Leslie Driskill

Scientist, Research

Hello! I'm Leslie Driskill, a scientist from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Leslie Driskill's Bio:

Leslie Driskill is a scientist from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In her leisure time, she enjoys reading, writing, hiking, history, photography, and travel. You can frequently find her exploring any of America's National Parks sites or wandering around a new city on foot. Leslie Driskill's Education Leslie began her college education at Seminole State College, where she earned her Associate of Science the same year she graduated high school. She then attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. There she earned a Bachelor's of Science in Zoology-Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Biochemistry. After receiving her bachelor's degree, she earned her Master's in Chemistry and Biochemistry. She received many honors in her educational career, including Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, The National Dean's List, American Indian Graduate Center Scholar, Progressive U Blogging for Progress Scholar, Calvin Scholar, and Neil Molleur Leadership Scholar. She also received recognition from the Oklahoma House of Representatives for her work in advocating for policies that support education and economic development in rural areas. She was also active in several honor societies, including Phi Lambda Upsilon (Chemistry), Phi Theta Kappa (high GPA), Psi Beta (Psychology), and Sigma Kappa Delta (writing/English). Leslie Driskill's Professional Career Leslie worked at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center as a researcher. She worked in several roles and studied basic sciences/translational research, behavioral research, and clinical research. Her most current role was Clinical Trials Manager, in which she served as a sub-investigator for numerous investigational drug studies in gastroenterology and pulmonary/critical care medicine. She also served in a consulting role for grant writing, study design, and operations for investigator-initiated studies. In her previous roles at OU, she studied the behavioral and biochemical effects of nicotine and tobacco use; the epidermal growth receptor signaling cascade, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and its role in soft tissue cancers.

Leslie Driskill's Experience:

  • Clinical Trials Manager at The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

    October 2016 - May 2020 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

    I provide comprehensive oversight of clinical trials at the Department level within an academic medical center, including serving as a sub-investigator on most studies, operations, finance, regulatory, contracting, and leadership of a multidisciplinary research team. Our mission is to continue our legacy of excellence as a study site while providing our patients access to cutting-edge therapies, education, and support for their conditions. My team manages over 30 active industry-sponsored, FDA-regulated protocols, plus numerous investigator-initiated and NIH-funded protocols. Indications studied include congestive heart failure, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, COPD, influenza, GERD, pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung diseases, and more. Accomplishments: -Completely overhauled a program facing operational challenges, including development of entirely new standard operating procedures, long-term strategy, and restructuring of staff roles; -Eliminated all program deficits and increased overall revenue; -Developed new recruitment, retention, and screening procedures to help staff more effectively connect with study patients; -Developed tools to aid in evaluating financial feasibility, study pricing, required work hours, and forecasting, resulting in increased long-term financial stability of the Clinical Trials program; -Led a study team with less than 5 years of clinical trials experience to become highly proficient in clinical research, resulting in our coordinators reaching or being on track to reach 100% of screening and recruitment targets in all current studies with no unavoidable protocol deviations for three consecutive quarters; -Built positive relationships with clinical staff, providers, and vendors, resulting in increased internal collaboration and reported Sponsor/CRO satisfaction. -Served on the COVID-19 Therapeutic Treatment Task Force to help develop policies and procedures for treatment of COVID-19 patients. -Drafted the Oklahoma COVID-19 Research Repository protocol, which was adopted as the statewide protocol for Oklahoma Shared Clinical and Translational Resources' COVID-19 research.

  • Research Coordinator/Research Assistant II at The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

    June 2009 - October 2016 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

    Managed multiple projects within the Nicotine and Tobacco research program at Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center. Areas of research included study of modified risk tobacco products and their potential for harm reduction, computer-based cessation interventions, prevention, and investigation of electronic nicotine delivery systems as a smoking substitute, and hookah use. My responsibilities while serving in this position included laboratory management, study design, statistical analysis, IRB/regulatory correspondence, personnel management, manuscript preparation/review, and analysis, collection, and preparation of biological samples. As a Research Assistant with the Department of Cell Biology, I conducted basic research on GGT under the guidance of Dr. Marie Hanigan, particularly on how glycosylation affects autocatalytic assembly of the enzyme and its activity. I also studied the signalling pathway of the EGF receptor under Dr. Brian Ceresa.

Leslie Driskill's Education:

  • The University of Oklahoma

    2007 – 2009
    Master of Science
    Concentration: Chemistry and Biochemistry
    Activities: AISES, Phi Lambda Upsilon, American Indian Graduate Scholar, Who's Who among Students, Oklahoma Microscopy Society, Oklahoma Academy of Science, The Big Help, Volunteer- Norman Public Schools

  • The University of Oklahoma

    2004 – 2007
    Bachelor of Science
    Concentration: Zoology-Biomedical Sciences, Minor in Biochemistry
    Activities: Who's Who Among Students, The National Dean's List, Volunteer Reading Tutor, Oklahoma Biological Station, Oklahoma Academy of Science, ProgressiveU Blogging for Progress Scholar, The Big Help, Volunteer- Norman Public Schools

  • Seminole State College of Oklahoma

    2002 – 2003
    Associate of Science
    Concentration: Biological Sciences
    Activities: Phi Theta Kappa, Psi Beta, Sigma Kappa Delta, Student Senate, Rock the Vote, Economic Development Committee, Neil Molleur Leadership Scholar, Calvin Scholar, Volunteer Reading Tutor, Tennis, Photography, Astronomy Club

Leslie Driskill's Interests & Activities:

Leslie enjoys reading, writing, hiking, history, travel, photography, science, great food, and exploring the great outdoors. She has visited every state except Alaska and has hiked or ran a marathon in most of them.