Kristiana Salmon

After completing a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Immunology at McGill University, Kristiana Salmon joined the Clinical Research Unit (CRU) of the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (MNI/H) as a clinical research coordinator. The function of the CRU is to execute clinical research studies on patients with neurological disorders, specifically testing novel drug therapies for various companies in the pharmaceutical industry. She then completed a Graduate Diploma in Clinical Research, also at McGill University.

Kristiana is presently the group leader of the ALS and Neuromuscular Division of the CRU and oversees operations of all clinical trials in ALS and neuromuscular diseases. Within the CRU, she has been the lead coordinator on all major, international ALS trials since 2011, and played a key role in the MNI/H being the highest global recruiter in three of those trials. She is responsible for maintaining the CRU’s Standard Operating Procedures, and in the past was responsible for the training of new clinical research coordinators in the CRU. For the past two years, she has been instrumental in the development of a national training program for clinical research in neurology.

Kristiana is a member of the MNI/H ALS Clinic’s multidisciplinary care team, and promotes a seamless interface between research and clinical care. She believes that patient education in research, and patients as research partners are crucial to the success of clinical trials. She is a strong patient advocate within the ALS community, and at an international level. As such, she is a member of a group that performs scientific reviews on alternative therapies for ALS (ALSUntangled), and on a committee that promotes patient advocacy for research in ALS (NEALS PEACe Committee). In 2017, she is hosting an ALS Education Day, to disseminate knowledge on the care of patients with ALS to community care partners (CLSCs, palliative care centers, rehab centers, etc.) across the greater Montreal area.

In the past, Kristiana has worked on client communications and the payroll for a placement agency, and as a bookkeeper for Richter LLP’s insolvency division. Both of these roles contributed to her appointment of interim contract and budget officer of the CRU this past fall.

Kristiana’s passions outside of the office are travel, photography and sailing.