Clinical Trials - Special Interest Group
Join Penn Medicine’s vibrant community of clinical trialists dedicated to accelerating access to experimental therapy for patients and fostering collaborative and innovative research within our Learning Health System.
ITMAT Education aims to nurture enthusiasm for clinical trials, create identity for research efforts, and build a community of scientists and clinicians sharing this passion.
Our Objectives
- Foster a culture that values and supports clinical trialists at Penn Medicine.
- Recognize and develop the unique skill set and effort needed to succeed as a clinical trialist.
- Create a space where faculty and their team can discuss challenges and solutions to clinical trials designed to evaluate the safety and/or effectiveness of treatments or interventions.
What We Offer
Comprehensive support and resources for leading clinical trials at Penn
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Regular Seminars
Professional networking opportunities and skill development sessions.
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Community Building
Vibrant network focused on enhancing clinical trial activity at Penn.
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Mentoring
Established trialists are invited to serve as mentors for trainees/junior faculty leading investigator-initiated clinical trials at Penn.
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Best Practices
Central hub for institutional best practices and advertising resources.
Opportunities to Stay Connected to the Clinical Trials Community
There are several ways to engage with the ITMAT Ed Clinical Trials Special Interest Group, contribute to its programming, and support the next generation of clinical trialists at Penn Medicine.
Become a Member
Join our community that values and supports clinical trialists at Penn Medicine. We welcome faculty, staff, and trainees who have experience or interest in designing, implementing, and reporting on investigator-initiated clinical trials or federally funded trials at Penn. You will receive updates on seminars, resources, and community-building activities.
Suggest a Topic for a Future Seminar
If there are topics, speakers, or panelists you'd like to see in the seminar series, suggest a topic here to help inform future programming.
Mentoring Opportunities
Experienced clinical trialists are invited to express interest in mentoring future ITMAT Clinical Trialist Training Program (CTTP) trainees by submitting an interest form here. Mentor–trainee connections are guided by alignment between trainee projects and mentor expertise. Submitting this form does not obligate participation and allows ITMAT Education to reach out when interests align.
Program Leadership
Meet the dedicated team leading our clinical trials community
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Marina Cuchel, MD, PhD, MSTR Dr. Marina Cuchel is a Research Associate Professor of Medicine (Translational Medicine and Human Genetics) and serves as the Associate Program Director of ITMAT Education and Director of the ITMAT Education Clinical Trialist Training Program. She is a translational scientist with a longstanding research interest in rare disorders of lipoprotein metabolism and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Dr. Cuchel leads the strategic vision for creating a community of individuals focused on enhancing clinical trial activity at Penn. |
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Jessica German, MSEd Ms. Jessica German is the Sr. Associate Director of ITMAT Education Programs and provides strategic and operational support across non-degree programs. She oversees program development, implementation, and evaluation for the Clinical Trialist Training Program and Clinical Trials Special Interest Group. |
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Archna Bajaj, MD Dr. Archna Bajaj is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine (Translational Medicine and Human Genetics), Director of Clinical Trials in the Penn Medicine Center for Preventative Cardiology and Lipid Management, and a past trainee in the ITMAT Education Clinical Trialist Training Program. |
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Taneeta (Mindy) Ganguly, MD Dr. Taneeta (Mindy) Ganguly is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology. She participated in the ITMAT Education Clinical Trialist Training Program in 2020-2022. Dr. Ganguly specializes in treating epilepsy and the interpretation of EEGs. Dr. Ganguly is interested in implementing clinical trials to expand the scope of diagnostic and therapeutic tools in the management of epilepsy. Her work primarily focuses on the use of devices in epilepsy, including neuromodulation and continuous EEG monitoring. |