Debra A. Schaumberg
An internationally recognized expert in epidemiology and ophthalmology, Debra brings to the life sciences community over 25 years of expertise and experience leading clinical development and medical affairs strategy. In that time, Debra has created, grown and led research programs spanning the spectrum of early to late clinical development through medical affairs, including all aspects of evidence generation and integration for drugs, biologics and devices and diagnostics. Debra’s current responsibilities as a strategic leader and Global Head of PPD’s Strategic Development Consulting business cross all areas of the PPD portfolio of service offerings and client solutions, including toxicology and CMC consulting, clinical pharmacology consulting and project execution, and clinical development, regulatory, and medical affairs strategy consulting. She leads a team of senior scientific strategists and scientists that work collaboratively with biotech and biopharma clients to facilitate acceleration of access to medical products through strategic input into pre-clinical, clinical and regulatory strategy to drive program optimization, innovate evidence generation, and create value through the advancement of scientific knowledge and insights to meet the needs of the client’s internal and external stakeholders. Debra also serves as chair of the Research Leadership Council, which serves to shape the scientific and strategic consulting priorities of the company.
Previously, Debra served on the faculties of Harvard Medical School and the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, and the University of Utah School of Medicine, as Global Medical Director for Ophthalmics and then Head of Medical Evidence at Shire. At PPD, she has served in prior roles as VP, Scientific Affairs, VP, Epidemiology and Head of Strategic and Scientific Affairs. She has diverse experience with biotherapeutic start-ups, venture capital teams, & big pharma and has worked in early-stage clinical development through medical affairs, RWE, and lifecycle management roles, and has authored hundreds of scientific publications, lectures, and scientific presentations. Debra received her ScD from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, an MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Hygiene and Public Health, research fellowship at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and OD summa cum laude from the Illinois College of Optometry.