Maria Figliomeni

VP and US Clinical Development Medical Unit Head
​Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

As the Vice President and US Clinical Development Medical Unit Head at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Maria is responsible for providing portfolio-wide leadership to a multi-disciplinary medical team. Her team leads the development of a strategy for investigational drugs in phase II-III and ensures timely initiation and completion of clinical trial programs.  Maria has more than 20 years of pharmaceutical industry experience that spans across multiple therapeutic areas and includes small molecules and biologics.  She has held previous appointments in Research, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs and Early Development.  Maria has led multiple cross-functional teams and has been the front-line point of contact for Health Authorities.
Maria began her career in the pharmaceutical industry after several years of conducting basic research in a hospital and academic medical center.  She also had a teaching appointment at Rutgers School of Health Related Professions in New Jersey.  Maria received her doctoral degree from UMDNJ (Rutgers) in Newark where her original career interest was forensics.  She is proud of the detour her career path took in pharmaceutical drug development to extend and improve life for patients.
Outside of work, Maria loves spending time with her husband, 14 year old daughter and extended family.  She enjoys cooking, traveling and watching her daughter play basketball.