Moving Medicine Forward

In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward, Dr. Matthew Holtzman, Medical Director and neurologist at CTI CRC Michigan, joins Tim Schroeder, Executive Chairman and Founder of CTI, to explore emerging developments in neurology and the growth of CTI’s clinical research site network. They also discuss the complexities of recruiting patients for rare and neurological conditions and how increasingly precise approaches to diagnosis and treatment are shaping clinical research. 00:00 Advances shaping neurology research 00:43 Dr. Matthew Holtzman’s path from neurology to clinical research 02:54 New treatments and genetic therapies in neurology 04:19 Patient recruitment and rare disease trial challenges 05:22 The future of psychedelic research 06:19 Expanding CTI’s research site network into Michigan 10:36 Connecting patients, sites, and neurology expertise 15:39 Precision medicine and what’s next for neurology

Kidney disease is more than numbers on a chart. It can reshape a patient’s independence, family life, work, and future. In this episode, Dr. Ammar Tabikh, Senior Medical Director at CTI, draws on his experience in nephrology, transplantation, and clinical development to explore what it means to keep the whole patient at the center of kidney research. From more targeted treatments and thoughtful trial design to balancing scientific progress with the realities of everyday life, he shares why advancing medicine starts with understanding the people it’s meant to serve.00:40 – From nephrology and patient care to clinical development02:02 – The realities of kidney disease and dialysis04:40 – How kidney research and treatment are evolving05:47 – Moving toward more targeted, personalized treatments07:09 – Designing kidney trials that work in the real world10:03 – Leadership, listening, and collaboration in clinical research11:34 – Why researchers must look at the whole patient14:05 – What’s next for kidney medicine

What if a wheelchair-accessible van could give a family more than transportation? What if it could restore freedom, connection, and hope?In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward, host Jeremy Schrand speaks with Tony Bunce of Chair Force 1 Foundation and renowned neurosurgeon Dr. John Tew about the challenges of living with ALS and the life-changing impact of accessible mobility. Together, they discuss how Chair Force 1 helps families stay connected to the moments that matter most while building a supportive community around those facing an ALS diagnosis. 0:44 - How Chair Force 1 started, grew from one van to a fleet serving dozens of families, and keeps vehicles circulating within the ALS community.2:09 - Tony Bunce shares his father's ALS journey and how receiving a van inspired his involvement with the organization.3:14 - Dr. John Tew's connection to Chair Force 1 and why community support is critical for patients and families.5:56 - Understanding ALS, the progressive loss of mobility, and why accessible transportation can be life-changing.7:26 - Why mobility means more than transportation. Freedom, hope, and staying connected to loved ones.10:06 - The emotional impact of van deliveries and why recipients describe them as a "celebration of freedom."11:21 - The role of volunteers, donors, and community partners in supporting families beyond transportation needs.13:46 - Future goals for Chair Force 1, including expanding access and helping more families say "yes" to mobility.15:23 - Closing thoughts on mobility, dignity, connection, and hope

What does it take to build a healthier future for Northern Kentucky?On this episode of Moving Medicine Forward, we sit down with Dr. Holly Danneman, Associate Dean of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Northern Kentucky Campus, to discuss how expanding medical education opportunities in the region can help address physician shortages, strengthen the local healthcare workforce, and improve access to care for the communities that need it most.Dr. Danneman shares the vision behind the University of Kentucky's growing presence in Northern Kentucky, the importance of training future physicians close to home, and why investing in medical education today can have a lasting impact on patient care for generations to come. 00:00 Meet Dr. Holly Danneman01:40 Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence04:15 Addressing physician shortages05:25 Why physicians stay where they train08:05 Building a local physician pipeline09:20 CTI and the regional research ecosystem12:10 Improving access to clinical research13:25 Community partnerships and outreach16:10 The power of collaboration17:15 Future of healthcare in Northern Kentucky19:05 Small feel, big opportunity20:15 Closing thoughts and success stories

