration across Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile — including <60‑day approvals forcomplex studies.
14:20 The role of CTI’s passionate teams and strong site relationships; unique investigator engagement in São Paulo.
18:38 Ethics committees’ central role in patient safety and informed consent; LATAM’s readiness for decentralized and hybrid trials.
22:14 Emerging local pharma capabilities and cultural factors influencing trial participation, including trust‑based doctor‑patient relationships.
25:15 LATAM as a global talent hub; future accelerators include digital harmonization, technology adoption, and better global awareness of the region’s capabilities.

In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward, Dr. Monica Shah, Chief Medical Officer at CTI and President-Elect of the American Heart Association's Greater Washington Region Board of Directors, reflects on why Wear Red Day holds personal significance to her.  Dr. Shah shares her path through cardiology and clinical research, the American Heart Association’s community impact across the region, and the organization’s priorities for advancing equitable care. She also shares her perspective on the future of cell and gene therapies and emphasizes the need for diverse representation in clinical trials.
 
01:08 Dr. Shah’s path through cardiology, research training at Duke, and career across academia, NIH, and industry.
03:38 Early involvement with the American Heart Association and the fellowship grant that launched her research career.
05:35 Responsibilities and priorities as President‑Elect of the AHA Greater Washington Region Board.
07:00 Leadership development and building a diverse pipeline of future AHA leaders.
08:10 Regional community impact: CPR education, school programs, nutrition initiatives, and policy advocacy.
10:07 Translating the AHA’s national mission into local, lifesaving change - including DC’s CPR Act.
11:32 Hypertension control and partnerships addressing nutrition security.
12:26 Barriers to cardiovascular health and how AHA programs support access and education.
13:22 COVID‑19’s long-term cardiovascular impact and AHA’s research and telehealth initiatives.
14:52 Advocating for equitable representation in clinical trials.
15:59 Emerging opportunities in cell and gene therapy and the importance of genetic testing.
17:34 How public–private partnerships accelerate cardiovascular innovation.
18:55 Advice for early-career clinicians and researchers, especially women and underrepresented groups.
20:00 Identifying and nurturing community and clinical champions.
21:52 Dr. Shah’s top priorities as incoming AHA president.
23:05 How listeners can get involved and closing reflections on advancing heart health.

In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward, we talk with Earnestine Walker and Ali Manson of ZERO Prostate Cancer about their mission to ensure every man—regardless of background—has access to early detection, support services, and quality care. They break down Blitz the Barriers, ZERO’s major initiative targeting disparities in the hardest‑hit communities, and share how programs like ZERO360 and caregiver resources are transforming patient experiences.
We also explore how policy advocacy, community partnerships, and patient voices are driving lasting change in prostate cancer outcomes nationwide. This is a powerful look at what equitable care truly requires—and how ZERO Prostate Cancer is helping move medicine forward.
 
00:00 – Welcome & Introductions
Meet Earnestine Walker and Ali Manson of ZERO Prostate Cancer and hear about their roles leading patient programs, education, advocacy, and policy.

01:00 – ZERO Prostate Cancer’s Mission
A look at how advocacy, education, awareness, and support guide every decision—and why “for all” is the organization’s guiding star.

02:00 – The Vision of Equitable Care
Discussion on what practical, equitable early detection and access look like in real communities.

03:30 – Introducing Blitz the Barriers
Why ZERO launched its most ambitious initiative ever—and the staggering disparities it aims to confront.

05:00 – The Cities Leading the Change
A breakdown of the phased rollout across 12 high‑impact cities, from Baltimore to Appalachia.

06:00 – Supporting Patients & Families
How programs like ZERO360 and the Caregiver Retreats provide emotional, financial, and navigation support.

08:00 – Navigating Financial Barriers
The role of patient navigation and how ZERO360 has delivered millions in financial assistance.

09:30 – Advocacy in Action ZERO’s long history on Capitol Hill and recent policy pushes to expand access to free prostate cancer screening.

11:00 – Empowering Patient Voices
Why patient stories and lived experiences are essential to driving legislative change.

13:00 – Closing the Gap for Black Men & Veterans
How ZERO Prostate Cancer is addressing the needs of the communities most disproportionately impacted.

15:00 – Measuring Impact & Expanding Reach
What ZERO has achieved so far—and how new data strategies will track long‑term change.

