Ching Tian recently joined Emmes—a global, full-service clinical research organization dedicated to supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation—as chief innovation officer.

Emmes Chief Executive Officer Christine Dingivan said, “Ching brings a wealth of data and digital experience, which will be immediately useful as we accelerate our transition to decentralized trials. Her role is to work across the company to integrate technology and processes that strengthen the way we’ll address clinical trials of the future.”

Tian said, “As a biostatistician by training, I have spent many years leading functional operations and optimizing the clinical trial processes through technology with a data focus. What attracted me to Emmes were Dr. Dingivan’s vision of Emmes as a tech-enabled CRO; the company’s roots in biostatistics; its 45-year history; and science-based, high-quality clinical research reputation.

Before joining Emmes, Tian was senior vice president of strategy and solutions at Medable, where she created and was responsible for its decentralized clinical trial product strategy. Her previous role at Novartis, where she was general manager, data and digital, in global drug development, also included accountability for driving the decentralized clinical trial strategy, programs, and platforms.

In addition, Tian’s clinical research organization and pharma experience included leadership positions at PPD and MedImmune/AstraZeneca, where she held roles of increasing responsibility in areas such as global pharmacovigilance systems, early clinical development services, global clinical informatics, data management, statistical programming, and clinical technology operations.

Tian holds a master’s degree in biostatistics from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Hangzhou Dianzi University in China.

“Ching knows this industry and what our clients want and need from a CRO,” noted Dingivan. “Her experience at Medable, where she worked to ensure that technology was not built in a vacuum but integrated with the business, will be valuable in her new position at Emmes. Her experience across technology, CRO, and biopharma companies is a unique asset for leading our Advantage eClinical platform development and commercialization activities.”