Hi, I’m
VICKAS V. PATEL
Chief Medical Officer
Berwyn,Pennsylvania
Summary
Accomplished physician-scientist and enterprise biopharmaceutical executive with more than 25 years of leadership across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, cardiovascular medicine, and translational science. Currently serves as Chief Medical Officer, Global Cardiology at Clario, leading global medical strategy, cardiovascular clinical development, cardiac safety, scientific innovation, and multidisciplinary teams supporting pharmaceutical and biotechnology organizations worldwide. Progressive executive leadership experience with Clario, Spark Therapeutics, and GlaxoSmithKline, directing enterprise clinical development, gene therapy, precision medicine, medical affairs, regulatory strategy, portfolio planning, and cross-functional global initiatives spanning early research through commercialization. Recognized for building high-performing organizations, advancing innovative therapeutic programs, strengthening strategic partnerships, and aligning scientific excellence with corporate growth. Combines deep medical and scientific expertise with executive leadership, business strategy, and organizational transformation to drive innovation, enterprise value creation, and long-term business success.
Overview
21
years of professional experience
Work History
ClarioPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
09.2023 - Current
Job overview
- Provide executive leadership for Clario's Global Cardiology organization, directing worldwide medical strategy supporting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and life sciences organizations across clinical development, cardiac safety, ECG core laboratories, consulting services, biostatistics, medical writing, and scientific innovation.
- Serve as a senior member of the leadership team responsible for advancing enterprise capabilities, strengthening strategic client partnerships, expanding commercial opportunities, and positioning the organization for long-term global growth.
- Lead a multidisciplinary organization of approximately 90 physicians, scientists, statisticians, medical writers, operational leaders, and clinical specialists delivering high-value scientific and medical solutions across global development programs.
- Direct enterprise-wide global cardiology strategy supporting multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors throughout the clinical development lifecycle, integrating cardiac safety, cardiovascular science, translational medicine, regulatory excellence, and medical innovation into comprehensive development solutions.
- Lead a multidisciplinary global organization of approximately 90 professionals, establishing organizational priorities, strengthening leadership capability, driving operational excellence, and fostering a culture focused on scientific rigor, collaboration, innovation, and client success.
- Partner with executive leadership to define long-term business strategy, expand enterprise capabilities, identify new market opportunities, and support sustainable organizational growth within the rapidly evolving cardiovascular development landscape.
- Provide executive medical leadership across ECG core laboratories, cardiac safety operations, cardiovascular consulting services, biostatistics, medical writing, and scientific advisory functions, ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality, globally integrated medical solutions.
- Collaborate closely with commercial leadership and Business Development teams to provide scientific diligence, executive client engagement, competitive differentiation, and medical expertise supporting strategic business development initiatives and long-term client partnerships.
- Champion scientific innovation by evaluating emerging technologies, digital endpoints, advanced cardiac monitoring capabilities, biomarker strategies, and evolving cardiovascular methodologies that strengthen Clario's global competitive position.
- Guide enterprise medical education initiatives across Global Cardiology while strengthening organizational expertise through physician leadership, scientific mentorship, knowledge sharing, and cross-functional collaboration.
ClarioPhiladelphia, PA
DEPUTY CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
03.2023 - 08.2023
Job overview
- Promoted into executive leadership to support the continued growth and strategic expansion of Clario's Global Cardiology organization.
- Partnered with executive leadership to strengthen enterprise medical strategy, expand global cardiovascular capabilities, optimize multidisciplinary operations, and prepare the organization for continued commercial growth.
- Directed multiple scientific and operational functions while leading organizational development initiatives across a global team of approximately 40 professionals.
- Supported executive oversight of enterprise-wide cardiovascular strategy, aligning scientific excellence, operational performance, client engagement, and organizational priorities across Global Cardiology.
- Led the cardiac statistics organization, strengthening analytical capabilities and improving delivery timelines and consistency of global cardiovascular clinical development programs and enterprise decision-making.
- Collaborated with executive leadership to expand cardiac safety consulting services, enhance medical expertise, and strengthen scientific support for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients worldwide.
- Partnered with Business Development leadership by providing executive scientific guidance, technical expertise, and medical consultation supporting strategic client opportunities and organizational growth initiatives.
- Contributed to enterprise planning surrounding emerging cardiovascular technologies, digital health innovation, advanced analytics, and evolving regulatory expectations influencing future service capabilities.
- Worked closely with senior leadership to strengthen cross-functional integration across ECG core laboratories, consulting services, medical affairs, scientific operations, and client-facing organizations.