17:00 – The Power of Partnerships
From national organizations to local community groups, how collaboration amplifies ZERO’s equity‑driven mission.

19:00 – What’s Next for ZERO Prostate Cancer
A look at future goals, including the life-saving vision behind Blitz the Barriers through 2025.

In this episode, host Jeremy Schrand welcomes Tim Schroeder, Founder & CEO of CTI, Jaqueline Aguiar, Managing Director of APAC/LATAM, and Dr. Ludwig Baumann, Global Regulatory Strategist, for an in-depth conversation about the Asia Pacific region’s growing impact on clinical research. Together, they explore how population diversity, regulatory innovation, and advanced therapies are shaping the future of clinical trials. The discussion highlights real-world examples, regional strategies, and the evolving role of technology and local expertise in bringing new therapies to patients worldwide.
01:33 Welcome to the guests and setting the stage for the discussion.
01:50 Key drivers behind Asia Pacific’s growth: globalization of research, population scale, rare disease focus, and the need for global market access.
03:04 Panelists discuss the region’s diversity, infrastructure maturation, and regulatory harmonization efforts (ASEAN guidelines, mutual recognition).
05:10 Addressing past concerns about research qualityin Asia Pacific and how they’ve been resolved.
06:15 CTI’s strategic expansion into Asia Pacific:doubling of work, global footprint, and real-world examples from COVID-19 vaccine trials in Singapore and Vietnam.
08:17 Operational hurdles: regulatory fragmentation, cultural and language diversity, and government investment in science and digital health.
10:10 Managing regulatory variability: importance of local expertise, adapting to evolving guidelines, and leveraging relationships with regulators.
12:10 Harmonization and efficiency: Singapore’s reliance model, Australia’s streamlined processes, and their influence as regional role models.
14:26 Decentralized and virtual trials post-COVID: remote monitoring, reasons for choosing Australia (speed, tax credits) vs. China (population, cost).
16:07 Executing complex, multi-country trials: pivotal registration studies, remote monitoring, and the importance of experienced investigators.
18:05 Readiness for advanced therapies: academic medical centers’ preparedness, regulatory interest in cell and gene therapy, and the need for in-depth preparation for combination products.
20:27 Regulatory flexibility: pre-meetings with authorities, addressing language barriers, and successful integration of Asia Pacific into global trials.
22:01 Talent acquisition and retention: strategies for building consistent, high-quality teams across diverse countries.
23:53 Patient recruitment: cultural nuances and ensuring data quality and patient retention.
26:09 Looking ahead: the impact of AI, harmonization, and infrastructure development on accelerating clinical trial execution in Asia Pacific.
28:13 Recent success story: FDA approval of a rare disease drug with global patient participation, highlighting Asia Pacific’s role.
29:05 Closing thoughts: Asia Pacific’s leadership in innovation, regulatory adaptation, and inclusion of rare patient populations.

In this episode, host Jeremy Schrand welcomes Jamie Glavic, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications & Community Engagement and Program Lead of CTI Cares, and Kirsten Wellige, Associate Director, Clinical Project Coordination and Global Chair of the EU CTI Cares Committee, to discuss CTI Cares, CTI’s global employee-driven program that brings company values to life through community engagement, volunteering, health and wellness initiatives, environmental efforts, and cultural celebrations. The conversation highlights inspiring stories, regional initiatives, and the program’s growth, including the launch of the Belonging Committee and plans for the year ahead.
 
00:48 – Guests Jamie Glavic and Kirsten Wellige introduced.
01:09 – CTI CARES overview: Connecting company values to global and local impact.
02:11 – Program history: Shift to regional leadership approach.
03:16 – Why community engagement matters at CTI.
04:38 – Employee benefits: Personal fulfillment and professional growth.
08:09 – 2025 highlights:
North America: CancerFree Kids challenge, school partnerships.
Europe: Master Chef competitions, blood drives, cleanups, Universal Children's Day.
11:26 – Regional flexibility and global sharing of ideas.
15:00 – Employee-driven activities and creative input.
18:55 – Program evolution: Belonging Committee and expanded APAC involvement.
20:38 – Hopes for next year: More global participation and new wellness initiatives.
22:34 – Closing remarks: CTI CARES as a vibrant, employee-powered community.