Leona Bessonova Ph.D.

Leona Bessonova, PhD, MBA has a diverse work experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with a focus on medical research, epidemiology, and evidence strategy. Leona is currently serving as the Senior Director and Head of Medical Research at Intercept Pharmaceuticals. In this role, Leona is responsible for developing and executing a global business plan for evidence generation strategy, as well as building fit-for-purpose capabilities for observational research. Prior to this, they worked as the Senior Director of Epidemiology & Evidence Strategy at Acceleron Pharma, where they led the design and execution of pharmacoepidemiology studies and collaborated with global medical directors for study design and protocol development.

Leona has also held positions at Alkermes, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and Allergan, where they focused on health economics, outcomes research, and clinical epidemiology. Leona has experience in supporting the development of value propositions, leading HEOR strategies, and collaborating with external research partners. At Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Leona developed and implemented strategies for real-world evidence generation and provided oversight and expertise in developing non-interventional studies.

In addition to their industry experience, Leona has worked as a Teaching Associate at the University of California, Irvine and served as a Graduate Student Researcher/Research Assistant at the University of California, Los Angeles and Irvine. Leona has also held various roles and committee positions within academic and professional organizations.

Overall, Leona Bessonova's work experience showcases their expertise in medical research, epidemiology, evidence strategy, and health economics, making their a valuable asset in the pharmaceutical industry.

Leona Bessonova, PhD, MBA, has an extensive education history that includes multiple degrees in the field of biological sciences, epidemiology, and business administration. Leona began their academic journey in 2002 at Macaulay Honors College at The City University of New York and Hunter College, where they earned a Bachelor's Degree in Biological Sciences. Leona then pursued further studies in epidemiology, earning a Master of Science (M.S.) degree from UCLA Fielding School of Public Health in 2008. Following this, Leona went on to pursue a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of California, Irvine - College of Medicine, completing their studies in 2012. Leona'seducational pursuits did not end there, as they recently acquired a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst in 2021.