Our Team

The CMSU’s senior management team is comprised exclusively of professionals, each of whom bring with them over 20 years of experience from diverse roles (e.g. operations, clinical trials, QA, packaging development, regulatory compliance, drug development and project management) within the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. Our extensive industry experience combined with the resources available within a world-class academic research institution allow us to provide our clients with a uniquely integrated approach to delivering clinical strategy, packaging, labeling and logistics solutions and support for clinical trial programs or stand-alone trials, from proof-of-concept through Phase IV. Our distribution capabilities and project management experience ensure products are of the highest quality, delivered on time and to our clients’ satisfaction.

CMSU Operations

Christopher Mark, MS, MBA
Director, Operations
Phone: (585) 758-0508
Email: Christopher_Mark@urmc.rochester.edu

Chris is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) with a B.S. degree in Biotechnology.  He began his career at the University of Rochester in 2008 in the Strong Memorial Hospital’s Microbiology lab performing diagnostic testing on clinical patient samples for bacterial, fungal, viral and TB infections.  In 2013 Chris began working in the Department of Pathology & Lab Medicine’s Clinical Trials Central Laboratory where he took on positions of greater responsibility and authority, with his last position as Assistant Director of Technical and Scientific Affairs. He earned his M.S. in Medical Management in 2011, and his MBA with a Concentration in Competitive & Organizational Strategy, Business Environment and Public Policy in 2013 both from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business.  Chris is a seasoned clinical trial expert with a proven track record of success, working on over 100 multi-center clinical trials with numerous trials leading to FDA approval. With nearly two decades of experience, he has a deep understanding of study design, kit creation, procurement, and inventory management.  Chris joined the CMSU in 2024 where he currently serves as the Director of Operations.

Arian Horbovetz
Senior Clinical Materials Project Manager
Phone: (585) 758-0504
Email: Arian_Horbovetz@urmc.rochester.edu

Arian began his journey at the CMSU seventeen years ago as a packaging technician.  In his current role as Senior Project Manager, Arian works with the CMSU Management Team, study sponsors/coordinators and industry partners to develop and facilitate drug supply strategies that fit the needs for each unique study design.  Arian specializes in drug supply forecasting, label and kit design, IRT setup and maintenance, internal and external-facing document creation and other clinical trial supply logistics.

Jessica Larsen
Operations Site Support Specialist II
Phone: (585) 758-0502
Email: Jessica_Larsen@urmc.rochester.edu

Jessica joined the CMSU in 2017 and quickly became an integral part of the CMSU team. She came in with 15 years’ experience in inventory control, audit, procurement and cash control. She has amassed extensive experience in Operations, Quality Assurance, Finance and clinical trial site coordination. She has recently been promoted and has taken the lead on producing all of the CMSU clinical labeling used to support drug and device packaging as the ClinPro System expert.

Sean Weaver
Research Packaging/Facilities Coordinator
Phone: (585) 758-0516
Email: Sean_Weaver@urmc.rochester.edu

Sean joined CMSU in 2022. With a background in Production and Quality Assurance in a manufacturing setting, Sean brings a wealth of knowledge of cGMPs, an attention to detail, and experience with paperwork verification.

Jose Carlos Gallegos
Research Packaging Coordinator III
Phone: (585) 758-0504
Email: jose_gallegos@urmc.rochester.edu

Carlos came to the CMSU after 6 years at the URMC Labs processing clinical trial samples. His extensive experience with cGMPs, SOP writing and attention to detail make Carlos a new and welcomed member to the CMSU team.

Madelein Guerrera
Research Packaging Coordinator III
Phone: (585) 831-9913
Email: madelein_guerrera@urmc.rochester.edu

Madeleine (Maddie) graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in 2023 with a Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Science. Before coming to the CMSU Maddie worked at Fisher-Price as a packaging design intern, Multi-Color Corporation as a lab technician, and American Packaging Corporation as a quality technician. She has experience with label manufacturing, quality control, data analysis, and packaging design. Maddie joined the CMSU at the beginning of July, 2025 as part of the Operations team.

Heather Briffa
Research Packaging Coordinator III
Phone: (585) 758-0499
Email: heather_briffa@urmc.rochester.edu

Heather joined CMSU in 2025 and is a seasoned Shipping & Logistics leader with a background in Environmental Studies (Union Institute and University) and training in OSHA safety, global compliance, and ASCM/CLTD supply chain logistics. Rising through hands-on warehouse roles into multi-site leadership, she has built streamlined shipping systems, strengthened international compliance processes, and led teams through 5S, SOP development, and operational restructuring. Heather blends technical expertise with a people-first approach—prioritizing safety, mental wellness, and professional growth while ensuring every shipment, process, and facility meets the highest standards of accuracy, efficiency, and global regulatory shipping compliance.

CMSU Quality Assurance

Anna Wachter
Research Quality Assurance Specialist I
Phone: (585) 758-0515
Email: Anna_Wachter@urmc.rochester.edu

Anna graduated from the University of Findlay in Ohio in 2016 with an B.S in Biology. She went on to work for Charles River Labs for 6 years, before moving to Abeona Therapeutics in 2022. She obtained her MPH from Kent State University shortly after in 2023. At Abeona, Anna was on the Manufacturing team, and through careful GMP work and documentation, helped achieve FDA approval for the drug product "Zevaskyn". She comes to CMSU with a extensive pharmaceutical GMP experience, technical writing experience, and quality expertise.

Maybeth Soto
Research Quality Assurance Coordinator
Phone: (585) 758-0558
Email: Maybeth_Soto@urmc.rochester.edu

Maybeth comes to the CMSU from a larger industry where she held down diverse roles in the Quality and Operation departments. During her six years at LSI, she was responsible for the inspection and testing of manufacturing processes and products, as well as ensuring product quality and adherence to established company standards. She also helped generate reports of daily activities for executive evaluations. Her knowledge of quality policies, conducting inspections and presenting solutions makes Maybeth a welcomed asset to the CMSU team.

Bo Chen
Research Quality Assurance Coordinator IIII
Phone: (585) 758-0506
Email: bo_chen@urmc.rochester.edu

Bo joined CMSU at the beginning of 2024 as part of the Quality Assurance team. Prior to this role, he worked in Quality Control for a GMP-regulated biotech company based in Boston before returning to his hometown of Rochester, NY. Nearby in Geneva, Bo obtained his Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Psychology from Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS) in the spring of 2022. During his time at HWS, he was actively involved in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) with HWS EMS and Penfield Volunteer Emergency Ambulance (PVEA). Additionally, Bo has over 5 years of restaurant experience in service and management roles. He possesses the essential attributes of exemplary customer care and meticulous attention to detail vital for success at CMSU.

Joseph Townsend
Research Quality Assurance Coordinator III
Phone: (585) 758-0507
Email: Joseph_Townsend@urmc.rochester.edu

Joe comes to the CMSU as a Biotech professional with 15+ years of experience, including CMC/clinical supply management, upstream operations, and project leadership. Joe has served as an Operations Supervisor and Upstream Technical Lead, supporting core manufacturing and development activities.