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Clarity

Akbar Abidi

New York, NY

Director of Clinical Lab Operations at Ultragenyx with 20+ years specializing in central laboratory operations and vendor management.

CENTRAL LAB EXPERTISE:
• 15 years at ICON Central Laboratories
• Progressed from Project Manager to Team Lead to Director of Project Management
• Managed global lab operations across North America, Europe, APAC
• Oversaw hundreds of clinical trials across all phases

SPECIALIZED IN:
• Central lab vendor selection & RFP processes
• Sample management & biosample operations
• Lab contract negotiation & performance management
• Quality oversight & regulatory compliance (ICH-GCP)
• Lab budgets (often identify 20-30% savings)
• Troubleshooting lab vendor issues mid-study

THERAPEUTIC EXPERIENCE:
• 8 years Oncology trials
• 4 years Vaccines
• 3 years Respiratory diseases

WHO I HELP:
• Biotech founders selecting their first central lab
• Clinical ops teams troubleshooting vendor problems
• Companies switching labs mid-study
• Professionals breaking into central lab careers

I've been on both sides: working inside a central lab (ICON) and managing labs as a sponsor (Ultragenyx). I know what labs can and can't deliver, what's negotiable in contracts, and where companies waste money.

$2.50/min

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Central Lab Performance Management & Troubleshooting

Already working with a central lab but running into issues? I can help.

COMMON PROBLEMS I SOLVE:
- Lab missing turnaround times
- Quality issues or out-of-spec results
- Sample management problems
- Vendor not responsive to issues
- Budget overruns or unexpected charges
- Data delivery delays
- Lab manual errors
- Change order negotiations gone wrong

I help you:
✅ Diagnose the root cause (is it the lab, your protocol, or both?)
✅ Frame the issue to get lab accountability
✅ Negotiate solutions without damaging the relationship
✅ Decide when to escalate vs. work it out
✅ Build better oversight processes
✅ Know when it's time to switch labs (and how to do it)

BACKGROUND: Managed hundreds of studies at ICON, handled every type of lab crisis. Now at Ultragenyx overseeing lab vendors from the sponsor side. I know how labs think, what motivates them, and how to get results.

Perfect for: Study teams frustrated with their current lab, anyone considering switching labs mid-study.

Biosample Management Planning for Clinical Trials

Sample collection, handling, shipping, analysis, and storage can make or break a clinical trial. I help you get it right.

I HELP WITH:
- Biosample management plan development
- Sample collection kit design
- Chain of custody protocols
- Shipping logistics (ambient, cold chain, frozen)
- Storage strategy (short-term, long-term, archival)
- Sample tracking and reconciliation
- Regulatory compliance for sample handling
- Backup sample planning
- Sample disposition at study end

COMMON ISSUES I PREVENT:
❌ Samples degraded during shipping
❌ Lost or mislabeled samples
❌ Insufficient sample volume collected
❌ Storage costs ballooning unexpectedly
❌ Regulatory findings on sample handling

At ICON, I managed sample operations for thousands of studies. At Ultragenyx, I oversee our biosample strategy across the portfolio. I've seen every way samples can go wrong and how to prevent it.

Perfect for: Study teams designing sample collection procedures, anyone who's had sample management problems before.

Central Lab Vendor Selection & RFP Strategy

15 years at ICON Central Laboratories + current role managing labs at Ultragenyx = I know central labs inside and out.

I help biotech companies:
- Write effective RFPs that get competitive bids
- Evaluate lab capabilities honestly (not just marketing)
- Compare proposals apples-to-apples
- Negotiate better pricing (typically save 20-30%)
- Identify red flags in vendor proposals
- Select the right lab for your study design
- Avoid costly mistakes in lab selection

COMMON MISTAKES I HELP YOU AVOID:
❌ Choosing labs based on sales pitch vs. capability
❌ Not negotiating price (labs expect you to negotiate)
❌ Overlooking critical assay validation questions
❌ Ignoring turnaround time feasibility
❌ Not building in flexibility for protocol amendments

I've managed lab RFPs from both sides and know exactly what to ask, what to negotiate, and what really matters vs. what's just noise.

Perfect for: First-time biotech founders, clinical ops managers doing their first RFP, or anyone unhappy with current lab options.

Breaking Into Central Laboratory & Clinical Operations Careers

Want to work at a central lab like ICON, Labcorp, or Q2 Solutions? Or transition from lab work into clinical operations? I can help.

I STARTED as a Sample Management Team Lead in 2005 and worked my way up to Director of Project Management at ICON managing teams across 3 continents.

I HELP WITH:
- Breaking into central lab careers from lab tech/CRA/nursing roles
- Moving from operational roles to project management
- Transitioning from CRO to pharma sponsor (or vice versa)
- Preparing for interviews (I've hired 50+ people)
- Resume optimization for central lab roles
- Understanding career paths and comp expectations
- Negotiating offers (I know what labs pay)

WHO I WORK WITH:
✅ Lab techs wanting to move into operations
✅ CRAs/monitors wanting to pivot to project management
✅ Junior PMs targeting senior/director roles
✅ Sponsor-side folks wanting to go CRO
✅ Anyone interested in central lab careers

I know exactly what hiring managers look for at every level because I've been that hiring manager.

Perfect for: Anyone wanting insider guidance on central lab or clinical ops careers.

Clinical Trial Lab Budget Optimization & Cost Control

Central lab costs are often 15-30% of total trial budget. Most companies overpay. I help you spend smarter.

I HELP YOU:
- Review lab proposals for hidden costs
- Challenge unrealistic pricing assumptions
- Identify where you're being overcharged
- Negotiate better rates (I know what's negotiable)
- Optimize test panels (don't pay for unnecessary tests)
- Right-size sample volume requirements
- Reduce storage costs
- Forecast lab costs accurately
- Control scope creep and change orders

TYPICAL SAVINGS: 20-30% on lab budgets through better negotiation, smarter test selection, and tighter scope management.

BACKGROUND: Managed lab P&L at ICON, now manage lab budgets from sponsor side at Ultragenyx. I know what labs' true costs are, what their margins are, and where there's room to negotiate.

Perfect for: CFOs, study financial managers, clinical ops teams managing tight budgets, anyone who thinks their lab costs are too high.

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Member since February 2026