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Bendu C. Walker
Washington,DC
Summary
Senior research and project management professional with 20+ years of progressive leadership across infectious disease research, multi-site program operations, and global clinical project management. Sponsor-side project management experience supporting global Phase II and III infectious disease studies across the U.S., Europe, the UK, and Japan, with expertise in project planning, budgets, resources, contracts, timelines, risk mitigation, and cross-functional collaboration. Extensive leadership of federally funded, multi-site community-based participatory research initiatives, including governance, quality oversight, protocol implementation, performance management, and site capacity building. Knowledgeable in ICH/GCP principles and research compliance, with a proven ability to lead teams, engage diverse stakeholders, resolve complex operational challenges, and deliver research objectives in complex, highly regulated environments.
Overview
1
1
Certificate
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Project Manager
SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited - SymBio Pharma USA
Remote, Japan
08.2023 - Current
- Provided sponsor-side project management support for global Phase II and Phase III infectious disease studies across the U.S., Europe, the UK, and Japan.
- Coordinated cross-functional activities across Clinical Operations and other functional areas, tracking progress toward program objectives and supporting alignment of deliverables, timelines, and priorities.
- Supported integrated project planning, milestone tracking, and ongoing status reporting to promote visibility into progress, dependencies, and potential risks.
- Facilitated stakeholder meetings and cross-functional discussions to resolve scheduling conflicts, address operational challenges, and maintain alignment on deliverables.
- Supported budget oversight, resource planning, and contract and service-level agreement management across concurrent projects.
- Identified emerging risks and operational challenges, communicated concerns to key stakeholders, and supported the development of mitigation strategies.
- Maintained project schedules and monitored key milestones to support timely execution across the study lifecycle.
Executive Consultant Essentials/Challenge Educator
Classical Conversations Community
Washington DC, USA
03.2021 - 08.2023
- Developed and implemented individualized educational strategies and lesson plans to address learner needs and improve comprehension and learning outcomes.
- Monitored learner progress, maintained detailed documentation, and adjusted instructional approaches to support engagement and continuous improvement.
- Collaborated with stakeholders and sales teams to assess needs, recommend customized educational solutions, and strengthen learner outcomes.
- Managed required documentation and submissions while ensuring compliance with state guidelines and homeschooling standards.
Administrative Director
Children’s National Hospital
Washington DC, USA
03.2018 - 03.2021
- Provided program and portfolio management for the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), a partnership between Children’s National Hospital and George Washington University.
- Led program managers and research navigators, overseeing research operations, implementation, planning, and performance across the partnership.
- Collaborated with program directors, administrators, and institutional leadership to establish operational goals, manage timelines, monitor data quality, and ensure compliance.
- Identified quality and compliance issues, escalated concerns as appropriate, and implemented resolution plans to address operational challenges.
- Established quarterly progress reporting processes to enable proactive performance monitoring and support data-driven decision-making by the Quality & Evaluation team.
- Supported the launch of the CTSI-FDA extramural fellowship bootcamp partnership and managed relationships with key stakeholders throughout implementation.
Adjunct Faculty Member
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
01.2015 - 12.2019
- Provided academic mentorship and guidance to graduate students as a member of dissertation committees, supporting research development and presentation.
Consultant Foundations Educator
Classical Conversations
Bowie MD, USA
05.2016 - 03.2018
- Developed and implemented individualized tutoring programs and lesson plans to address student needs and improve comprehension and learning outcomes.
- Collaborated with educators to refine instructional approaches, strengthen engagement, and support continuous improvement.
- Maintained detailed records to monitor student progress and inform instructional planning.
- Managed required documentation and submissions while ensuring compliance with state guidelines and homeschooling requirements.
Director, National Coordinating Center (NCC)
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore MD, USA
01.2012 - 05.2016
- Provided national oversight and strategic leadership for multiple federally funded infectious disease community-based participatory research initiatives across 17 research sites.
- Provided strategic direction for monitoring, evaluation, research strategy, and technical assistance to strengthen program implementation and outcomes.
- Established governance and operational standards across participating research sites to promote consistent implementation and organizational effectiveness.
- Led protocol implementation and supported nationwide dissemination of research findings, best practices, and capacity-building standards.
- Developed internal processes, infrastructure, and operational resources to support research growth and program objectives.
