DURHAM, N.C., February 5, 2019 — Premier Research has named contract research organization (CRO) industry and military veteran Dr. Mike Wilkinson as its new Chief Operating Officer. Dr. Wilkinson brings a diverse background of industry and public service to his role of overseeing the company’s day-to-day operations and advancing its mission to support the world’s leading biotech innovators.
“With an impressive background in industry and public service, Mike is exceptionally well qualified for this role,” said Premier Research CEO, Dr. Ludo Reynders. “His broad background in operational leadership, appreciation for the value of teamwork, and understanding of technology’s expanding importance to our industry will make him a great asset as we pursue our goal to be the world’s leading biotech services company.”
Wilkinson spent 10 years at PPD, first overseeing worldwide clinical trial operations as Executive Vice President of Global Clinical Development, and later as PPD’s Chief Information Officer and Head of Technology, responsible for data, process improvement, and global training.
He also worked for seven years at Quintiles, serving in roles that included Global Head of Internal Medicine and Vice President of Project Management.
Before joining the biopharmaceutical industry, Wilkinson spent 23 years in the U.S. military, where his assignments included Director of Operations for the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center. He retired from the military as a U.S. Navy Commander.
Wilkinson holds a doctorate in physiological optics from Indiana University, a master’s from Penn State, and a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University.
About Premier Research
Premier Research, a midsize clinical research company, is dedicated to helping biotech, specialty pharma, and device innovators transform life-changing ideas and breakthrough science into new medical treatments.
As a global company, Premier Research specializes in the use of innovative technologies for smart study design and trial management to deliver clean, conclusive data to sponsors.
Whether it’s developing product lifecycle strategies, reducing clinical development cycle times, securing access to patients, navigating global regulations, maximizing the impact of limited rare disease data, or providing expertise in specific therapeutic areas, Premier Research is committed to helping its customers answer the unmet needs of patients across a broad range of medical conditions.