People

Stephanie Jo Brewster, MS, CGC

Director, Clinical Research Operations, Director, Genetic Counseling

Stephanie Brewster is a board-certified and licensed genetic counselor with over 20 years of clinical research experience. In her current and previous positions, Ms. Brewster has implemented and overseen numerous pediatric studies and clinical trials, providing guidance around protocol and consent form composition, Institutional Review Board (IRB) facilitation, infrastructure creation and study staff supervision. She is a current member of the Institutional Review Board and Director, Genetic Counseling at Boston Children’s. Ms. Brewster oversees our Clinical Research Operations Core.

Marwa Elborki, BA

Regulatory Compliance Specialist

Marwa has over five years of experience in clinical research. In her current role, she supports study start-up, site initiation, and regulatory maintenance, ensuring compliance with institutional, local, and federal requirements. She also works closely with sponsors, including pharmaceutical partners, to support the successful execution of clinical trials. Before her current role, Marwa served as a Clinical Research Manager at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she led teams and oversaw complex, multi-site pediatric studies. She also led clinical trials at BIDMC and Johns Hopkins, guiding each study from planning through execution and collaborating across institutions.

Elicia Estrella, MS, CGC

Neuromuscular Clinical Research Manager

The Neuromuscular Program at BCH is focused on the molecular genetics, diagnostics and therapeutics of pediatric neuromuscular diseases. We are a team of 3 scientist physicians, a NP, a genetic counselor and 7 clinical research assistants aimed at testing candidate drugs, gene and molecular therapies to treat and cure neuromuscular diseases in children and their families. We work closely with many family support groups like CureSMA, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). We have participated in the trials for Spinraza, Zolgensma and Evrisdy, which has brought lifesaving treatment options to children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and allowed this disease to be added to the newborn screen in Mass.

Rajna Filip-Dhima, MS

Developmental Synaptopathies Clinical Research Manager

Our team researches rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorders, including Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome, Phelan McDermid Syndrome, Genetic Landscape of Cerebral Palsy, Cerebrovascular Disorders, Sturge Weber Syndrome, Chopra-Amiel-Gordon Syndrome, and Dup15q Syndrome.

Through our research, we examine genetic, neurological and developmental differences between individuals of all ages affected by these disorders. We follow patients for several years through natural history studies and we conduct clinical trials of new therapeutics for treatment of these conditions. In addition to our observational and interventional studies, our team enrolls patients in genetic sequencing studies, biosample repositories, and gene registry and discovery projects.

Zoë Frazier, MS, CGC

Developmental Neurogenetics Research Project Manager

Our team supports translational research studies for several neurodevelopmental conditions, including Phelan McDermid syndrome, Kleefstra syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and Cerebrovascular Disorders. We are a team of a physician scientist, a genetic counselor, and a clinical research assistant. We work closely with patient advocacy groups, families, and international clinicians/researchers, all of whom are similarly motivated to better understand these neurodevelopmental conditions. Currently, our research includes several genetic sequencing initiatives (exome sequencing, genome sequencing, long-read sequencing), observational studies, and biosample repositories. We aim to better understand these conditions on a molecular and behavioral level, to contribute to the future development of targeted therapies.

Suzanne Lemoine, MA

Clinical Research Regulatory Manager

Suzanne M. Lemoine received her Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in Sociology with an emphasis on research from the University of New Brunswick in Canada. Ms. Lemoine has over 11 years of experience in regulatory and clinical research.  She has successfully managed the regulatory requirements from start-up to close out for numerous sponsor and principal investigator studies, created internal regulatory SOPs, and coordinated internal and sponsor monitoring of trials.  She has a clear understanding of regulatory processes, procedures and policies, including GCP and local regulatory requirements.

Eorna Maguire, BA

Rett & CDKL5 Clinical Research Manager

Our Rett & CDKL5 Research Program is dedicated to conducting clinical research in MECP2-related disorders like Rett syndrome and CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD). Our team members work closely several foundations dedicated to supporting families with MECP2-related disorders and CDKL5 deficiency disorder to accelerate research. We conducted the first investigational trial in Rett syndrome with our Phase 1 and 2 IGF-1 studies and now conduct investigational clinical trials and observational studies for these disorders.

Allyson McCrary, BA, CCRP

Assistant Director, Clinical Research Operations

Allyson McCrary is a Certified Clinical Research Professional with 20 years of experience working at Boston Children’s Hospital, including 9 years and counting of clinical research experience. In her current and previous positions, Ms. McCrary has supported and overseen numerous projects and pediatric clinical trials providing guidance on study implementation and operations, study staff supervision, and quality improvement initiatives. Ms. McCrary is interested in supporting people and processes with a goal to maximize collaboration, growth, and impact for individuals, projects, and programs in clinical research. Ms. McCrary received her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English and minor in Philosophy from Stonehill College. Ms. McCrary is a Certified Clinical Research Professional by the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA).

Marena Neggers, MPH, CCRP

Regulatory Compliance Specialist

Marena Neggers is a Regulatory Compliance Specialist for the Translational Neuroscience Center (TNC). She received her BS in Health Sciences and Biology and Master of Public Health from Boston University. In her position, she works on study start up, site initiation, and regulatory maintenance. Marena has 5 years of clinical research experience working as a Human Research Quality Manager at Boston University and as a Research Coordinator at MGH.

Katherine Pawlowski, BA

Director of Developmental Medicine Clinical Research Laboratories

Seven coordinators, including clinical research assistants and specialists, support studies in Developmental Medicine as well as Neurology and Psychiatry. Studies focus on neurodevelopmental conditions including Down syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, 16p11.2 deletion syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, anxiety, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Studies include multiple Phase II and III trials of novel medications, safety and pharmacokinetic studies of commonly prescribed medications, randomized behavioral intervention trials, assisting with the search for electroencephalographic and other biomarkers, qualitative research, clinical quality improvement projects, and retrospective analyses of clinical data sets.

Brian Winklosky, MA

ARIA IMPACT Network Senior Clinical Research Program Manager

Brian Winklosky is excited to join the join the ARIA IMPACT Network as a Senior Clinical Research Program Manager, bringing over 25 years of experience in developing and supporting multi-site research initiatives focused on neurodevelopmental disorders. Before joining the Boston Children’s Hospital IMPACT Clinical Coordinating Center team, Brian spent 20 years at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he developed and managed a research portfolio comprising collaborative, interdisciplinary networks aimed at improving clinical care and quality of life for children with autism and their families. Brian values strong leadership, clear communication and has a long history in enhancing research infrastructures, fostering collaborative partnerships, and is dedicated to advancing clinical research and improving healthcare outcomes through his commitment to excellence and innovation in the field.