LaShell Robinson, MS

Senior Director, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Clinical Research
Takeda Pharmaceutical Limited
 

 

LaShell Robinson joined Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, as the Senior Director, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Clinical Research in June 2021. Here she leads the company’s strategic vision for increasing the diversity of Takeda’s clinical research programs by fostering partnerships & implementing strategies focused on education, awareness, access, and operational excellence.
LaShell has over a decade of experience gained from volunteering at an investigative site and working with both a CRO and industry sponsors. Before joining Takeda, LaShell was part of the inaugural DEI in clinical trials team at Janssen Research & Development, a Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Company, serving as a Clinical Operations Lead, Diversity & Inclusion in Clinical Trials (DICT). In this role, she supported the vision to ensure that all patients have access to innovative, high-quality care and the best possible health outcome, regardless of race or ethnicity. LaShell provided DE&I strategic and tactical support across therapeutic areas, including the COVID-19 vaccine and treatment trials. 

LaShell’s previous roles centered on Patient Recruitment & Retention and Site Engagement, supporting global clinical trial programs with disease-focused strategy to expedite trial enrollment. Her specializations included training clinical teams, facilitation of site & patient engagement workshops, and managing small to large-scale investigative site support programs, all of which focused on highlighting the patient experience to enable a better clinical trial experience.

LaShell is a proud alumna of Tuskegee University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in both Biology & Physics. She saw firsthand the impact history has on the patient’s perception of clinical research. This continues to fuel and influence her passion for educating others about clinical research and the diversity of the patient experience. LaShell has a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of South Florida. LaShell and her family currently reside in Maryland. 
 

Challenges and Solutions for Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion