Research Team

Senior Research Team

Denise Dorning

Eileen Henne

Dave Johnson

Mike Nestler

Daniel Parris

Pankaj Thapar

Rishi Varma

Denise Dorning - Associate Vice President, Professional Services
Denise has over 12 years experience working in the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device and diagnostic industries. Denise has been with AlphaDetail since the company’s inception in 2001. As an Associate Vice President of Professional Services, Denise has supervised and led hundreds of marketing research studies for a diverse array of pharmaceutical clients. Denise’s experience spans the spectrum of pharmaceutical and biotech products, from early stage candidates through mature products nearing the end of their lifecycle.

Denise has extensive experience in a wide range of marketing research methodologies with particular expertise in market assessment, product profile testing, conjoint analysis, ATU studies, concept testing, message testing, segmentation, positioning, and Key Opinion Leader (KOL) identification. She has significant experience across the majority of therapeutic areas, with particular emphasis in ophthalmology, infectious disease, oncology, CNS, cardiovascular, metabolic disorders, nephrology, and medical devices.

In addition to domestic U.S.-only studies, Denise has experience conducting research in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. She regularly conducts research with physicians, other healthcare professionals and patients.

Prior to AlphaDetail, Denise was a senior engagement manager at Strategic Decisions Group (SDG), a boutique consulting company, where her work focused on the life sciences industry. While with SDG, Denise advised top pharmaceutical and biotech companies on R&D and commercialization strategy.

Denise holds a B.A. in mathematics and economics from the University of Virginia and an MS in decision analysis from Stanford University.

Eileen Henne - Director Professional Services
Eileen brings more than 25 years of healthcare and pharmaceutical experience to AlphaDetail. Prior to Alphadetail, she held positions with a number of pharmaceutical manufacturers including DuPont Merck Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories and Bristol-Myers Squibb, as well as positions at IMS Health and Health Products Research. In addition to her pharmaceutical market research experience, she has also held positions in R&D, information services, business planning and consultative sales.

Eileen has extensive experience in a wide range of marketing research methodologies with particular expertise in ATU studies, message testing, message recall/effectiveness studies, segmentation, market assessment/situation analysis, sales rep research and Key Opinion Leader (KOL) identification/mapping. Over her career, Eileen has supervised and led marketing research studies for a wide variety of pharmaceutical and biotech clients. Eileen’s experience spans the product life cycle gamut from pre-clinical through late stage development.

As Director of Professional Services for AlphaDetail, Eileen has conducted quantitative research in a wide variety of disease areas, with particular emphasis in allergy/asthma, arthritis/inflammation, cardiovascular, CNS, diabetes, oncology and infectious disease. Additionally, Eileen has extensive experience with syndicated market research tools and services utilized by the pharmaceutical industry, with specific expertise in data integration and analysis.

Eileen received her B.S. degree from Neumann College.

Dave Johnson - Associate Vice President, Professional Services
Dave has nearly 20 years experience in all facets of marketing research, primarily supporting the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Dave spent nearly 15 years in marketing research, product management and consulting at Verispan, with a heavy emphasis on secondary research in pharmaceutical promotion, drug utilization and managed care, as well as patient data consulting. Dave was part of the founding team at Verispan that helped to pioneer patient studies for the company’s pharmaceutical and biotech clients. These studies helped make significant advancements in measuring healthcare trends, including promotion response analysis, sales targeting and compensation strategies and brand segmentation. Prior to Verispan, Dave worked in marketing research at Warner-Lambert, supporting the cardiovascular and women’s health teams. Dave also spent time in marketing research roles at Arbitron ratings, IMS Health (London office) and Life Fitness (Munich office). Dave has a Bachelors degree in business administration from Shippensburg University and a Masters degree in International Business from the University of South Carolina.

Mike Nestler - Director Professional Services
Mike Nestler has over 25 years marketing research and consulting experience with many of the world’s leading pharmaceutical and consumer products companies. Early in his career, Mike held positions with Canadian subsidiaries of Procter & Gamble, S. C. Johnson Wax, Unilever and PepsiCo. Mike spent 10 years with Landis Strategy & Innovation, designing and managing market research projects that enabled him to provide strategic counsel to pharmaceutical and consumer product clients. Working with multiple pharmaceutical and biotech organizations, Mike has conducted studies in a wide variety of therapeutic areas including oncology, cardiovascular, transplant immunology, vaccines, pain therapy, neurosciences, ophthalmology, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.

