Nirvana S. Pillay (Phd, Mba, Mph) Email & Phone Number

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Started a part-time business while raising my son, primarily involved in strategy, product formulation, and business development.• Identifying opportunities: Constantly scanning the market for opportunities to innovate and create new products.• Risk management: Assessed the risks involved in each opportunity and determined how to mitigate them in order to maximize potential profits.• Commercialisation: Successfully brough products to market by remaining lean and agile in approach.• Strategic planning: Developed short-term and long-term goals and a plan of action to achieve them.• Resource allocation: Determined how to allocate resources, including financial and human capital, to maximize efficiency and productivity.• Networking: Built and maintained relationships with customers and suppliers.• Sales and marketing: Developed a marketing strategy and executed sales tactics to promote products.• Financial management: Managing finances, including cash flow, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis, to ensure profitability.• Operations management: Overseeing the day-to-day operations of the business, including production, logistics, and quality control.• Continuous learning: Staying up-to-date on industry trends, best practices, and new technologies to remain competitive and innovative.

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Founded XCell Bioconsulting, the leading management bioconsulting firm in South Africa that provided strategic consulting and training services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.-Formed a collaboration with South Africa’s leading business school (UCT GSB) to offer three specialised Bio-Business courses offered at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, Executive Education.-Sponsored by the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) to present and conduct a workshop on “Translating Science into Business” in Bangalore, India.-Developed and executed strategies for clients in the biotechnology industry, resulting in increased revenues and improved operational efficiencies.-Built and managed a team of consultants, overseeing their work and providing guidance and support.-Established relationships with key industry stakeholders, including investors, regulators, and other key decision-makers.-Conducted market research and analysis to identify trends and opportunities in the biotechnology industry.-Developed and implemented marketing and sales strategies to grow the business.-Provided strategic consulting for clients to develop new execution strategies for better results and greater output of their business plans via the South African Technology Innovation Agency. -Fostered collaborative business relationships locally and internationally.-Lead and developed work teams with associated consultants on a project-by-project basis.-Experience in projects related to TB, HIV/AIDS, nutraceuticals and CNS disorders.-Operated as a freelance clinical research associate in clinics as a site auditor.- Developed and submitted regulatory documents to MCC, IRB committees and other regulatory organisations.-Designed course materials for training business skills to health science professionals (medical doctors and scientists ).

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

• Developed study hypotheses for prospective studies and primarily involved in clinical research design and interpretation. • Scientific advisor for clinical studies and to psychiatrists. • Developed Standard Operating Protocols for clinical study proposals.• Designed and executed studies on HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND).• Reviewed scientific literature on HAND and synthesised research findings.• Analysed and interpreted scientific results on various ongoing projects.• Created database and systems for clinical trial sample storage.

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

- Managed and led a team of Clinical Operations members to ensure the achievement of project clinical deliverables within the contractual timelines and budget.- Oversaw all aspects of clinical research, including study start-up, interim and closeout.- Set up the required training, tracking and quality systems for the study.- Provided input into preparation of forecast estimates and clinical deliverables, assignments, and identification of additional resource requirements.-Principal contact and support to the Sponsor for all clinical-related aspects of project.-Designed, evaluated, analysed and reviewed reports on projects, clinical research and diagnostic testing.-Established Standard Operation Procedures for clinical research studies.-Prepared and co-ordinated clinical studies for FDA approval and CE marking.- Clinical On-site Monitoring and training.- Monitored study to ensure adherence to International Conference on Harmonisation – Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP) and South African- Good Clinical Practice standard (SA-GCP).-Lead research team to develop new research strategies for tuberculosis diagnostics.

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

-Lectured the neuroscience module to first year Pharmacy students.- Set and evaluated tests and examination scripts.

Stockholm, Stockholm County, Sweden

-Awarded a full scholarship. World Health Organisation (WHO) -Performed analytical experiments on neuronal cell cultures in prion disease with the aim of developing an assay for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease ( Mad Cow Disease ).- Presented a seminar on African traditional medicinal plants used in epilepsy.

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

- Developed study protocol design.- Completed and compiled all necessary research documentation for a large clinical trial study.-Filing of Clinical Trial Application (CTA) submissions with the Medicine Control Council.-Submissions to Institutional Review Board (IRB) ethics committee.- Researched treatment in anxiety disorders.

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

-Placed orders for laboratory supplies and equipment and liaised with medical sales representatives.- Ensured adherence of GLP (good laboratory practices)

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Facilitated year 1 to year 3 medical students using the problem-based learning method that involved medical case study interpretations and case management.

Masters Of Public Health, Epidemiology And Public Health

Research focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on expectant mothers in South Africa.

Doctor Of Philosophy, Neuroscience

Activities and Societies: Dean's Award for an outstanding contribution to the UCT Faculty of Health Sciences Postgraduate Students.

Essential And Behavioural Neuroscience

Sponsored by the International Brain Research (IBRO) to attend the fifth IBRO African school course in Essential and Behavioural.

Bsc (Med) Hons, Human Genetics

Human Genetics PCR, Elisa assays, Western Blots Bioinformatics

Bachelor Of Science, Majors In Psychology And Genetics