As clinical trials become increasingly complex, sponsors and study teams need faster access to the data that drives critical decisions. In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward, host Jeremy Schrand sits down with Kimberly Uptgraft, Vice President of Global Laboratory Services, and Rob Schumacher, Senior Director of Clinical Data Systems & Data Management at CTI, to discuss conneCTIva Lab Insights, CTI's technology platform designed to bring laboratory data, study information, analytics, and operational visibility into a single centralized experience. Together, they explore how real-time access to critical information helps streamline trial operations, reduce administrative burden, accelerate decision-making, and ultimately help get new therapies to patients faster. 00:00 – Introduction to conneCTIva Lab Insights and the need for faster access to clinical trial data. 1:24 – The inspiration behind the platform and the challenge of working across multiple systems.2:57 – How real-time, self-service access replaces manual reports and email requests. 4:04 – The vision behind conneCTIva and CTI's connected technology roadmap.  5:05 – Key features including lab results, study documents, reporting, and analytics. 5:29 – Turning data into insights that help sponsors and study teams make faster, more informed decisions. 6:24 – Streamlining operations through centralized access to critical study information. 8:26 – Future enhancements including greater visibility, analytics, and faster issue resolution. 9:41 – How faster access to the right information can help accelerate clinical trials and ultimately get treatments to patients sooner. 10:37 – Closing thoughts on creating a more connected, efficient clinical research experience.

Glioblastoma remains one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of brain cancer, with recurrence posing a significant challenge for patients and researchers alike. In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward, Jeremy Schrand sits down with Moya Daniels, Vice President, Head of Regulatory and QA at Optieum Biotechnologies, to discuss the company's novel CAR-T cell therapy program, OPTF01, and its potential to transform treatment for recurrent glioblastoma. Moya shares insights into the science behind targeting both tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment, the evolving landscape of cell and gene therapy, and how global collaboration is helping accelerate innovation for patients with serious diseases.  1:30 | Introducing Optieum and the science behind OPTF01 2:20 | The unmet need in glioblastoma and the challenge of recurrence 4:45 | How OPF-001 differs from other treatment approaches 6:00 | Japan's role in advancing cell and gene therapy innovation 7:20 | Global regulatory strategy and the future of regenerative medicine 8:30 | Lessons from the Asia-Pacific biotech landscape 10:30 | The importance of collaboration in early clinical development 13:00 | What successful biotech-CRO partnerships look like 16:00 | Upcoming milestones for Optieum and the future of CAR-T therapies 17:15 | Expanding cell therapy beyond oncology into broader disease areas 

As CTI celebrates 27 years of moving medicine forward, Hadley Decker, Senior Director, Global Training and Development, and Natiq Fazlani, Research Associate, share their unique career journeys at CTI. Through the lens of two employees at very different stages of their careers, they discuss professional growth, the value of curiosity, and the culture that continues to shape CTI's mission of advancing clinical research and improving patients' lives.  For more on the Research Associate Program listen to this previous episode or click here   1:13 Hadley Decker shares her 25-year CTI journey, from clinical research associate to senior director of global training and development, and how each role shaped her career. 2:04 Hadley reflects on what drew her to CTI, including the opportunity to work on meaningful research and contribute to studies that advance patient care.  4:43 Natiq Fazlani discusses joining CTI and how the company's culture and people made it an appealing place to start his career. 6:26 Hadley explains how taking on new roles and learning through complex studies accelerated her professional growth. 7:22 Natiq shares how embracing new opportunities and staying curious helped him build knowledge and confidence early in his CTI career.  8:40 The group discusses how working with colleagues around the world broadens perspectives and strengthens collaboration across CTI.  10:17 Hadley reflects on CTI's growth over 27 years and explains why the company's commitment to patients remains unchanged. 11:15 Natiq describes how CTI's culture shows up in daily interactions through collaboration, support, and shared goals.  12:08 Hadley highlights studies that led to approved therapies and shares why those experiences reinforced the impact of clinical research.  14:28 Hadley discusses the qualities she sees in newer employees that give her confidence in CTI's future.  14:40 Natiq shares what excites him most about his future at CTI, including the support and encouragement he has received since joining the company.  15:11 Both guests offer advice for employees starting at CTI, emphasizing curiosity, initiative, and understanding the purpose behind the work they do. 

