Our Team
Our team of professionals have extensive medical, research, and operational experience in clinical trials. The cornerstone of our 15-year track record of success lies in our extensive medical knowledge and commitment to our patient population. Our team includes physicians with over 30 years of medical experience in both public and private sectors, giving us a deep and thorough understanding of Puerto Rico's medical, cultural, and regulatory environment.
About Us
We started as a private medical practice specializing in pediatrics, infectious diseases, and vaccination. Given our experience in these areas and passion for research, we established a separate clinical research site that organizes, implements, and executes Phase II and IV clinical trials in Puerto Rico. In this capacity, we work with leading pharmaceutical companies to contribute to the well-being of Puerto Ricans through medical advances and to society as a whole.
Leadership
Dr. Carmen C. Deseda, PI
Our Principal Investigator, Dr. Carmen C Deseda, received her medical degree from the Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine in Puerto Rico and completed her residency in Pediatrics at the St. Louis Children's Hospital and San Juan City Hospital. Additionally, Dr. Deseda completed at two-year fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia in the Epidemiology Intelligence Service Unit.
Dr. Deseda's professional experience includes positions at the CDC and as State Epidemiologist of Puerto Rico (1994-2000). She is the Former President of the Latin American Society for Pediatric Infectology (SLIPE) and a member of the International Society of Travel Medicine. She is a prominent author and has published extensively on vaccination in leading medical journals including the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Carmen D. Navarro, Founder & CEO
Carmen D. Navarro is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at CMRCenter. Mrs. Navarro obtained her Bachelors Degree in Economics and International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania. After working as an analyst at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., Mrs. Navarro pursued her graduate studies at Harvard University (MPA and EdM).
Carmen has extensive experience in project management and operations. She worked as a strategy consultant at the International Finance Corporation and the Bridgespan Group (affiliated with Bain & Company), and was most recently Head of Financial Inclusion at the World Economic Forum.
At CMRCenter, Mrs. Navarro directs the company’s strategy, oversees operations, and works with pharmaceutical companies and staff to ensure quality control and compliance. She is also a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (ACRP).