Dr. Rachael Crist is a Scientist at the NCL and Head of the lab's Strategic Client Relations.
In this role, she has coordinated more than one hundred interdisciplinary scientific collaborations with academic, non-profit, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical organizations from around the globe, developing an extensive network of the world's leading experts in nanomedicine, all working to provide better treatment outcomes for cancer patients. She also serves on the organization’s review committee, evaluating chemotherapy, immunotherapy, vaccine, imaging, and diagnostic nanotechnology proposals with respect to physical and chemical analyses as well as in vitro and in vivo safety and efficacy profiles. Other duties include all aspects of project management, such as prioritization of projects, coordination of research efforts across multiple disciplines, management of timelines, production of various scientific and technical reports, and solicitation of new partnering opportunities. Dr. Crist has also interfaced with various agencies within the US government with respect to regulatory and consumer safety aspects of nanotechnology and served as an executive board member for the European Union’s Nanomedicine Characterization consortia. In addition, she holds memberships with ASTM International and the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society.
Prior to joining the NCL in 2009, Dr. Crist completed a post-doctoral fellowship with the HIV Drug Resistance Program within NCI at Frederick. She received her Ph.D. degree in chemistry from Michigan State University and her B.S. degree in chemistry from Miami University. Her experiences include nanotechnology, molecular biology, protein chemistry, virology, and organic synthesis and characterization techniques.