Office of Surgical Translational Research Operations and Compliance
The Office of Surgical Translational Research Operations and Compliance in the Department of Surgery is responsible for clinical trials and basic biomedical research operations, macro-management of research programs, providing guidance and oversight to the project managers, Clinical Research Associates (CRAs), Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs) and laboratory staff. The office also provides assistance to investigators with protocol and informed consent writing, regulatory submissions, clinical trial agreements and budgets development. In addition, the office is responsible for developing and implementing adequate systems and procedures to ensure research compliance, efficient day-to-day research operations that meet the needs of the Department of Surgery.
Our Team
Marina Malikova, PhD, MA
Executive Director, Surgical Translational Research Operations and Compliance
Adjunct Professor for Clinical and Biomedical Sciences Program, Boston University
Dr. Malikova has over nine years of experience in the clinical research field. She has managed Phase I – IV studies involving investigational drugs, devices and biologics (gene therapy, stem cells, and growth factors). She has worked on Industry-sponsored and Investigator-initiated trials in the fields of Vascular Surgery, Neurosurgery, Cancer Diagnostics and Interventional Radiology.
Dr. Malikova graduated from the Institute of Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Science, in Moscow, Russia with a PhD in Biochemistry. She has a strong background in biomedical sciences and has completed her postdoctoral fellowship in the field of cell signaling and cell migration. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Investigation and Project Management Certification from Boston University.
In her current role as Executive Director, Dr. Malikova manages research efforts in seven divisions of the Department of Surgery at Boston Medical Center. She is responsible for clinical trials and basic biomedical research operations, risk management, strategic planning, and macro-management of research programs. She provides guidance and oversight to the Project Managers, Clinical Research Associates (CRAs), Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs), and laboratory staff. She also provides assistance to investigators with protocol and informed consent writing, regulatory submissions, clinical trial agreements and budget development.
Thomas Cheng, BS, Clinical Research Associate
Thomas Cheng, BS, is the Clinical Research Associate (CRA) the Divisions of Podiatry Surgery and Vascular and Endovascular Surgery as well as the Sections of Acute Care & Trauma Surgery and Surgical Critical Care. Thomas received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD and will complete a Master of Science in Medical Sciences at Boston University in 2015. Most recently, Thomas was a Graduate Researcher in the Gerstenfeld Lab at BU.
Victoria Lattanzi, ScB, Clinical Research Associate
Victoria Lattanzi, ScB, is the Clinical Research Associate (CRA) in the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. Victoria is a graduate of Brown University, in Providence, RI with a ScB in Biology. She is currently a Masters of Arts in Clinical Investigation Candidate at BU School of Medicine. Prior to joining the Department of Surgery, Victoria was a Family Health Advocate, Project Health Program at Hasbro Children’s Hospital; Research Technician, Department of Biochemistry, at BU School of Medicine; Research Technician at Tufts School of Dental Medicine; and Research Assistant at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Emma Pinjic, MD, MPH, Clinical Research Associate
Emma Pinjic is the Clinical Research Associate (CRA) in the Division of Thoracic Surgery and the Sections of Surgical Endocrinology and Surgical Oncology. Emma is a graduate of Boston University School of Public Health (MPH) and University of Sarajevo School of Medicine (MD). Prior to joining the Department of Surgery, Emma was a physician in Bosnia and Herzegovina; a Mental Health Clinical Evaluator and Community Liaison for the Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights (BCRHHR) at Boston Medical Center; and Clinical Trials Manager in the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition at Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center.
Kenneth Rask, MBA, Grants Administrator
Kenneth Rask is the Grants Administrator for the Department of Surgery. Kenneth is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in Economics and MBA in Finance. In addition, Kenneth holds a Certificate in Clinical Research from BU School of Medicine.
Prior to joining the department, Kenneth was most recently Grants and Contracts Administrator for the Health and Disability Research Institute (HDR) at BU School of Public Health; Grant Manager in the Department of Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH); and a Research Coordinator in the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery here at BMC.