- Helped position Global Cardiology for continued organizational expansion through strategic planning, process improvement, talent development, and enterprise-wide collaboration.
Spark TherapeuticsPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT & THERAPY
05.2021 - 03.2023
Job overview
- Provided executive leadership for Spark Therapeutics' Systemic Disease and Liver-Directed Gene Therapy Platform, directing enterprise clinical development strategy across rare diseases, cardiovascular medicine, precision medicine, and advanced gene therapy programs.
- Partnered with executive leadership, research, translational medicine, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, commercial planning, and cross-functional development organizations to advance innovative therapies from early development through global clinical execution while supporting long-term portfolio expansion and corporate growth initiatives.
- Directed enterprise clinical development strategy for multiple global AAV-mediated gene therapy programs, integrating translational science, biomarker development, precision medicine, clinical pharmacology, regulatory planning, and long-term portfolio strategy across complex rare disease indications.
- Served as executive clinical leader for the Liver-Directed Gene Therapy Platform, establishing a long-range strategic roadmap supporting scientific innovation, pipeline expansion, lifecycle planning, and future therapeutic opportunities beyond rare diseases.
- Led multidisciplinary global development teams responsible for advancing innovative gene therapy programs in Pompe disease, Fabry disease, and hereditary angioedema while aligning clinical execution with enterprise priorities and organizational objectives.
- Partnered with executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to define development strategies, evaluate emerging opportunities, prioritize portfolio investments, and strengthen long-term competitive positioning within the rapidly evolving gene therapy landscape.
- Directed enterprise biomarker strategy, clinical development planning, competitive intelligence, indication prioritization, and translational medicine initiatives supporting differentiated product development and future commercialization strategies.
- Oversaw Phase I/II global clinical development programs while providing executive medical leadership across protocol development, clinical operations, safety oversight, scientific governance, and regulatory planning.
- Represented clinical development within executive leadership discussions, contributing scientific expertise, strategic recommendations, and enterprise perspectives supporting organizational decision-making and portfolio advancement.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)Collegeville, Pennsylvania
SENIOR DIRECTOR / DIRECTOR
01.2016 - 04.2021
Job overview
- Progressively promoted through multiple executive clinical development leadership roles with increasing responsibility across cardiovascular medicine, renal disease, neuroscience, precision medicine, genetics, and translational science.
- Provided enterprise medical leadership supporting global drug development, governance decision-making, portfolio strategy, clinical innovation, regulatory engagement, and cross-functional execution across one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical organizations.
- Served as a trusted scientific advisor to senior leadership while influencing long-term research, development, and commercialization strategies spanning multiple therapeutic areas.
- Directed enterprise clinical development strategies across multiple innovative therapeutic programs spanning cardiovascular disease, chronic heart failure, neuroscience, chronic pain, renal disease, and precision medicine, supporting advancement from discovery through first-in-human and late-stage clinical development.
- Led global cross-functional development teams responsible for integrating clinical development, translational medicine, biomarker strategy, regulatory planning, clinical pharmacology, and competitive intelligence into comprehensive enterprise development strategies.
- Played a central leadership role in governance reviews, portfolio prioritization, candidate selection, and executive decision-making supporting long-term research and development investment across multiple strategic programs.
- Developed enterprise clinical strategies for first-in-human studies, global development programs, biomarker initiatives, and precision medicine approaches designed to accelerate innovation while reducing development risk.
- Directed strategic collaborations supporting genetics research, human genomics, and precision medicine, including leadership within the GSK-23andMe cardiovascular collaboration evaluating thousands of genetically associated cardiovascular targets to identify future therapeutic opportunities.
- Chaired multidisciplinary clinical teams while mentoring physicians, clinical scientists, and development professionals, strengthening organizational capability and leadership development across multiple therapeutic areas.
- Served on enterprise governance committees, cardiac safety panels, and executive scientific review groups influencing organizational policy, development standards, patient safety strategies, and portfolio decisions.
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE
09.2014 - 01.2016
Job overview
- Recruited to expand Temple University's cardiovascular research enterprise and provide executive leadership across translational medicine, clinical innovation, and institutional research strategy.
- Directed multiple scientific organizations while overseeing major research operations, organizational growth initiatives, funding strategies, and multidisciplinary collaborations supporting enterprise research excellence.
- Founded and directed the Arrhythmia Research Center, establishing a multidisciplinary translational medicine organization advancing innovative cardiovascular research and clinical collaboration.
