CardioVascular Resource Group (CVrg) is an accomplished team of Competitive Intelligence experts producing exclusive CVM resources; skilled Account Managers supporting clients and their needs; and dependable Technology professionals ensuring reliable access to best-in-class resources. We are passionate about developing elite resources with depth, insight, and relevance in our areas of responsibility and serving clients to the best of our ability.
Our Team
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CVrg is a Division of
CVrg is a Division of
Mike Reynolds, MBA
Co-CEO
Mike is a co-founder of BPrg. His leadership is based on over 25 years of supporting biopharmaceutical companies and working alongside talented teams with a common purpose and passion – creating and using best-in-class competitive intelligence and market research resources. Mike holds a Master of Business Administration from Santa Clara University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Washington State University.
Stacey McCann, Ph.D.
Co-CEO
Dr. McCann is a co-founder of BPrg. Her leadership is based on a strong analytical aptitude and unique blend of scientific and clinical knowledge and practical commercial experience with more than 22 years of serving a variety of pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients as a senior consultant. She has extensive experience helping biopharmaceutical companies make informed decisions about the development of their products. Dr. McCann received her Ph.D. in Cancer Biology from Stanford University Medical School and her B.A. in Microbiology from University of California, Santa Barbara.
Amanda Alvarez-Dieppa, Ph.D.
MANAGER
Amanda received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from The University of Texas at Dallas, where she studied molecular mechanisms of enhanced memory through vagus nerve stimulation. She then joined the pharmaceutical industry as a Medical Science Liaison serving the nephrology space. With a strong academic background and years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Amanda serves clients with great scientific acumen, extensive knowledge of the drug development process, and polished communication skills.
Christa Trexler, Ph.D.
SENIOR MANAGER
Dr. Trexler received her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Colorado Boulder where her research focused on investigating biological sex differences in the cardiovascular system both at baseline and during disease states, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of California San Diego, where her research centered on generating genetic pre-clinical models of cardiac disease. In addition to her strong research experience, she excels at communicating complex scientific topics to a variety of audiences, which is a skill she refined during her time as an Early Career Blogger for the American Heart Association.
Chung I Choi
SENIOR DIRECTOR
Chung I Choi has been with CVrg since 2007 and brings 20 years of biotechnology and pharmaceutical consulting experience to her clients. Her analytical capabilities span a wide range of areas supporting the product development and competitive intelligence functions within companies, such as opportunity assessments, target profile product development, pipeline prioritization, conference coverage, and market forecasting. She excels at conducting primary research with KOLs and is an expert at integrating analyses from primary and secondary research to determine the future marketplace. She received her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley in Biochemistry and Political Economics.
Isabel Schlaepfer, Ph.D.
ANALYST
Dr Schlaepfer has more than 25 years of scientific leadership and research accomplishments, including working in endocrinology for more than a decade and completing a Ph.D. in integrative physiology and genetics of addiction from the University of Colorado, Boulder. During her tenure at University of Colorado Medical School, she studied the role of lipids in insulin resistance and hormone-related cancers. Specifically, the combination of hormonal and metabolic inhibitors to reduce tumor growth and increase the sensitivity to standard of care treatments. Isabel brings to CVrg strong scientific and analytical skills, as well as interdisciplinary experience in biomedical research.
Jennifer Lilla, Ph.D.
SENIOR DIRECTOR – CVrg OPERATIONS
Jennifer joined CVrg in 2012 after completing postdoctoral training at Stanford University and received her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of California, San Francisco. As a former human physiology professor, her clinical expertise adds crucial insight to her competitive intelligence skillset. With strong scientific acumen and strategic planning experience for large organizations, Jennifer provides biopharma clients outstanding support in their pipeline-to-market strategies as well as manages the CVrg analyst team.
Liz Poyner, Ph.D.
