Liz Edelman, Scientific and Technical Liaison
When a clinical trial is running, cross-departmental collaboration is key. Communication between laboratories, sites, and scientists is essential. The Scientific and Technical Liaison plays a pivotal role in the clinical trial process at Medpace. From curating framework for central labs to designing models that support testing to much more, the Scientific and Technical Liaison team’s versatile role is crucial to clinical trails’ success.
This month, we spoke with Scientific and Technical Liaison Liz Edelman to gain insight on the unique function she and her team serve.
Describe your path to your role.
I went to Ohio State University where I always knew I ultimately wanted a job in science. After college, I started as a QC Analytical Chemist at a small batch manufacturing facility that made both components for personal care products and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). My next job was as a contract researcher for the National Toxicology Program in chemistry support services for preclinical trials. In this role, I wore many hats as a QC data reviewer, bench chemist, and a task leader of analytical chemistry projects. I developed my skills during my initial role in QC data review to ultimately have a client facing role that presented results generated in the laboratory in reports and presentations. Seven years ago, I made the switch to central laboratory testing in support of clinical trials when I started at Medpace in 2018.
What role does the Scientific and Technical Liaison position play in clinical research?
As a Scientific and Technical Liaison, we help set up the framework of how the central laboratory will support the trial’s testing needs. We work to develop a model to support testing that Medpace may not current have validated, connect them to specialized scientists to develop customized assays, or work with a network of third-party laboratories to help provide coverage for testing contained in a study protocol. The scientific liaison provides a study hand-off to the project manager once a project is awarded.
What is one skill you’ve developed and/or honed during your tenure and what is one skill you’ve learned?
Medpace has helped me develop in many ways. A skill I’ve developed over the years is having strong project management skills. I’ve acquired tools to ensure action items are well defined and my follow-through is robust such that internal and external stakeholders can move projects forward with my full support.
What are three key job responsibilities?
Three key job responsibilities are proposing solutions for testing to satisfy protocols, being accessible to transition studies from the pre-award phase to the project management team assigned to operationalize studies, and remaining a team player to share lessons learned with other liaisons.
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