- Secured more than $2 million in new competitive funding, strengthening institutional research capabilities and supporting continued organizational expansion.
- Oversaw operations of the Cardiovascular Research Institute, directing core scientific facilities and managing research resources supporting multiple investigative programs.
- Managed research operations with responsibility for more than $5 million in annual funding, ensuring effective governance, operational performance, and strategic resource allocation.
- Built collaborative partnerships across academic medicine, clinical departments, healthcare organizations, and external scientific institutions to accelerate innovation and research productivity.
- Provided executive leadership supporting institutional strategy, junior faculty development, scientific collaboration, and long-term organizational growth.
- Continued advancing internationally recognized research programs while expanding Temple University's leadership in cardiovascular medicine and translational science.
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE
07.2005 - 08.2014
Job overview
- Built and led one of the nation's premier translational cardiovascular research programs, integrating basic science, clinical medicine, cardiovascular genetics, and cardiac electrophysiology to accelerate scientific discovery and improve patient outcomes.
- Established a multidisciplinary research organization that attracted nationally competitive funding, advanced innovative cardiovascular therapies, and strengthened collaboration across academic medicine, healthcare systems, and scientific institutions.
- Founded and directed the NIH-funded Molecular Arrhythmia Research Program, establishing a nationally recognized center focused on cardiovascular genetics, cardiac electrophysiology, and translational medicine.
- Built and led multidisciplinary scientific teams composed of physicians, scientists, fellows, postdoctoral researchers, and research professionals while fostering a high-performance culture centered on innovation, collaboration, and scientific excellence.
- Secured more than $4 million in competitive federal research funding, significantly expanding organizational capabilities, research infrastructure, and long-term scientific sustainability.
- Developed strategic collaborations across academic institutions, healthcare organizations, and scientific partners to accelerate translational research and advance emerging cardiovascular therapies.
- Directed enterprise research initiatives integrating molecular biology, genetics, electrophysiology, and translational science to move scientific discoveries toward clinical application.
- Mentored physician-scientists, clinical investigators, graduate students, and future academic leaders, strengthening organizational capability and leadership development within cardiovascular medicine.
- Established an internationally recognized scientific reputation through pioneering research, invited lectures, peer-reviewed publications, editorial leadership, and service on national and international scientific committees.
Education
University of Colorado School of Medicine
DOCTOR OF MEDICINE (MD)
University Overview
WITH HONORS
University of Colorado School of Medicine
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PHD) from Neurophysiology and Biophysics
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (SB) from Electrical Engineering
Skills
- Enterprise Medical Leadership
- Global Clinical Development
- Cardiovascular Medical Strategy
- Translational Medicine Leadership
- Medical Affairs Leadership
- Corporate Growth Strategy
- Portfolio & Pipeline Strategy
- Gene Therapy Leadership
- Regulatory Affairs Strategy
- Cardiac Safety Leadership
- Biomarker Development Strategy
- Scientific Innovation Leadership
- Executive Business Development
- Commercial Strategy Execution
- Cross-Functional Executive Leadership
- Organizational Transformation
- Executive Governance Leadership
- Global Medical Education
- Board & Executive Advisory
- Strategic Industry Partnerships
Affiliations
- Fellow, American College of Cardiology (FACC)
- Fellow, American Heart Association (FAHA)
- Fellow, Heart Rhythm Society (FHRS)
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
Postgraduate Training
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- Internal Medicine Residency, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- Postdoctoral Research Fellowships, Harvard Medical School, University of Pennsylvania
Board Certifications
American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Recertified in Cardiovascular Disease (2024)
Professional Recognition
- Elected GSK Fellow
- 60+ Peer-Reviewed Publications
- 4 U.S. Patents
- H-index: 35
- Secured more than $6M in NIH and competitive research funding
- Internationally recognized speaker in cardiovascular medicine, translational science, and clinical development
Availability
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Timeline
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
Clario
09.2023 - Current
DEPUTY CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
Clario
03.2023 - 08.2023
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT & THERAPY
Spark Therapeutics
05.2021 - 03.2023
SENIOR DIRECTOR / DIRECTOR
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
01.2016 - 04.2021
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE
Temple University
09.2014 - 01.2016
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE
University of Pennsylvania
07.2005 - 08.2014
University of Colorado School of Medicine
DOCTOR OF MEDICINE (MD)
University of Colorado School of Medicine
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PHD) from Neurophysiology and Biophysics
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (SB) from Electrical Engineering