As a Director of Professional Services at AlphaDetail, Mike has conducted a wide array of studies, including segmentation, Key Opinion Leader (KOL) identification/mapping, positioning, messaging development, logo testing and qualitative research. He also brings extensive experience in advertising development and evaluation, concept testing, volumetric forecasting, habits and practices studies and product testing. Mike is recognized additionally for his research strengths in the areas of marketing strategy, market structure, segmentation, and brand equity.

Mike is recognized for his innovative thinking in the industry. In 2009, Mike presented strategies to leverage brand/market knowledge in a challenging industry climate at the PMRG Conference in Las Vegas. In Canada, Mike held leadership positions in the Professional Marketing Research Society, (now the MRIA), Canada’s leading marketing research professional association and is a Past President of the Society.

Mike holds a B. A. in Experimental Psychology from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario and an MBA from York University in Toronto.

Daniel Parris - Associate Vice President, Professional Services
Since joining AlphaDetail in 2004, Daniel has been instrumental in driving its growth through his consistent focus on research excellence and customer satisfaction.

As an Associate Vice President of Professional Services, Daniel has helped multiple top-tier pharmaceutical companies in brand strategy and process design throughout the R&D and marketing value chain. He has conducted hundreds of research projects in a wide variety of therapeutic areas, with a particular emphasis on neurological disorders, HIV, growth disorders, oncology, and hospital-based research with physicians and other healthcare providers.

Daniel has significant experience in conducting research across all phases of product lifecycles, from clinical development through brands nearing LOE. He specializes in large sample quantitative studies, with a particular focus on ATU studies, message tracking and product concept testing.

Prior to joining AlphaDetail, Daniel worked in Business Development at LifeScan, a J&J Company. Daniel holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University.

Pankaj Thapar, MD - Director Professional Services
Pankaj is a physician by training and has over a decade of experience in the healthcare industry, including roles as physician, consultant and marketing research professional.

Pankaj has been a strong contributor to AlphaDetail’s growth over the past 3+ years as Director of Professional Services. Pankaj has consulted closely with clients to use marketing research as a tool to help answer challenging business questions. With his medical and research background, Pankaj brings a unique perspective to all client encounters, helping organizations solve unstructured business issues through quantitative and qualitative market research.

Pankaj has conducted hundreds of quantitative and qualitative studies, and his particular areas of focus are ATU or brand tracking, brand positioning, market segmentation, and Key Opinion Leader (KOL) identification studies. Pankaj’s main areas of therapeutic expertise include Oncology, Neurology (in particular, MS and Movement Disorders) and growth-related disorders.

Prior to AlphaDetail, Pankaj managed a hospital as its Chief Physician. Pankaj then left to pursue an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and subsequently joined ZS Associates, an international consulting company, where he led projects for several top tier pharmaceutical companies in marketing strategy development and marketing research.

Pankaj received his medical degree from Bombay University and his MBA with a concentration in Marketing and Analytical Consulting from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Amy Amy Tsang - Director, Professional Services
Amy joined AlphaDetail in February 2006. Since then, Amy has led a large number of marketing research projects across various methodologies, including tracking, conjoint, profile testing, concept testing, positioning, segmentation, message testing, and KOL identification. Additionally, Amy's strengths lie in supervising global studies in addition to those that are domestically focused . Her portfolio of past work span a wide variety of therapeutic areas, though she expertise involves ophthalmology, oncology and endocrinology. Amy graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and holds a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology.

Rishi Varma - President & Chief Executive Officer
Rishi has over 14 years experience working in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

Rishi is an AlphaDetail founder and has led hundreds of marketing research studies – U.S. and global -- for a diverse array of pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device clients. He has experience across a wide array of therapeutic areas, from highly niche specialty areas to broad generalized therapies. He has conducted research with numerous patient, physician and other healthcare provider segments.

Rishi has been instrumental in advancing AlphaDetail’s marketing research analytical techniques. He is an expert in all facets of quantitative research, with significant expertise in conjoint analysis, market assessment, product profile testing, ATU studies, concept testing, segmentation, positioning, and Key Opinion Leader (KOL) identification. Rishi has also spearheaded proactive initiatives to help support the industry, including a 2009 PBIRG conference presentation on Emerging Markets.

Prior to AlphaDetail, as a senior engagement manager for Strategic Decisions Group (SDG), Rishi helped top tier pharmaceutical companies in strategy development and process design throughout the R&D and marketing value chain. He was also selected by SDG to lead the development of its biotech practice.

Rishi holds a B.S. in industrial engineering and a MS in decision analysis from Stanford University.

