FutureMeds Romania Clinical Research Summit 2026
Meet the Speakers
Hear from the visionary executives, principal investigators, and operational leaders shaping the future of dedicated clinical research infrastructure and patient access in Romania
Featured Speakers & Panelists
Leading voices across clinical research, hospital management, patient care, and clinical operations.
Panel 1
Can Romania Become Europe's Next Clinical Research Powerhouse?
What would you need to know before placing your next study in Romania?
Patient access, investigator experience and available capacity all influence that decision. Understanding how they come together requires a closer look at the people and working arrangements behind delivery.
Investigators and research leaders will discuss regional recruitment opportunities, dedicated study teams and the practicalities of running research alongside clinical care. Bring the questions that matter when you assess a site, plan recruitment or build research capacity.
Location: TBA
Time: 10:15
Dr Mihai Mutica, MD, PhD
Senior Specialist in Psychiatry
Dr Alexandru Pavel, MD, PhD
Psychiatrist and Principal Investigator
Dr Beatrice Mahler, MD, PhD
Senior Pulmonologist & Associate Professor
Dr Mihai Ursu, MD
Senior Consultant, Cardiology
Dr Mihai Mutica, MD, PhD
Senior Specialist in Psychiatry
Dr Mihai Mutica, MD, PhD is a Senior Specialist in Psychiatry at the Clinical Psychiatry Hospital “Elisabeta Doamna” in Galați and a Principal Investigator at FutureMeds Galați. With over two decades of clinical experience and a PhD in Psychiatry, he has led and supported multiple clinical trials across schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and cognitive disorders. Dr Mutica is recognised for his expertise in psychiatric research and his commitment to advancing innovative treatment approaches for patients with complex mental health conditions.
Dr Alexandru Pavel, MD, PhD
Psychiatrist and Principal Investigator
Dr Alexandru Pavel, MD, PhD is a psychiatrist, researcher and Principal Investigator at FutureMeds Bucharest, with expertise spanning psychiatry, neurocognitive disorders and CNS clinical research. Alongside his clinical practice, he has held roles in clinical trial coordination, data analytics and academic medicine, including as Assistant Professor at Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy. An active contributor to the scientific literature, Dr Pavel has extensive experience across schizophrenia, mood disorders and Alzheimer's disease studies, and is a member of ECNP and ISCTM.
Dr Beatrice Mahler, MD, PhD
Snr Pulmonologist & Associate Professor
Dr Mahler is a leading pulmonologist, academic and healthcare leader with more than two decades of experience in respiratory medicine. She serves as Head of Pneumology Clinic I at Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Associate Professor at the Marius Nasta Institute of Pneumology, and Research Physician at FutureMeds Bucharest. Formerly Manager of the Marius Nasta Institute, Dr Mahler has played a prominent role in advancing pulmonary care, tuberculosis control and clinical research, with extensive experience across respiratory and infectious disease studies.
Dr Mihai Ursu, MD
Senior Consultant, Cardiology
Dr Mihai Ursu, MD is an accomplished interventional cardiologist, clinical researcher and healthcare leader with nearly three decades of experience in cardiovascular medicine. He serves as Coordinator of the Adult and Paediatric Cardiovascular Disease Centre and Senior Cardiologist at Sf. Constantin Hospital, Associate Professor at Transilvania University of Brașov, and Research Physician at FutureMeds Brașov. Dr Ursu has extensive expertise in complex interventional cardiology, structural heart disease and cardiovascular clinical research, having led and contributed to numerous studies spanning heart failure, myocardial infarction and advanced cardiac device therapies.
Dr Oana-Andreea Parlițeanu, MD, PhD
Diabetes specialist, researcher
Prof Mihaela Vladu, MD
Senior Physician in Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases
Dr Beatrice Mahler, MD, PhD
Senior Pulmonologist & Associate Professor
Prof Cristian Serafinceanu, MD, PhD
Diabetologist, academic and clinical researcher
Panel 2
Clinical Trials, Real Lives: Closing the Gap Between Innovation and Patients
A patient may meet the eligibility criteria. What determines whether taking part is realistic for them?
Clinicians working across diabetes, cardio-renal-metabolic and respiratory medicine will explore the needs, concerns and everyday circumstances that shape participation. What do patients want to understand before joining? What does meaningful support look like once a study begins?
For those designing studies, planning recruitment or caring for participants, the discussion connects clinical priorities with the experience of the people being asked to take part.
Location: TBA
Time: 11:30
Dr Mihai Mutica, MD, PhD
Senior Specialist in Psychiatry
Dr Mihai Mutica, MD, PhD is a Senior Specialist in Psychiatry at the Clinical Psychiatry Hospital “Elisabeta Doamna” in Galați and a Principal Investigator at FutureMeds Galați. With over two decades of clinical experience and a PhD in Psychiatry, he has led and supported multiple clinical trials across schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and cognitive disorders. Dr Mutica is recognised for his expertise in psychiatric research and his commitment to advancing innovative treatment approaches for patients with complex mental health conditions.
