Nexxus Scotland

Susan McGoldrick, Managing Director, QCTR

Q: So, what does being the Managing Director of QCTR actually involve?

It is a varied job (I don't think I have two days the same!). To be honest this was one of the reasons why I have enjoyed setting up QCTR.  Prior to QCTR the founding team worked for a small pharmaceutical company that was bought over and the Stirling office was subsequently closed down. So we started up QCTR as a niche CRO specialising in central nervous system disorders.

QCTR started with 4 staff and now we have grown to 14.  Our staff are mainly based at Stirling University Innovation Park but a few are based in Germany. The original team has been strengthened by the experience of our staff from large and small CROs and large pharmaceutical companies. All of them thrive on the close interaction with sponsor companies and their products and the feeling of responsibility that you get from working in a small company.

We feel that there is a gap in the market for a CRO that can work in close partnership with drug development companies and give them the benefit of our many years experience.  We also feel that there is a market for CROs who specialise and really understand the therapeutic field they are working in. (There is no better method of learning that than by working in that area as a sponsor yourself!)

We pride ourselves on our ability to deliver patient recruitment in what are often very challenging disease areas.  Plus we genuinely feel that this is an area of vast unmet medical need, for example in conditions such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease, so the potential to make a real difference spurs us all on.

We plan to expand geographically and are looking to set up an office in the US in the latter part of the year.

My role is to run the business and to provide the vision and direction. It also generally means I am at least aware of, or involved with, everything from dealing with clients, patient recruitment progress, overseeing regulatory interactions, contracts etc.

Q: Tell us about a typical day (or is there no such thing?).

Depending on where we are with a project there can be days which are very busy indeed. Doing a good job for our clients is important to all of us at QCTR. There can however be challenges that occasionally arise and when that happens I like to make sure the team know they have the support of the Managing Director during that time.

There are a lot of meetings in a typical week, (although I try to make sure we don't have too many in the same day).  Sometimes it feels a lot like spinning plates.

From clinical operations through client liaison, QA, finance, business development and staff management, all the main functions deserve my time and attention. The trick is to get the balance right.

Q: So what's taken up most of your time recently?

We are working on a project with the Stirling University Dementia Services Development Centre.

Getting the application for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) has taken up a fair bit of time. I hope to be able to tell you more about that soon. We are very excited about it.

Q: What's on the cards for the next few months?

We are looking at opening an office in the US, in the Boston region, towards the end of the year. Continuing to support our existing clients and attracting new clients are also top of the agenda. We are an ambitious company with determination to succeed.  We also have the right formula and team to deliver success in an area that is very rewarding to work in.

Q: What would you want to do if you weren't doing this job?

That's a difficult one as I love what I do at QCTR! If I wasn't doing this job then I would still definitely want to be working in the life science sector. 

As a qualified Chartered Accountant (I qualifies with Ernst & Young many years ago) I have seen many businesses in many sectors and the life science industry which I joined in 1996 is the most exciting area I have worked in.  There is so just so much potential, eg in terms of therapeutic need, improving the way clinical trials are conducted and making them more cost effective as well as the evolving regulatory landscape.

I do try to bring some balance to work/home life though. I work from home on a Friday and have done so since my son James was born 12 years ago. At least on a Friday he knows that I am in the house when he comes home from school.  

Since my days are so well structured at work I am happiest just pottering at home with the family; my husband, son and going for long walks with our dog.

For further information, contact Susan
T: 01786 270400 
E: smcgoldrick@qctr.co.uk