Moira C. Dowling, MPH, has been an accomplished professional at the University of Michigan for more than 20 years, consistently contributing to the advancement of clinical research within the institution. With a deep-rooted passion for clinical research, she has excelled since 2021 as the manager of the Neurology Clinical Trials Organization (NeCTO) at the University of Michigan Medical School. Throughout her career, she has taken immense pride in the pivotal roles she has held and the programs she developed and joined, all of which have been instrumental in promoting clinical research at this renowned institution.
In her more recent role with NeCTO, Ms. Dowling has been able to rekindle her enthusiasm for clinical research. She finds great satisfaction in cultivating a team of skilled professionals, addressing challenges such as maintaining regulatory compliance, adapting to technological advancements, ensuring appropriate training to advance staff, in addition to navigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her journey at the University of Michigan began at the Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she led solid tumor clinical trials from 2004 to 2006. She subsequently managed operational support for five years, served as associate managing director of the Epic Clinical Research Interfaces from 2010 to 2012, and played a fundamental role in establishing the Honest Broker Office to ensure compliant sharing of patient data. Additionally, she was instrumental in developing the Michigan Institute for Data Science. From 2019 to 2021, she also managed the Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center, further demonstrating her leadership and impact.
Ms. Dowling’s academic foundation in clinical research was built at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 1983. Following a successful period in the pharmaceutical industry, she realized the need to enhance her biostatistics qualifications to further her career in clinical research. This led her to the University of California, Los Angeles, where she graduated in 1992 with a Master of Public Health in Biostatistics.
Ms. Dowling’s achievements can be traced back to the value of hard work and education instilled in her by her high-achieving family. She proudly acknowledges the influence of her father, an organic chemist who held patents with the U.S. government, and her mother, who was a clinical researcher in the 1940s. She is also inspired by her family’s academic accomplishments, which include two sisters with doctorates and three other siblings who hold multiple master’s degrees.
Looking ahead, Ms. Dowling is committed to continuing her support for clinical research at the University of Michigan, with a focus on ensuring patient safety and providing more efficient support for the Department of Neurology’s clinical research activities. She aims to foster strategic collaborations between units for improved efficiencies and explore opportunities in consulting. With her people-oriented focus and extensive experience, she is poised to make a lasting impact on both her institution and the broader field of clinical research. To stay current and contribute to advancements in her field, she maintains affiliations with several professional organizations, including the Society for Clinical Trials, the Society of Clinical Research Associates, the Project Management Institute, and Women in Data Science.