INNOVATION LEAD, SENIOR DIRECTOR
Dr. Poyner joined CVrg in 2009, after 15 years in the pharmaceutical industry, gaining expertise in drug delivery systems and cardiometabolic therapeutic areas. An accomplished competitive intelligence analyst, Dr Poyner is a qualified Six Sigma Green Belt, and possesses a proven ability to deliver timely and effective client focused information management solutions, enhanced by exceptional communication skills. She is well respected and well regarded by peers and senior management across the pharma industry. She was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2014 in recognition of her accomplishments. She received her BSc and Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of London.
Martha Klovstad, Ph.D.
DIRECTOR
Dr. Klovstad has been helping CVrg clients understand the cardiovascular marketplace for over a decade. She received her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Princeton University, where she investigated the genetics of DNA repair, oogenesis, and breast cancer, while her postdoctoral research at Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco focused on neurobiology. At CVrg, she particularly enjoys using her strong analytical capabilities and years of therapeutic area expertise to place recent market events into the bigger picture of the cardiovascular marketplace.
Matt Racine, Ph.D.
SENIOR MANAGER
Matt received his Ph.D. in Cardiovascular Physiology from Colorado State University, where his research focused on mechanisms of age-related impairments in skeletal muscle blood flow regulation and therapeutic strategies for improving vascular function with advancing age in humans. He leverages a background that includes clinical evidence strategy in the medical device industry along with over a decade of combined preclinical and clinical research expertise to provide CVrg’s clients with valuable analyses and thoughtful insights.
Nina Brandt, Ph.D.
SENIOR DIRECTOR
Dr. Brandt received her Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from University of Copenhagen, where her research focused on the interplay between lipids and insulin signaling in pre-clinical and clinical models of obesity, followed by postdoctoral training at UCLA specializing in metabolic disease in specific patient populations. In addition to her solid scientific and analytical skills, she brings to CVrg experience in support and advising commercial teams and with that a strong cornerstone of knowledge in the metabolic marketplace. Through extensive experience presenting data to diverse audiences, she effectively communicates key news and its implications to clients, and is well regarded by peers in the MASH field. Dr. Brandt joined CVrg in 2016.
Brooke Blackwelder
SENIOR SALES DIRECTOR
Brooke received her BS in Sociology from Northern Arizona University. Brooke’s 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur including 15 years as a professional cyclist/coach have given her an armament of customer service skills with a goal oriented mindset. Her strong interpersonal skills, business acumen, and forward thinking strategy help her to lead and manage the needs of the CVrg Account Management team and our clients. Brooke thrives by connecting clients to available resources, helping them meet their goals, and ensuring they receive maximum value from their investment.
Kathleen Farber
CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER
Kathleen brings over 10 years of experience in account management, social media moderation, and community management in the pharmaceutical industry to her client services role at CVrg, where she facilitates the connection of our products to our subscribers. She received her BAS in Corporate Communications from the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, and also has an Associate’s Degree in Marketing and Management from Waukesha County Technical College in Wisconsin.
Lynda Palubeski
HR AND OPERATIONS SPECIALIST
Lynda brings dynamic operations experience across client services, product delivery, data management and human resource platforms. She specializes in integrating and operating systems across business areas within an agile company. Lynda received her Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of California, Riverside.
Aric Spence
TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR
Aric has worked in the Information Technology industry since 1992. His extensive computer science knowledge combined with his detail-oriented personality helps ensure streamlined business processes across the CVrg web delivery platform. Aric is confident and enthusiastic in his ability to provide valuable services across multiple realms for all CVrg clients.
Rob Lindner
TECHNOLOGY ENGINEER
An IT professional since 1998, Rob has worked in Collegiate and Educational sectors focusing on systems administration, hardware and the complex and changing role of technology in human interaction. Rob is focused on helping make security and the share of information work the best way that it can for CVrg’s clients and employees.
Elissa Davis
VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR, BPrg
Elissa received her BA in Communications from Chico State University. She has been a graphic designer for over 30 years. Her career has thrived in both the structure of large advertising agencies as well as the flexible world of freelancing. Elissa is passionate about her work and enjoys creating the best visual communications possible.