Joy Carson

Joy Carson brings more than 30 years of clinical research industry experience to her role as FHI Global Head of Clinical Science. Carson draws on her experience from academia, industry and contract research organizations to support the clinical development of small and large molecules, diagnostics and gene therapies from pre-clinical stages through product launch. She has designed and led studies from early phase and clinical pharmacology through registration and post-marketing in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa.

Prior to joining FHI Clinical, Carson served as VP of Clinical Development and VP of Medical Communications at Asklepios Biopharmaceutical, where, in addition to contributing to the clinical development strategy for gene therapy candidates in rare diseases, she established a patient advocacy program to integrate the patient voice into the clinical development process.

Through her career, Carson held multiple positions of increasing responsibility in project management and clinical strategy. She designed and ran the first drug lottery programs for HIV protease inhibitors. Carson led the clinical development of what would become one of the first liquid biopsy assays for cancer detection. She advised global emerging biopharma clients on the development of their oncology assets, with specific experience assisting Asia-Pacific clients to transition their early-phase drug candidates through INDs in North America and Europe. She engaged with regulatory agencies across all phases of drug development and supported global regulatory submissions from IND through market launch.

Carson’s involvement in protocol design across therapeutic indications and phases of development allows her to bring insights into the evolution of study design and methods that support the most direct path to market for new products. Her recruitment and coordination of Clinical and Scientific Advisory Boards has introduced her to global key opinion leaders across clinical indications. Her leadership roles through the years included media relations and government outreach, including the recruitment of a US President and members of the US Congress and Senate in support of a patient advocacy fundraiser. Carson’s passion is coordinating clinicians, regulators, government, industry and patient advocates to advance global health initiatives.

Carson holds a BA in neuropsychology from Boston University and an MBA from the D’Amore-McKim School of Business High Technology Program at Northeastern University.