Huntington Study Group Staff
 | Shari Kinel, JD CEO shari.kinel@hsglimited.org Shari Kinel is the CEO of the HSG where she oversees and manages the HSG non-profit entity that defines, plans, and leads implementation of strategic initiatives to serve the needs of Families, Members, and Sponsors, and oversees the HSG Clinical Research, Inc – a wholly owned for-profit subsidiary that conducts clinical trials. Shari is responsible for the overall operations of both organizations and engages and aligns stakeholders throughout the HD world to collaborate on meaningful initiatives. Shari joined the HSG in 2009 and led the formation of the HSG as a standalone not-for-profit 501(c) organization. Shari is an attorney who started her career at the government in Washington, DC and then transitioned to financial services until she found her passion working towards finding treatments for people affected by HD. |
 | Anne Van Dusen, CHC Chief Operating Officer anne@hsglimited.org Anne joined the HSG team in June of 2017 as the Director of Education & Special Programs and was promoted to the position of Director of Operations in 2018 and to Chief Operating Officer in January of 2022. She works closely with sponsors, HSG Members, HSG sites and HSG staff to effectively develop and implement projects, budgets and processes to facilitate high quality clinical research trials and studies in Huntington disease. She holds a BS from the University of Binghamton School of Management and is certified in healthcare compliance by the Compliance Certification Board. Prior to joining HSG, Anne held leadership roles in compliance and finance, most recently at CCSI of Rochester, ACM Medical Laboratory, and Lifetime Care Home Care and Hospice. |
 | Kristin Strazdins Sr. Manager, Finance and Special Projects kristin@hsglimited.org Kristin is the Manager, Finance & Special Projects and has worked for HSG since February 2014. She handles all accounting functions and manages the HSG office and human resource needs. She handled accounting functions and site payments for First/ARC, which produced the second FDA-approved drug for Huntington disease. For SIGNAL, she handles the site payments and accounting, and arranges travel, travel reimbursement, and participant payment for participants in the trial. Prior to working for HSG, Kristin worked as a Staff Accountant in a public accounting firm for seven years. |
 | Janine Mercandetti Manager, Projects and Contracts janine.mercandetti@hsglimited.org Janine joined the Huntington Study Group in March 2019. She is responsible for coordinating contract/amendment delivery, document control, system standardization and maintenance, and project management within HSG. Prior to joining HSG, Janine was a Sr. Proposal Manager with Spectrum Enterprise for 7 years where she managed and supported all operational activities throughout the lifecycle of multiple proposals. Janine holds a BFA from DePaul University. |
 | Lauren Falanga Manager, Compliance & Education lauren.falanga@hsglimited.org Lauren joined the HSG team in April 2019 as the Manager of Clinical Collaborations. Lauren’s role at the HSG includes creation of collaborative and sustained relationships with Industry, Academics and other Research Entities that will result in accelerated achievements in seeking treatments that will make a difference for those impacted by HD. She has over 15 years of experience in medical laboratory operations including medical technologist and supervisory roles. She worked in the Clinical Trials sector of laboratory operations for more than 5 years where she led all global harmonization initiatives and projects. She also provided scientific information and guidance for Clinical Trials global operations. |
 | Sharon Recore Administrative Assistant sharon@hsglimited.org Sharon is our Administrative Assistant, supporting the credentialing process for clinical investigators and coordinators. She also supports other areas of the Huntington Study Group administrative activities. Prior to coming to the HSG in July 2018, she had over two decades of administrative experience with the public school system in upstate New York; then after moving to central Florida, continued working in the education system at a community college. Sharon in extremely involved with the HD community and enjoys volunteering at HD events. She enjoys traveling, and, is a huge fan of Syracuse Men’s Basketball. |
 | Jody Goldstein, BS Director of Clinical Operations jody.goldstein@hsglimited.org Jody formally joined the staff of the HSG in March 2020. Her expertise in study start up (protocol and consent development), innovative patient recruitment and clinical trial site education has led to the successful initiation and implementation of over 15 HSG HD clinical trials. She has served as a member of the HSG Executive Committee, Project Aware Committee, HD Communication Committee and the HSG’s Executive Coordinator Council. As a site coordinator for the University of California, San Diego, Jody participated in the pivotal trial for the first FDA approved drug for HD. Later, as a Senior Project Manager at the University of Rochester’s Center for Health + Technology (CHeT)/Clinical Trials Coordination Center (CTCC), she was the lead project manager of the pivotal trial for the second FDA approved drug for HD. Jody brings over 20 years’ experience dedicated to the clinical care of HD patients and families and HD research. |
