Education: BA in History, Coastal Carolina University (2006)
Career History: Clinical Trial Lead, Vial (2023-Present); Associate Study Manager, Lexitas Pharma Services, Inc. (2022); Research Nursing Project Manager, Illingworth Research Group (a Syneos Health Company) (2021-2022); Clinical Research Associate Manager, The Emmes Company, LLC (2020-2021); Clinical Research Associate III, The Emmes Company, LLC (2018-2020); Clinical Research Associate II, CONRAD Clinical Research Center, Norfolk, VA (2016-2018); Clinical Research Associate I, CONRAD Clinical Research Center, Norfolk, VA (2014-2016); Clinical Operational and Research Coordinator, CONRAD Clinical Research Center, Norfolk, VA (2012-2014); Administrative Support Coordinator, CONRAD Clinical Research Center (2009-2012); Work Study Office Assistant, Center For Education and Community (2005-2006)
Anna R. Spagnoli, Clinical Trial Lead at Vial, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of research.
Though equipped with a Bachelor of Arts in history from Coastal Carolina University, Ms. Spagnoli developed a passion for clinical research two years after she graduated. A friend introduced her to a nonprofit research and development company, CONRAD Clinical Research Center, which focused on HIV prevention and contraceptive research. She began working there and in doing so, traveled to developing countries and saw firsthand just how much of an impact the company and industry as a whole had on people—she found it incredibly fulfilling to witness both the scientific and human aspects of the work being done. At CONRAD, she excelled as an administrative support coordinator from 2009 to 2012 before advancing to the roles of clinical operational and research coordinator, Clinical Research Associate I, and Clinical Research Associate II between 2012 and 2018.
Following these appointments, Ms. Spagnoli collected a wide range of knowledge and experience that would allow her to make significant contributions to any clinical operation team. From there, she served as a Clinical Research Associate III and a CRA manager at Emmes, a clinical research organization with offices throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and India, from 2018 to 2021. She was subsequently active as a research nursing project manager at Illingworth Research Group from 2021 to 2022, an associate study manager at Lexitas Pharma Services, Inc. throughout 2022, and has been the clinical trial lead at Via—a contract research organization specializing in biotech, oncology, and dermatology clinical trials, among many—since 2023. An expert in clinical trials, research and development, and biotechnology, Ms. Spagnoli’s responsibilities include the oversight of monitoring for clinical trials; ensuring clinical research associates are punctual and issues are identified and addressed; helping the company to grow its technology and making clinical trials more efficient; and work with engineering teams to review any and all clinical operation needs.
Among the numerous highlights of her career so far, Ms. Spagnoli recognizes a few particularly notable points of pride. She was part of a human-centered design project that examined barriers to people’s willingness to take pre-exposure prophylaxis, a medicine for HIV prevention, and how their motivations changed their perception of medication adherence. She felt a great sense of accomplishment in educating and empowering patients from developing countries and improving clinical trials. In addition, she’s found it rewarding at Vial, where she helps enhance sponsors’ experience by making clinical trials more efficient with technological advancements—which has provided her with a better perspective of clinical operations.
Attributing the success surrounding her rewarding career to the support of her co-workers, all of whom inspire her to work hard, Ms. Spagnoli looks to the future planning to continue growing in her industry, keeping focus on clinical operations, and building the monitoring team at Vial.