David Peden, MD, MS, has been named chief research officer of the UNC School of Medicine Clinical Research Alliance. He will begin his work in the role immediately. He also serves as interim director of the CRA.
Among his roles, Peden also serves as the senior associate dean for translational research for the School of Medicine, as medical director for the Center for Environmental Medicine, and as Harry S. Andrews Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics. He also serves as an adjunct professor of environmental sciences and engineering in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.
As the Clinical Research Alliance’s chief research officer, he will be responsible for identifying and developing therapeutic areas of emphasis for the CRA, recruiting therapeutic area leaders and protocol investigators to the CRA, overseeing multisite clinical trial submissions and establishing collaborations for multisite trials across various SOM, UNC and UNC Health and Industry partners.
The Clinical Research Alliance launched in June 2023, streamlines all aspects of the School of Medicine’s clinical research enterprise, including ground-up support for scientists conducting multi-site trials, industry partners interested in collaboration leading toward new treatments and discoveries, as well as people interested in joining trials as participants.