Vision
Dr Evan Papanastasiou MD MSc PhD MBA
Aspirations - Mission - Values
Aspirations
I want to contribute effectively to the discovery and development of novel drug treatments in psychiatry and neurology, with focus in the areas of schizophrenia and psychosis; consequently I want to lead successful phase II and III clinical trials, to allow the marketing of effective medicinal treatments for these medical conditions. I will always prioritise the safety and wellbeing of patients, and study participants.
Current Landscape: Despite large unmet medical needs in psychiatry for several decades, CNS drug discovery and development in this therapeutic area has been largely unsuccessful. There are several reasons to account for the elevated failure rates observed in CNS clinical trials, including limitations in translation from preclinical studies (as animal models of disease state are not truly predictive of the human condition) and inflated placebo response rates. Given these limitations, a number of pharmaceutical companies have withdrawn their activities from the field of psychiatry, especially in the areas of schizophrenia and psychosis, thus limiting the treatment options available for patients and clinicians.
Mission
Precision Science: I advocate the use of neuroscience discoveries in driving and guiding clinical development activities; we encourage the use of brain biomarkers as surrogate endpoints, along with clinical ones traditionally used; I have the intention to employ modern technologies such as functional neuroimaging in clinical trials, to elucidate mechanisms of drug action and strengthen confidence in the validity of clinical findings.
Evidence-Based Practice: I embrace contemporary methods of clinical investigation along with conventional ones; based on my experience, I select appropriate psychometric scales, combined with relevant batteries of cognitive tests, to capture clinical outcomes; in parallel I support the use of digital monitoring technologies as valid assessment tools.
Clinical Experience: I benefit from a solid clinical and research experience in psychiatry, covering multiple manifestations of psychosis from early onset to the chronic phase; I have used a wide range of pharmacological agent to treat those conditions; I understand the limitations of current treatments and the special characteristics of these clinical populations.
ValUES
Focus on Quality: given the time constraints, I aim to deliver the best possible outcome; I avoid shortcuts and cutting corners; as “devil stays in details” I keep our undivided attention to all aspects of our work; I go to great lengths to keep my clients satisfied and myself fulfilled.
Flexibility: I provide international services; I work around the clock and within strict project deadlines; I operate primarily remotely, but I can travel and tailor my services to the needs of my customers.