Robert Huizinga, Ph.D., R.N., CNeph(C)
Rob, previously Executive Vice President of Corporate Development, has more than 25 years of drug development expertise and also one of the longest histories in the Company working with voclosporin. Rob developed the global clinical program of voclosporin since its inception at Isotechnika prior to its merger with Aurinia in 2013, along with raising development funds in the public markets. He continues to work with the Clinical Development team since the merger through the LN NDA. Rob is leading the Research group who are not only helping us understand the impact of calcineurin inhibition beyond immunosuppression, but the pre-clinical evaluation of in-licensed compounds. Before joining the industry, Rob was a Clinical Investigator and Epidemiologist at the University of Alberta Division of Nephrology & Immunology, where he was involved in more than 60 clinical trials from Phase I through Phase IV and the successful development of numerous compounds including CellCept®, Neoral®, Prograf®, Aranesp® and Simulect®. Rob has numerous articles published in leading medical journals in the areas of pharmacology, immunology, transplantation, and autoimmune diseases.
Rob holds an M.Sc. in Medicine (Epidemiology) from the University of Alberta, a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, is certified in Nephrology, and a member of Sigma Theta Tau (Honor Society of Nursing). He holds a certificate in leadership from EQUIP Leadership.