London, England, United Kingdom
Ursula D’Souza is Head of Scientific Research at VML's KOL Mapping Hub, drawing on more than a decade of experience within the company. She utilises her deep understanding of scientific literature and data analysis to direct comprehensive bibliometric and stakeholder research across various medical fields. This research identifies and maps Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), Digital Opinion Leaders (DOLs), Rising Stars, and other critical stakeholders for global pharmaceutical and biotech companies, translating complex data into clear scientific insights and strategic influence. Her strong editorial experience in a previous role at BioMed Central (BMC) resulted in commissioning, assessment, peer review and publishing of articles in the high impact open access general medical journal, BMC Medicine. At BMC Medicine she attended several cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, respiratory medicine and psychaitry global/national congresses in UK, Europe and USA. This enabled engagement with several influential KOLs and promotion of their published articles in blogs and social media. As a passionate molecular biologist/neuropharmacologist, her previous lab-based research over many years focussed on molecular mechanisms of psychiatric and behavioral disorders within academic institutions and teaching hospitals in the UK and USA (Institute of Psychaitry, National Institute of Neurological Disorders (NINDS), University Hospital Wales). This research resulted in a number of peer reviewed publications, book chapters, reviewing of journal submissions and presentations at national and international congresses in Europe, UK and USA. Specialties: Quantitative/bibliometric research: Cardiology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Haematology, Hepatology, Neurology, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Psychiatry, Respiratory Medicine, Rare diseases Key scientific messages: RA, spondyloarthritis, multiple myeloma, CLL, mesothelioma, CRC, gastric & pancreatic cancer, asthma, PAH, IBD, chronic rhinosinusitis, urticaria, breast cancer, blood cancers, CKD, aSAH. Scientific editing, writing, oral presentations and lab-based research in the following areas: Neuropharmacology, brain research, molecular genetics in psychiatry, pharmacogenomics, neuroscience, gene expression & transcriptional regulation of the dopamine and serotonin system. Team leader, Subject Matter Expert, Project Management & Delivery Mentor of team members and postgraduate students Course tutor and director on the above topics Teaching lectures for postgraduate students & supervision of MSc and PhD projects
Our KOL Mapping Hub at VML identifies and maps KOLs, digital opinion leaders (DOLs), and rising stars – along with other key relevant stakeholders (NPPAs, Societies, influencers). Through robust analysis we can help you segment, prioritise and validate KOLs to facilitate your engagements. Our division at VML Enterprise Solutions builds innovative SaaS and AI platforms focused on the interface between HCPs and biopharma companies. We are experts at data analysis and solutions for insights and engagement management that ultimately contribute to advancing patient care. We combine the best of medicine with the best of technology to create innovative offerings that are characterized by transparency, collaboration, and trust. That’s why the world’s leading pharma companies and the world’s leading physicians entrust us with their confidence - and we do everything in our power to justify the faith they place in us.
Raised BMC Medicine's (the flagshipp medical journal of the BMC series at BioMed Central) profile and visability through strong advocacy, commissioning, Editorial Board Member engagement, development of several article collections and promotion at national and international conferences. Assessment, cordination of peer-review, decision making and publication of several open access articles that are of significant interest to all areas of medicine and clinical practice. Key subject areas include psychiatry, endocrine disorders, cardiology, respiratory medicine and neurology with opportunities to promote BMC Medicine. The exciting role additionally involved writing blogs that summarised article content and promotion of published articles through social media.
Scientific editing of manuscripts. Supervsion of PhD student on the GENDEP project. Teaching seminar on the MSc on Research Methods in Psychiatry course.
Molecular Biology/Molecular Genetics research: (a) Transcriptional regulation and gene expression to understand the function of genetic variation associated with neuropsychiatric disorders using in vitro cell cultures and human brain post-mortem tissue ex vivo (MRC funded). Pharmacogenomics research: (a) Effects of antidepressant drug treatment - in vitro component of a large multicentre pharmacogenomic study (GENDEP), funded by the European Union. (b) Effects of mood stabilisers using lymphoblastoidal cell lines from clinically depressed subjects collected in the Depression Case Control (DeCC) study. Teaching: (a) Supervision of MSc and PhD students (b) MSc in Psychiatric Research Course (c) Director of SGDP Summer School courses on Molecular Genetics, Gene/Expression/Microarrays and Methods and Applications of Molecular Biomarker Research