Sandra Bonifant, MS, CIP, joined the CTU in August 2019 to develop and lead the Research Training and Education Office. The Research Training and Education Office provides a single point of contact for clarifying the diverse training requirements of NINDS employees and volunteers. Currently, the office is working to automate the notification of required trainings and collection of completion documentation. The office is also responsible for liaising with the IRBO and OHSRP, updating standard operating procedures as needed and disseminating information in an expeditious manner.
Ms. Bonifant earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland, College Park in Biological Sciences and Psychology and her Master of Science degree in Clinical Research Organization and Management from Drexel University, School of Medicine. She joined the Combined NeuroScience (CNS) IRB in July 2011 and served as a Clinical Protocol Coordinator. She was responsible for both Blue and Purple Panel activities and liaised with multiple outside entities to facilitate review and approval of a diverse portfolio of clinical research protocols involving human subjects. She became a Certified IRB Professional (CIP) in 2014. Prior to her time with the CNS IRB, she spent 4 years as the Project Specialist for the Cognitive NeuroScience Section of NINDS, coordinating the Warfighter Head Injury Study at NIH. For the 5 years prior to that, she was the responsible for the successful execution of the Vietnam Head Injury Study – Phase III at the National Naval Medical Center.