- Led quality management activities to assess standards, identify operational issues, and develop risk mitigation and contingency strategies.
- Oversaw data collection and analysis processes and used findings to inform programmatic decisions, while managing budgets, forecasting, and financial reconciliation.
National Research Program Manager, NCC
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore MD, USA
04.2011 - 01.2012
- Managed start-up and implementation of federally funded infectious disease community-based participatory research initiatives across 14 research sites in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
- Oversaw program activities and developed performance reporting systems to capture and monitor essential research data.
- Developed research protocols, compliance guidelines, and quality assurance processes to support consistent implementation across sites.
- Coordinated multidisciplinary teams and cross-site partners to strengthen collaboration, streamline workflows, and address operational challenges.
- Managed budgets and resource allocation across research initiatives to support program objectives and site implementation.
- Led dissemination of program information, best practices, and resources to strengthen local implementation capacity.
- Collaborated with internal and external partners to establish performance metrics and measures of program success.
- Implemented systems for tracking and reporting program information in collaboration with the data operations center
Sr National Research Coordinator, NCC
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore MD, USA
07.2005 - 04.2011
- Coordinated operations across 15 research hubs at urban academic medical institutions in the U.S. and Puerto Rico supporting infectious disease community-based participatory research.
- Monitored research start-up and implementation to support adherence to protocols, program requirements, and quality standards.
- Conducted routine site visits, assessed research implementation, and delivered targeted training to strengthen site capacity and consistency.
- Collaborated with leadership, colleagues, and community partners to develop strategic plans and address program priorities.
- Streamlined research workflows to improve operational quality, consistency, and efficiency across sites.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams to address complex programmatic and technical challenges and develop solutions to maintain project progress.
- Developed technical interventions to address operational barriers and accelerate progress across research initiatives.
- Prepared formal and informal reports with findings and recommendations to inform management decisions and program strategy.
Program Coordinator
Children’s National Medical Center
Washington DC, USA
04.2002 - 07.2005
- Managed day-to-day implementation of an infectious disease community-based participatory research (CBPR) study in Washington, DC.
- Contributed to scientific and methodological planning during study start-up and implementation.
- Engaged stakeholders and policymakers to build support for the initiative and strengthen program implementation.
- Cultivated partnerships with community and institutional stakeholders to support program development and growth.
- Collaborated with the DC Department of Surveillance to develop epidemiological profiles and inform research activities.
- Developed and reviewed recruitment plans with partners to support effective participant engagement and study implementation.
- Facilitated access to research systems and supported compliance with applicable regulatory and program requirements.
- Conducted infectious disease risk assessments to evaluate target population behaviors and inform research activities.
Education
MPH - Epidemiology
The George Washington University, Milken Institute
Washington, DC01-2003
BBA - Finance
Howard University, School of Business
Washington, DC01-1996
Skills
Project Leadership & Oversight
- Project & Budget Management
- Scope & Change Management
- Stakeholder Engagement & Negotiation
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership
Research & Compliance
- Research Strategy & Regulatory Compliance
- Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Standards
- Quality Assurance & Process Improvement
Training, Facilitation & Event Planning
- Large-Scale Network Meeting Planning & Coordination
- Protocol Training & Standardization
- Professional Presenter & Facilitator
Certification
- CITI: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)
- CITI: Human Subject's Research (HSR)
- CITI: Conflict of Interest (COI)
Timeline
Senior Project Manager
SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited - SymBio Pharma USA
08.2023 - Current
Executive Consultant Essentials/Challenge Educator
Classical Conversations Community
03.2021 - 08.2023
Administrative Director
Children’s National Hospital
03.2018 - 03.2021
Consultant Foundations Educator
Classical Conversations
05.2016 - 03.2018
Adjunct Faculty Member
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
01.2015 - 12.2019
Director, National Coordinating Center (NCC)
Johns Hopkins University
01.2012 - 05.2016
National Research Program Manager, NCC
Johns Hopkins University
04.2011 - 01.2012
Sr National Research Coordinator, NCC
Johns Hopkins University
07.2005 - 04.2011
Program Coordinator
Children’s National Medical Center
04.2002 - 07.2005
MPH - Epidemiology
The George Washington University, Milken Institute
BBA - Finance
Howard University, School of Business