Alzheimer's disease affects millions of individuals and families, yet many people remain unaware of the critical role early detection can play in improving outcomes. In this episode, host Jeremy Schrand is joined by Andrew Pytlik and Patti Hahn of the Alzheimer's Association to discuss the growing importance of cognitive screening, advances in diagnostic testing, and the steps individuals can take today to support long-term brain health. Together, they explore the realities facing patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers, while sharing why earlier recognition, stronger community support, and continued research are creating new hope for the future of Alzheimer's care.1:00 | Meet the Alzheimer's Association and its mission to support patients, families, and research.3:56 | Why Alzheimer's often develops years before symptoms appear and why early detection matters. 6:47 | Brain health habits that may help reduce risk, including sleep, exercise, and lifestyle choices. 8:42 | Common misconceptions about Alzheimer's and warning signs that go beyond memory loss. 11:27 | New advances in screening, blood-based biomarker testing, and earlier diagnosis. 14:59 | The impact of Alzheimer's on caregivers, families, and the workplace.17:51 | Inside the Walk to End Alzheimer's and how community engagement accelerates research and support. 23:11 | Volunteer, advocacy, and fundraising opportunities that help advance the mission year-round.27:01 | How employer partnerships, including CTI Cares, can strengthen awareness and community impact.29:13 | Looking ahead: the future of Alzheimer's screening, treatment, and hope for patients and families.

Childhood cancer research faces unique challenges, from limited funding opportunities to fewer treatment options compared to adult cancers. In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward, host Jeremy Schrand is joined by Jill Brinck, Executive Director of CancerFree KIDS, Dr. Meisam Naeimi of Cincinnati Children's, and Dr. Ezgi Elmas of CARTx Therapeutics to discuss how early-stage funding is helping researchers pursue bold ideas that could transform pediatric cancer care. Together, they explore the critical role nonprofit organizations play in advancing innovation, the promise of next-generation cell therapies, and how collaboration across research, healthcare, and industry is helping bring new treatment options closer to the children and families who need them most. 00:00 | Introduction to CancerFree KIDS and pediatric cancer research01:37 | Why childhood cancer research needs bold, early-stage funding  04:01 | Bridging the gap between scientific discovery and patient care06:18 | How nonprofit funding helped launch a breakthrough cell therapy innovation 07:06 | Understanding gene-edited and off-the-shelf cancer therapies 10:28 | Closing critical gaps in pediatric cancer research and treatment development 14:54 | The power of collaboration across nonprofits, healthcare, and biotech 18:29 | What gives researchers hope for the future of pediatric cancer care

This week, we're revisiting a previous conversation with Megan Kamm, Senior Vice President of Client Delivery, and Josh Schroeder, Vice President of Site & Field Operations, to discuss how strong planning, site partnerships, and cross-functional collaboration drive successful trial execution. From feasibility and study startup to patient-centered decision-making, biometrics strategy, and global expansion, they share insights into the operational challenges—and opportunities—behind bringing innovative therapies to patients faster.   01:18 Megan Kamm and Josh Schroeder discuss how their expanded leadership roles have created new opportunities to collaborate across functions and support trial delivery. 03:12 The conversation explores the early decisions that shape trial success, from feasibility planning to selecting the right sites and regions.  04:22 Megan explains how site engagement and thoughtful study design help reduce burden and support successful trial execution. 05:28 Josh and Megan share how project teams, CRAs, and other functions work together to keep studies running smoothly. 06:15 The discussion highlights common challenges during study startup and how proactive planning can reduce delays and enrollment risks. 10:23 Josh and Megan provide examples of how strong collaboration helped accelerate enrollment and deliver data more efficiently. 12:32 Megan discusses how biometrics teams contribute from protocol development through data analysis, helping guide study strategy.  13:32 Josh explains how endpoint priorities and statistical planning influence monitoring strategies throughout a trial. 14:43 The conversation turns to leadership, focusing on training, alignment, and consistent decision-making across global teams. 16:02 Megan and Josh reflect on what sets CTI apart, highlighting a culture centered on patients and collaboration.  18:26 The discussion looks at the future of clinical research, including advances in technology, AI, and trial operations. 20:32 Josh shares insights into CTI’s growth in China and the operational considerations that come with expanding into the region.