Thomas DeSena

Executive Director, Advanced Analytics & Data Science

Durham, North Carolina, United States

About

I am a current Director of RWE Project Management at CTI. My past roles include working as Principal Methodologist at Verana Health. My primary tasks was as the "architect" of proposals. I worked along side of business development and delivery to design solutions including strategizing delivery, budget and client considerations. Prior to that I worked at IQVIA as as a Product Strategy Lead within Medical Affairs at IQVIA. Also at IQVIA, I worked as an Analytics Insights Manager in Real World Evidence. This role consisted of analyzing data to provide data-driven recommendations for site identification and feasibility of real world studies. Prior to that my previous roles also included working as a strategy consultant at Triangle Insights Group. This role consisted of providing analysis and recommendations for clients in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry. In particular, my analysis included market research with physician, payers and patients as well as commercial assessment models for late stage pharmaceutical assets. Before business school, I worked as a Clinical Interventionist for an NIMH funded HIV prevention study with the homeless and persons with mentally illness at the Boston Medical Center. My primary responsibilities included delivering the motivational interviewing-based intervention, conducting psychosocial and neuropsychological assessments,, and data management and manuscript preparation. I am a graduate of Western Kentucky University where I studied Psychology and Writing. I continued on to the Boston University School of Medicine where I earned a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine with an emphasis in Sport Psychology. I have spent several years of relevant research experience, working in motivational studies in Kentucky, an HIV pilot study in Boston, and organizing logistics and data for several HIV and motivation studies in the greater Dallas/Ft. Worth area in Texas. I have experience working as part of multidisciplinary care teams providing individual and group psychotherapy, neuropsychology assessments and psychotherapy, and counseling to families facing multiple challenges. I enjoy working with disadvantaged individuals in an effort to promote health and wellness among a population affected by mental illness. Specialties: Medical Affairs, Clinical Research, Problem Solving, Real-World Evidence, Feasibility, Clinical Research Site Identification Revenue Forecast, Pharmaceutical Industry, Life Sciences, Market Research

Experience

  • Executive Director, Advanced Analytics & Data Science at BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Mar 2026 - Present · 5 mos

  • CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services (Full-time · 3 yrs 5 mos)
    • Senior Director, RWE Project Management
      Jun 2025 - Mar 2026 · 10 mos

      Provide oversight of studies in trials and studies including natural history of disease, non-interventional, retrospective chart review, medical device, IVD. Provide Business Development and strategic support for proposals and change-in-scopes

    • Director, RWE Project Management
      Nov 2022 - Jun 2025 · 2 yrs 8 mos

  • Principal | Methodologist at Verana Health
    Dec 2021 - Nov 2022 · 1 yr

    Responsible for creation and development of sales and proposal strategy which includes slides and scope of work for site identification, protocol optimization and patient identification solutions for Phase II and III Developed process for scoping and pricing proposals to plan resource allotment for study delivery Indications of experience include: Rare Disease, Ophthalmology, Neurology and Urology

  • IQVIA (Full-time · 3 yrs 7 mos)
    • Associate Director | Product Strategy Lead | Medical Affairs
      Mar 2021 - Dec 2021 · 10 mos

      -Own global real-world offering development and innovation for disease registries, natural history of disease studies, product registries, and low interventional / pragmatic randomized control trials - Conduct research to understand market size, competitive landscape, regulatory guidance, etc.

    • Engagement Manager | Analytics Insight Manager | Real-World Evidence
      Jun 2018 - Mar 2021 · 2 yrs 10 mos

      As an Analytics Insight Manager, my role is encompasses both go-to-market and operational components within IQVIA's Real-World Solutions Group. My roles and responsibilities include the following: Go-To-Market: I set the strategy for data-driven site identification on RFPs for Real-World Studies. I leverage IQVIA's data assets to identify how we can prioritize sites based on variables such as patient density and relevant trial experience. I make recommendations to both internal teams and sponsors on how the created site prioritization strategy will lead to higher site acceptance rate and help ensure patient recruitment aligns with timelines. If timelines cannot be met, I make recommendations on timelines the client should pursue based on data-driven enrollment rate and patient density information. Operational Delivery: For awarded studies, I leverage a data-driven approach to create site lists. I work with internal and external teams to scope the necessary data needed to provided high-quality site lists, and work with analysts to ensure the appropriate data (i.e., claims data for ICD-10 codes, drug consumption data) is pulled and integrated into the site lists. Since I have been in this role I have: -- Directly supported over $150M in business won by IQVIA in the Real-World Solutions -- Presented to over 30 sponsors in Bid Defense Meetings with an emphasis on outline our data-driven approach -- Created the site list process for Real-World Solutions. This process improvement now includes focus on data-driven site list creation, transparency around site list inputs, and plan on how to communicate key site list insights with both internal teams and sponsors -- Developed process for better data-driven enrollment rates. This process improvement focused on data-storytelling with emphasis on how how study comparables are found and insights comparables have on go-to-market enrollment estimates -- Line managed, coached and mentored multiple individuals

  • Strategy Consultant at Triangle Insights Group, LLC
    Jul 2016 - Jun 2018 · 2 yrs

    As a strategy consultant at Triangle Insights, I am responsible for the creation of key strategic deliverables for clients in the healthcare, pharmaceutical and life science industries. Clients include emerging biopharma, large pharma and healthcare-focused private equity/venture capital funds. I have developed particular expertise at the product level in the commercial and strategic assessments of both pharmaceuticals. In particular, my commercial and strategic skills include analysis and modeling for pricing and reimbursement, primary research for commercialization strategies and due diligence for healthcare investment opportunities. Specific engagements include: *Corporate strategy and commercial assessments of assets ranging from preclinical to phase 3 in the following therapeutic areas: -Fungal infections -Wet age-related macular degeneration -Pediculosis -Psoriasis -Generalized Pustular Psoriasis -Palmopustular Psoriasis -Parkinson's Disease *Corporate Strategy -Provided strategic synergy and project recommendations for a client on a recent acquisition in the medical foods space *Private Equity Due Diligence -Evaluated the attractiveness of acquiring a company that provides case management services to individuals who receive waiver services through Medicaid (i.e., children with Autism) -Assessed growth potential for a corporate wellness provider through an in-depth analysis of industry-specific and company-specific growth factors -Analyzed revenue potential and launch potential for several assets to create company valuation for a generics manufacturer