 | Lynn Denise Metrics Development and Performance Improvement Coordinator lynn.denise@hsglimited.org Lynn joined the HSG in 2020 as the Metrics Development and Performance Improvement Coordinator. She develops and monitors project and organizational performance metrics to ensure the highest quality of service at HSG, and for all of whom the HSG collaborates to improve the quality of life for people affected by Huntington disease. Lynn has a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University in Microbiology. Before joining the HSG team, Lynn worked for 20 years in several facets of the medical laboratory industry, including microbiology laboratories, laboratory quality assurance, and clinical trials scientific affairs. |
 | Michael Lentine, MBA Director of Finance michael.lentine@hsglimited.org Mr. Lentine has over a decade of experience in Finance and Research Administration. In his current role, he provides financial oversight for the Huntington Study Group (HSG). He develops budgets, negotiates contracts, oversees accounting operations, and plays a role in driving forward the HSG’s strategic plan. Mr. Lentine holds an MBA from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business. |
 | Lisa de Blieck, MPA CCRC Senior Clinical Trials Project Manager lisa.deblieck@hsglimited.org Lisa joined the HSG in 2021 bringing her vast experience in rare and neurodegenerative disease program and trial management. In particularly, Lisa has extensive project management experience in Huntington disease trials overseen by the HSG, as well as participation on HSG committees (ethics, scientific advisory/review and communications). She enjoys mentoring project managers and fostering a team environment, as well as collaborating with sponsors, leadership, sites, and partners. She has expertise in study startup and implementation of observational, registry, digital and therapeutic trails, protocol and case report form design, team leadership, and development of standardized operational procedures from her roles at the University of Rochester Center for Health+Technology/Clinical Trials Coordination Center and Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders. |
 | Emma Grushkin Manager of Creative Services and Communications emma.grushkin@hsglimited.org Emma joined the Huntington Study Group team in March of 2021 as a Multimedia Specialist. She is responsible for the production of educational videos and media projects that support HSG’s efforts in product development, marketing, and training. Emma earned her degree in Journalism and Communications from the University of Florida in 2019, where she was a director and anchor for the WUFT-TV 5PM newscast. Prior to joining the team at HSG, she was the Business Development Analyst at Tryon Creek Software. Her experience working in the medical field began at the Center for Safety Simulation and Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT) as a Videographer/Graphic Designer in January of 2020. |
 | Melissa Austin Senior Clinical Project Manager melissa.austin@hsglimited.org Melissa joined HSG in March 2021 with extensive experience working in the clinical setting on Clinical Trials in the capacity of nursing, research coordination and clinical project management. She has over two decades of experience working in many areas of in-patient and outpatient patient care and clinical research. Most recently she comes from Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA where she specialized in gaining extensive experience in Oncology clinical operations, regulatory requirements, and project management. She offers her knowledge and valuable experience in all areas and, stages of clinical start-up through closeout of multi-centered clinical trials. She enjoys working in a collaborative team environment with all team members, leadership, sponsors, clinical sites, and partners. |
 | Jeffrey Mann Director of Quality Assurance jeffrey.mann@hsglimited.org Jeff joined the Huntington Study Group in March 2021 as the Director of Quality Assurance. He ensures that Clinical Trial programs & clinical research are conducted in accordance with FDA, ICH & GCP regulatory compliance. Jeff brings over 12 years of global Clinical Trials experience previously working in clinical medical diagnostic, and central laboratory facilities. He manages and has oversight of HSG’s comprehensive Quality Management System (QMS), including but not limited to vendor & risk management, internal & external audit programs, document management, study site credentialing, and process improvement initiatives. Jeff has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from SUNY Fredonia. |
 | Chris Weaver Clinical Research Associate chris.weaver@hsglimited.org Chris joined the HSG in August of 2021 as a Clinical Research Associate. Her responsibilities at the HSG are monitoring clinical trials for Huntington Disease and supporting Project Management from study start-up through closeout. Prior to coming to the HSG, Chris worked over 20 years as a Senior Project Manager at the University of Rochester’s Center for Health + Technology (CHET), Clinical Trials Coordination Center (CTCC) monitoring participating sites multi-centered clinical trials for Parkinson Disease and Huntington Disease. |
 | Kelley Morgan Sr. Project Manager kelley@hsglimited.org Kelley joined the Huntington Study Group in August 2021. She is responsible for managing, leading, and developing projects that benefit the HSG’s mission and strategic initiatives particularly focusing on building clinical relationships with multidisciplinary teams to fulfill initiatives that will benefit our families, sponsors and membership in collaboration with the HSG Executive Staff. Kelley is an experienced leader in clinical research who has worked extensively with both sponsors and CROs as a Clinical Research Associate with a wide variety of project management experience. Kelley has a BS degree in Political Science and Public Administration from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. |
 | Carrie Martin Regulatory Document Specialist carrie.martin@hsglimited.org |