Erik Nicolai, MS
Where are you located? What geographical region(s) do you cover?
I live in Raleigh, NC with my wife and 3 children. My role covers the globe in all aspects of clinical research.
How long have you been working in the area of clinical research?
I’ve been in the industry for over 18 years, starting as a Clinical Research Coordinator at a university, before moving into the CRO world 17 years ago.
What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my role is the constant learning – there is always something new in the industry, and it’s exciting to be at the cutting edge of new treatments in development.
Are there specific demographics within your local patient population that make ophthalmology studies especially pertinent to your Site/location?
As we age, we all experience a decline in visual function, knowing that I am working with therapeutically aligned companies that are dedicated to preserving vision for as long as possible is very rewarding.
What has been an eye opener (pun intended!) in your work in ophthalmology? Did anything surprise you about the patient population?
During COVID, seeing that patients, clinics and hospitals were all still very much engaged in the clinical research process, with appropriate precautions, was very fulfilling. We were all working extremely hard to keep things as normal as possible and see that patients were equally reciprocal kept us focused and kept our eyes on the goal.