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Rodica Stan, Ph.D.

Senior Scientific Project Manager

Division of Preclinical Innovation

Therapeutic Development Branch

Contact Info

rodica.stan@nih.gov

Rodica Stan, Ph.D.

Biography

Rodica Stan is a senior scientific project manager in the Therapeutic Development Branch within NCATS’ Division of Preclinical Innovation, where she manages gene therapy and small-molecule projects for rare and ultra-rare diseases, with the objective of moving therapies efficiently through Investigational New Drug–enabling studies, regulatory reviews and clinical testing. To accomplish this goal, Stan supports teams of collaborators, contract research organizations, and NCATS scientists and administrative personnel. She has accumulated experience and expertise in translational research, working for more than 15 years on academic and industry projects. Stan has managed translational projects, specifically in cell and gene therapy in oncology and HIV/AIDS and expanding to small molecules and vaccines for other diseases.

Prior to joining NCATS in August 2022, Stan led City of Hope’s Translational Development Center, a group that leverages the institution’s Good Manufacturing Practice, regulatory services and clinical research operations to small biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies interested in translating investigational products from proof of concept to Phase 1 clinical trials at City of Hope. From 2013 to 2019, Stan was a staff scientist in City of Hope’s Center for Gene Therapy, where she managed HIV gene therapy translational projects. Prior to this position, she supported diverse translational projects at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the John Wayne Cancer Institute (presently called the Saint John’s Cancer Institute) in the United States, as well as the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in Melbourne, Australia.

Stan received her Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from the University of Bucharest (Romania) and her doctorate in biochemistry/molecular biology from Rutgers University. She completed her postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan Kettering.

Research Topics

Stan’s research interests are focused on gene therapy (Platform Vector Gene Therapy [PaVe-GT]) and small-molecule drug development and clinical testing for rare and ultra-rare or neglected diseases. Her goal is to bring potential therapies more quickly to patients affected by rare diseases by implementing forward-thinking regulatory strategies and adequate clinical research operations.

Selected Publications

  1. Safety and Immunogenicity of a Synthetic Multiantigen Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara-Based COVID-19 Vaccine (COH04S1): An Open-Label and Randomised, Phase 1 Trial
  2. Role of Nursing Competencies for Accelerating Clinical Trials in Stem Cell Clinics
  3. Preclinical Development and Qualification of ZFN-Mediated CCR5 Disruption in Human Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells
  4. Practical Considerations in Gene Therapy for HIV Cure
  5. Development of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Based Gene Therapy for HIV-1 Infection: Considerations for Proof of Concept Studies and Translation to Standard Medical Practice

Last updated on March 12, 2024