Dr Alexandru Pavel, MD, PhD
Psychiatrist and Principal Investigator
Dr Alexandru Pavel, MD, PhD is a psychiatrist, researcher and Principal Investigator at FutureMeds Bucharest, with expertise spanning psychiatry, neurocognitive disorders and CNS clinical research. Alongside his clinical practice, he has held roles in clinical trial coordination, data analytics and academic medicine, including as Assistant Professor at Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy. An active contributor to the scientific literature, Dr Pavel has extensive experience across schizophrenia, mood disorders and Alzheimer's disease studies, and is a member of ECNP and ISCTM.
Dr Beatrice Mahler, MD, PhD
Snr Pulmonologist & Associate Professor
Dr Mahler is a leading pulmonologist, academic and healthcare leader with more than two decades of experience in respiratory medicine. She serves as Head of Pneumology Clinic I at Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Associate Professor at the Marius Nasta Institute of Pneumology, and Research Physician at FutureMeds Bucharest. Formerly Manager of the Marius Nasta Institute, Dr Mahler has played a prominent role in advancing pulmonary care, tuberculosis control and clinical research, with extensive experience across respiratory and infectious disease studies.
Dr Mihai Ursu, MD
Senior Consultant, Cardiology
Dr Mihai Ursu, MD is an accomplished interventional cardiologist, clinical researcher and healthcare leader with nearly three decades of experience in cardiovascular medicine. He serves as Coordinator of the Adult and Paediatric Cardiovascular Disease Centre and Senior Cardiologist at Sf. Constantin Hospital, Associate Professor at Transilvania University of Brașov, and Research Physician at FutureMeds Brașov. Dr Ursu has extensive expertise in complex interventional cardiology, structural heart disease and cardiovascular clinical research, having led and contributed to numerous studies spanning heart failure, myocardial infarction and advanced cardiac device therapies.
Dr Oana-Andreea Parlițeanu, MD, PhD
Diabetes specialist, researcher
Dr Oana-Andreea Parlițeanu, MD, PhD is a diabetes specialist, researcher and clinical educator with extensive experience in metabolic health, nutrition and clinical research. Alongside her role as Research Physician at FutureMeds Bucharest, she practices at the National Institute of Pneumology “Marius Nasta” and has contributed to more than two decades of clinical studies across diabetes, cardiovascular risk, obesity, nephropathy and related metabolic conditions. Dr Parlițeanu is recognised for her expertise in patient-centred diabetes management and the integration of emerging technologies into long-term disease care.
Prof Mihaela Vladu, MD
Senior Physician in Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases
Prof Mihaela Vladu, MD is a Senior Physician in Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases with more than 15 years of experience in the management of diabetes and metabolic health. Based in Craiova, she combines extensive clinical practice with a strong track record in clinical research, having served as both Principal Investigator and Sub-Investigator across studies in type 1 and type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular outcomes and diabetic neuropathy. Dr Vladu is committed to advancing patient-centred approaches to chronic disease management through research and innovation.
Dr Beatrice Mahler, MD, PhD
Snr Pulmonologist & Associate Professor
Dr Mahler is a leading pulmonologist, academic and healthcare leader with more than two decades of experience in respiratory medicine. She serves as Head of Pneumology Clinic I at Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Associate Professor at the Marius Nasta Institute of Pneumology, and Research Physician at FutureMeds Bucharest. Formerly Manager of the Marius Nasta Institute, Dr Mahler has played a prominent role in advancing pulmonary care, tuberculosis control and clinical research, with extensive experience across respiratory and infectious disease studies.
Prof Cristian Serafinceanu, MD, PhD
Diabetologist, academic and researcher
Professor Cristian Serafinceanu, MD, PhD is a distinguished diabetologist, academic and clinical researcher with more than 35 years of experience in diabetes, nutrition and metabolic diseases. He is Professor at Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Head of the Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Department at the National Institute “N.C. Paulescu”, and Research Physician at FutureMeds Bucharest. A recognised leader in diabetes care and metabolic research, Professor Serafinceanu has contributed extensively to clinical practice, education and the advancement of diabetes research in Romania and beyond.
Country Managing Director
Sabin Alexe, PhD MSc
Sabin Alexe, MSc, PhD is a highly experienced Clinical Operations Leader with over 20 years in the pharmaceutical and clinical research industry. His career demonstrates a strong trajectory of advancement through roles in clinical trial monitoring, leadership, and strategic oversight across global clinical studies.
Executive VP, Operations
Wojciech Szczepanik
Wojciech, with a PhD in biomedicinal chemistry, began his clinical trials career as a monitor at AstraZeneca in 2005, focusing on cardiology, pulmonology, and oncology. He later joined Synexus, leading its growth for 11 years. As VP of International Site Network at Pratia, he focused on mergers and acquisitions, driving the expansion of its international site network. As an Executive VP of Operations at FutureMeds, he plays a key role in the sustainable expansion of the site network.