Veronika Smutná

Clinical Scientist in Oncology Early Phase Clinical Development, Institut de Recherches Internationales SERVIER

WHO AM I

Molecular biologist by training, during my MSc studies at Palacky University Olomouc (Czech Republic), I was interested in the hemato-oncology field, focusing on the development of biomarker-driven diagnostics for AML. In 2011, a desire to discover solid tumors led to my choice of a research internship, followed by a PhD in Cancer Research in Gustave Roussy (France), where my main focus was on biomarkers discovery and their functional validation in breast cancer rare subtypes. 

My first experience in industry brought me to the Institut de Recherches Internationales SERVIER in 2017, with the first two years as a Translational and Clinical Research Scientist in Oncology, leading the translational medicine program of small molecules and chemotherapeutics. During the next two years, I provided scientific-operational support for biomarker assays in various oncology early stage clinical trials as a Clinical Biomarkers Operations Leader. For the last two years and until now, I am back in oncology clinical development, as a Clinical Scientist in oncology early phase studies, focusing on clinical, medical, scientific and strategic aspects of hemato-oncology clinical trials.

WHAT WILL I TALK ABOUT

My personal experience of transition from academic research to industry: What was my path? How to enter an industry position when ready for the transition? What surprised me the most? What differences in mindset have I observed? What are my lessons learned? Is there any way back to academia?

My personal experience as a scientific expat in France: the importance of NGOs, connections with your country of origin and the power of social networks.