Marla Curran, DrPH

Marla Curran, DrPH, has a diverse work experience spanning multiple companies and roles in the biostatistics and data science fields. Marla is currently the Head of Biostatistics & Data Science at the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute, a position they have held since February 2023. Prior to this, they served as the Head of Biostatistics & Data Management at the same institute from August 2021 to February 2023.

Before joining the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute, Dr. Curran was the Head of Biometrics and Medical Writing at Spark Therapeutics, Inc. from September 2019 to March 2021. In this role, they built a new platform that included various capabilities such as biostatistics, statistical programming, data science, medical writing, and analytics.

From March 2018 to September 2019, Dr. Curran worked as the Executive Director and Head of Biometrics and Medical Writing at Paratek Pharmaceuticals. During this time, they created and led a new organization that encompassed biostatistics, statistical programming, medical writing, real-world evidence (RWE), and publications.

Prior to their role at Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Curran held the position of Senior Director and Head, Global Epidemiology and Evidence-based Statistics at Teva Pharmaceuticals from November 2015 to March 2018. Marla led and expanded a global team of epidemiologists, statisticians, programmers, and statistical geneticists, strengthening the company's medical affairs, regulatory, and clinical strategies.

Before joining Teva Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Curran worked at GSK, where they held several director-level positions in different areas of expertise. From January 2014 to November 2015, they served as the Director of Real World Evidence, leading a matrix team in evidence generation plans and expanding data access for drug development. Marla also held the role of Director of Clinical Statistics, serving as the lead for the Rare Disease Unit portfolio and overseeing statistical activities for infectious diseases and ophthalmology.

Prior to their tenure at GSK, Dr. Curran worked at sanofi-aventis as a Senior Statistician in Clinical Statistics, focusing on clinical pharmacology and performing modeling and simulation activities. Marla also spent some time at DuPont Pharmaceuticals as a Pre-Clinical Statistician, providing statistical support for preclinical drug discovery.

Overall, Dr. Curran has a wealth of experience in biostatistics, data science, medical writing, and evidence-based statistics. Marla has held leadership positions in various organizations, contributing to the growth and success of each company they have worked for.

Marla Curran, DrPH, holds a Doctor of Public Health degree in Biostatistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to that, they earned a Master of Science degree in Biostatistics from the same institution. Marla began their academic journey by obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics from North Carolina State University.