Meridien Research is an independent research company, founded in January 2000 by Cathy Collins and Mildred Farmer MD, after their extensive experience in the SMO industry. The founding concept is to provide sponsors with the highest quality trial data in a timely manner.

Chief Executive Officer:
Cathy Collins, RN MSN, has extensive experience in the management of clinical trial sites as director of operations for Clinical Studies, LTD, and Protocare Inc. She is the primary site contact for site negotiations, budgets and contracts.

Chief Principal Investigator / Medical Director:
Dr. Mildred Farmer has been a principal investigator since 1990. She has particular expertise in cognitive impairment from Age-associated Memory Impairment to Severe Dementia. Board certified in Internal Medicine, fellowship trained in Geriatrics, she has extensive experience in memory, mood disorders, women's health, migraine, smoking cessation, geriatrics, and metabolic studies including lipid disorders, diabetes, and hypertension. Dr. Farmer has been audited by the FDA 5 times over the past 14 years for high enrollment in pivotal trials.

Principal Investigators:
Dr. Robert L. Gillett has been a principal and sub-investigator since 1994. His expertise is in cardiovascular disease and neurological illnesses. His experience covers essentially the full range of clinical trials. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, with special training in cardiovascular disease, including extensive experience in electrocardiography and other non-invasive cardiac diagnostic procedures. He spent several years associated with The Heart Center of Sarasota, Florida. His clinical research experience involves 10 years of neuro-psychiatric trials while associated with Dr. William McEntee.

Dr. Cynthia Huffman is a board-certified neurologist who has practiced in the Tampa Bay area for 18 years. Dr. Huffman graduated summa cum laude from Ohio State University and received her medical training from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio and neurology and psychiatry training from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Huffman has worked in private practice and at the University of South Florida as an assistant clinical professor of neurology. Current research interests include multiple sclerosis, migraine and Alzheimer's Disease.

Gigi C. Lefebvre, MD is a board certified Family Physician who has been in private practice in St. Petersburg since 1990. After graduating from Louisiana State University in New Orleans in 1987, she came to St. Petersburg to complete her Family Practice residency training at Bay Front Medical Center. As an Associate Professor at the University of South Florida School of Medicine, she teaches Family Practice residents at Bay Front Medical Center. She enjoys all aspects of medicine in both the out-patient setting of her private practice as well as the clinical research arena.

Research Staff
Meridien Research is proud of its dedicated team who are efficient and caring professionals experienced at coordinating trials and continually conduct themselves in a manner consistent with their goal of maintaining a high standard of quality and performance.