Heather Ward

Heather Ward currently serves as Senior Director of Strategic and Technical Project Management in Data Science and Computational Biology focused on Diabetes, Obesity, and Complications at Eli Lilly and Company since July 2025. Prior to this role, Heather worked at Novo Nordisk from June 2019 to June 2025, where significant contributions included serving as Cross Portfolio Principal Scientist overseeing drug discovery projects, and assuming roles as Senior Scientist and Scientist II within the cardiometabolic research pipeline. Earlier positions at the University of Washington involved research on glomerular diseases and chronic kidney disease, while a tenure at UNM focused on cancer-immune interactions and kidney-related research as an Assistant Professor and NIH-funded Principal Investigator. Heather's academic background includes a Ph.D. in Pathology/Experimental Pathology from Indiana University School of Medicine, along with several other degrees in related fields. In efforts to enhance professional development, Heather is completing a certificate in Biotechnology Project Management in 2025.