Josh Yoburn - Senior Manager, Professional Services
Josh joined AlphaDetail in 2010 after spending more than a decade as a pharmaceutical research scientist and medical writer. He brings with him extensive, hands-on experience throughout oncology, neurology, drug discovery, drug development, and pharmaceutical competitive intelligence assessment. Contributions include co-invention of a small molecule oncology drug currently in the clinic and a dozen peer-reviewed articles. Josh has worked on a variety of awareness, trial and usage studies as well as message trackers, key opinion leader initiatives, and positioning statement studies. Josh holds a MA in pharmacology from Boston University School of Medicine and a PhD in Organic Chemistry from University of California, Irvine.

Donielle Buie - Senior Manager, Professional Services
Donielle joined AlphaDetail in June 2006. Donielle has worked regularly with top pharmaceutical clients and smaller biotech companies in a number of therapeutic areas, with extensive experience in diabetes, crohn’s disease, HIV and movement disorders. Donielle as worked on projects spanning a wide array of marketing research methodologies, including KOLs, conjoint analysis, ATUs, message testing, concept testing and qualitative research. Prior to joining AlphaDetail, Donielle worked in non-profit teaching entrepreneurship. Donielle is a graduate of Stanford University with a B.S. in Biomechanical Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Education Policy.

Kat Kathleen Chan - Senior Manager, Professional Services
Kat has been with AlphaDetail since June 2006. In her role, Kat has been responsible for executing a large volume of marketing research studies for a diverse array of pharmaceutical clients. Kat has experience in a wide range of marketing research methodologies with particular expertise in ATU studies, concept testing, message testing, MaxDiff conjoint analysis, and Key Opinion Leader (KOL) identification. Kat has worked in a large number of therapeutic areas, including extensive work in oncology, immunology, and CNS. Kat holds a B.A. in sociology and business administration from the University of California, Berkeley.

Poeta Poeta Chen - Manager, Professional Services
Poeta has been with AlphaDetail since May 2007. In her role, Poeta has conducted a wide range of US and global / emerging market research studies. She has experience in a variety of market research methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative research, product profile testing, tracking studies, segmentation studies, conjoint analysis, and Key Opinion Leader identification (KOL). Poeta has accumulated extensive experience managing projects in various therapeutic areas, with a particular focus on oncology, infectious disease, immunology, and lipid-lowering treatments. Poeta holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley.

Anna Anna Dickstein - Manager, Professional Services
Anna joined AlphaDetail in July 2007. At AlphaDetail, Anna has executed market research methodologies including conjoint and max diff studies, market size assessment, market segmentation, pricing strategy, product profile testing, key opinion leader identification, concept testing and promotional effectiveness studies. Anna has worked on both qualitative and quantitative studies in the U.S. as well as globally. She has conducted research in disease areas such as arthritis & inflammation, cardiovascular disease, endocrinology, oncology, ophthalmology, respiratory disease, and urology. Anna holds a B.A. in Mass Communications from the University of California Berkeley and a B.S. in Business Administration from the Haas School of Business.

Rachel Farng - Manager, Professional Services
Rachel joined AlphaDetail in July 2008. Upon joining AlphaDetail, Rachel has immersed herself in studies for a variety of clients in disease areas such rheumatoid arthritis, renal transplantation, and ophthalmology. Rachel has experience in both quantitative and qualitative research in a wide range of project types including KOL identification and mapping research, tracking studies, concept testing, and Maximum Difference Scaling conjoint analysis. Prior to joining AlphaDetail, Rachel interned at GlaxoSmithKline, University Services Sleep Diagnostic and Toxicology Laboratories, and Blank Rome LLP. Rachel holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Drexel University.

David Hsu - Manager, Professional Services
content to come

Amy Truong - Manager, Professional Services
Amy joined AlphaDetail in June 2009. In her time at AlphaDetail, Amy has had extensive experience with both qualitative and quantitative research studies in several disease areas, including oncology, movement disorders, and ophthalmology. Her experience includes ATU and message tracking studies, concept testing, new market assessment, conjoint, and KOL identification. Prior to joining AlphaDetail, Amy performed research at Stanford to understand the basis for skin regeneration and worked at Pfizer to identify novel drug targets for cardiovascular disease and cancer. Amy holds a Ph.D. in Cancer Biology from Stanford University and a B.S. in Biology from Emory University.

clare Clare Tong - Manager, Professional Services
Clare has been with AlphaDetail since June 2006. In her role, Clare has accumulated a strong background in data analysis and project management. She has extensive experience in a variety of market research methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative research, concept testing, tracking studies, conjoint analysis, and Key Opinion Leader identification (KOL). Clare has also managed projects in numerous therapeutic areas, with an emphasis on oncology, cardiovascular diseases and hormone replacement. Clare has also managed a number of global studies, including those that focus on emerging markets. Clare holds a B.A. in Psychology and Biology from the University of California, Berkeley.