Siân Ratcliffe Smethurst Appointed Chief Operating Officer of Premier Research

MORRISVILLE, N.C., Jan. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier Research, a global leader in clinical research and consulting services, announced today the appointment of Siân Ratcliffe Smethurst, Ph.D., to the position of Chief Operating Officer.

With more than 25 years of scientific and operational leadership in the biopharmaceutical industry, Dr. Ratcliffe Smethurst will oversee the organization's Clinical Research and Development. In this role, she will drive operational and quality performance across all clinical development functions, including study design and delivery, data management, and regulatory support.

"I am pleased to welcome Siân to our executive team as Chief Operating Officer," said Premier Chief Executive Officer, John Ratliff. "This strategic appointment supports Premier's commitment to high-quality clinical delivery and operational scalability. We are confident Siân will propel our clinical capabilities, improve the site and patient experience, and enhance value for our customers."

Prior to joining Premier, Dr. Ratcliffe Smethurst served in multiple senior leadership roles at Biogen and Pfizer spanning all phases of Research, Development, and Medical as well as multiple therapeutic areas, including Oncology, Neurology, Psychiatry, Pain, Rare Disease, Immunology, Internal Medicine, Women's Health, and Vaccines. Most recently, Dr. Ratcliffe Smethurst held the role of SVP, Head of Quantitative Sciences & Development Operations (QSDO) at Biogen, where she led a large global team accountable for the design, strategic planning, execution, and analysis of Biogen's clinical trial portfolio.

"I am energized by the opportunity to contribute to Premier's long-term vision and look forward to collaborating with a committed and experienced team," said Dr. Ratcliffe Smethurst. "Our shared commitment is to turn breakthrough science into life-changing therapies that make a real difference for patients, while delivering enduring value for our stakeholders."

About Premier Research
Premier Research International LLC (Premier) is a global leader in clinical research and consulting services with expertise in driving an efficient and effective path to market for the life sciences industry. Premier is built with the needs of biotech in mind, turning breakthrough science into life-changing drugs, devices, and diagnostics by addressing trial complexity, overcoming development hurdles, and demonstrating product value. Leveraging deep therapeutic expertise, innovative technology, and product development operational proficiency—from preclinical planning to clinical trial execution and commercialization—our integrated approach offers personalized, end-to-end solutions to identify the pertinent data and insight necessary to make informed decisions earlier and deliver accelerated development timelines for a smarter, faster path to approval. To learn more visit premier-research.com. 

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SOURCE Premier Research International LLC