Josh Leiva is a highly experienced Clinical Research Professional with superb technical, analytical, and communication skills. He has gained invaluable experience from working in the Medical, Clinical Research, Pharmaceutical, and Nutraceutical sectors over the past 10 years. Josh is quick to learn new things and would be an excellent asset to any company who could help you achieve both short-term and long-term goals.
Josh Leiva has worked tirelessly in clinical research and made a real difference in the lives of many people by enrolling them in therapeutic trials for conditions such as testosterone deficiency, osteoporosis, and high cholesterol. He was always willing to help those who were underprivileged or could not afford treatment, without expecting anything in return.
Josh studied a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Miami Dade College and obtained an Associate of Science in Premed from Edison State College in Fort Myers, Florida, in 2011-2013. He is HIPPA and OSHA certified, as well as CITI certified and NIH Phlebotomy Certified. Josh Leiva has significant research skills, including full Trial oversight experience, to ensure that projects are completed on schedule. His extensive clinical background makes him an excellent collaborator.
As a Senior Clinical Research Coordinator for Integral Rheumatology & Immunology Specialist / Research & Development, he was in charge of drafting regulatory documentation to start new Trials. He also oversaw pre-screening and recruitment efforts to identify suitable individuals from the practice’s patient population.
Josh tirelessly dedicates his skills to help prisoners and children who have faced abuse. In addition to having a background in biology, he also enjoys music and agreed to serve as the Music Director at his church. Josh is incredibly giving; not only does he regularly send money to his father who is a missionary constructing a church in Belize, but he is also always supportive of charities.
Thanks for joining us! Let’s start with getting to know who Josh Leiva is? And what are you doing these days?
I am Josh Leiva, a Clinical Research Professional with 10 years of experience in technical, analytical, and clinical research skills. I have a sound mix of experience from Medical, Clinical Research to Pharmaceutical and Nutraceuticals. I can work with minimal training and help companies accomplish their short-term or long-term goals.
I completed my Associate of Science (Premed) degree from Edison State College, Fort Myers, Florida, in 2011-2013. Then I went on to do a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Miami Dade College in 2017. I am HIPPA and OSHA certified, CITI certified, and I hold NIH Phlebotomy Certification. I have robust research experience, complete Trial oversight exposure, and excellent strategic planning to meet deadlines. My solid clinical background makes me a confident person to work with big names.
I have worked as Senior Clinical Research Coordinator for Integral Rheumatology & Immunology Specialist / Research & Development. I have successfully organized, prepared, and met compliance for regulatory documentation to start new Trials. I led the pre-screening and recruitment campaigns to look for qualifying patients within the practice’s population.
I have devoted my life to Clinical Research and strived hard to make a difference in testosterone, osteoporosis, and cholesterol trials projects. I have participated in new treatments for patients and helped them change their quality of life by putting them in these trials.
These days I am working as an advocate for prisoners and children who suffered from abuse. I want to become their voice and fight their case.
Apart from having expertise in the biology field, I love music and have volunteered to serve as a multi-instrument Music Director at church and also work as a philanthropist.
What made you decide to become an entrepreneur?
Participating in new treatments for patients and wanting to bring a change to the quality of life of people by putting them in trials compelled me to become an entrepreneur and establish an institution of my own. JL Labs is a place of hope for many underprivileged patients who cannot afford to pay for their treatment. JL Labs aims to qualify such patients for trial studies, pay them for participating, and give them free treatment.
When working for other people, you have to consider their preferences as well, but being an entrepreneur with a company of your own, one can render his services as he feels. I plan to advocate for prisoners and children who have suffered from abuse. I want to become the voice of this neglected and unheard section of the community. I understand the trauma and pain of these children and prisoners who have suffered from abuse, and I founded JL Labs to fight their case and bring a positive change in their life and the community.
What would you say are the top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur, and why?
I won’t talk about entrepreneurs in general, I will focus on the clinical researcher turned into an entrepreneur.
Tracking Data and Data Analysis
A clinical researcher cum entrepreneur needs to have strong data tracking and data analysis skills to become successful. These skills are mandatory to make scientific conclusions to succeed as an entrepreneur. These analytical skills help them read and understand data, helping them evaluate the safety and efficacy of the trial. For example, when producing a new medicine, clinical researchers use data to calculate how effective the medicine is at treating an illness and once an effective medicine is formulated it’s a success for not an individual but a startup.
Presentation
Entrepreneurs need to present their findings to a group of doctors, scientists, or other professionals in their industry. The more presentable and understandable the data and findings are, the more success comes to the startup. For an entrepreneur to be successful, he needs to develop presentation skills such as speaking with confidence, maintaining eye contact, and displaying visually appealing information. This also requires attention to detail because research and trial data must be accurate to maintain patient safety. An entrepreneur researcher needs a careful eye for detail to ensure information is correct and to succeed in trials.
Verbal Communication
Another skill mandatory for a successful entrepreneur is excellent verbal communication. The job of an entrepreneur requires talking to patients, doctors, scientists, and medical panels. They need strong verbal communication to recruit patients, explain the steps of the trial, and discuss the results with various audiences to ensure successful trials.
You sound quite passionate about your work; why? Is there a story behind it?
I have seen the misery of people suffering from serious diseases and my heart goes out to them. From a very early age, I decided to make this the only goal of my life to bring comfort to the lives of such people. Luckily I got opportunities to follow my passion and today I feel so content to have contributed to the community, though little than what I wanted to still I believe there is a long way to go.
How do you separate JL Labs from your competitors?
At JL Labs we pay most attention to planning because lack of planning is the main reason for errors in clinical trials. Fancy statistical methods cannot rescue design flaws. Thus we carefully plan our trials with clear foresight. We clearly define the research question, minimize variation, follow the standard rules of randomization and stratification, focus on blinding and placebos/shams, pay attention to the selection of a control group and selection of the target population, the selection of endpoints, sample size, and planning for interim analyses is what sets JL Labs apart from its competitors.
What was the biggest problem you encountered launching your company, and how did you overcome it?
Clinical research is a very demanding and important industry. There is no room for negligence and error. Building a reputation as a credible clinical research start-up was the biggest challenge I encountered when l launched JL Labs. There is no shortcut to overcoming this thing. I have worked hard for years, day and night, building a competent team, doing extensive research, and carrying out trials to establish JL Labs as a credible name in the industry.
How do you stay driven and motivated to keep going in your business?
My interest in increasing my knowledge motivates me to do research in my field. The research adds to my existing knowledge in a systematic way. The quest for knowledge is my clinical research career’s most important motivating factor. Discovering the truth always forces me to undertake research in my areas of interest.
What’s the best part of your job?
I have devoted my life to Clinical Research, and the best part of my job is to bring comfort to people’s life and ease their suffering. I have made an enormous difference in testosterone, osteoporosis, and cholesterol trial projects. I have participated in new treatments for patients and have changed the quality of life of many by putting them in these trials. Every time I help underprivileged patients who can’t afford to pay for their treatment, I find an opportunity to help them. I ensure to qualify them for trial studies and actually pay them for participating, plus giving them free treatment, which is the most satisfying feeling. Helping people through my work is the best part of my job.
What is your definition of success?
Accomplishing the goal of helping myself and others lead a better, happier, healthier life is a definition of success for me.
Thank you so much for this truly amazing interview!
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