Kevin Coker is the Co-Founder and CEO of Proxima Clinical Research, a contract research organization that serves the emerging drug and medical device industries.
Over his career, Mr. Coker has served in a number of executive roles. Previously, he was CEO and Director of MolecularMatch, a software company dedicated to helping laboratories interpret next generation sequencing tests for clinical practice. He served as the Vice President and Oncology Franchise Lead for Worldwide Clinical Trials, a global CRO working in over 50 countries, and the Vice President of Research for McKesson/US Oncology. Mr. Coker is currently a Board Director for Volumetric, a 3D bioprinting company focused on making the world’s first 3D printed liver and is an advisor for Bioverge, an investment platform focused on life science companies.
Mr. Coker received a B.S. in Biology from the University of Central Arkansas, a M.S. in Pathology from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and J.D. and M.P.H. degrees from Case Western Reserve University. He is as a certified clinical molecular biologist CLSp(MB) and Regulatory Affairs certified RAC (US). He is the former Chair of the Ethics Committee for Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS) as well as past Board Member and served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Arkansas. He has been involved in over hundred clinical trials for pharmaceutical companies pursuing marketing indications and been involved in dozens of regulatory submissions for both biotech and medical device companies.
University of Central Arkansas: Biology, B.S.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences: Pathology, M.S.
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine: Epidemiology, M.P.H.
Case Western Reserve University School of Law: Health Law, Litigation, J.D.
Proxima Clinical Research, Inc., Houston, Texas
Cofounder, CEO
MolecularMatch, Inc., Houston, Texas
CEO
Worldwide Clinical Trials, Inc., King of Prussia, PA
Vice President Oncology
McKesson, Inc., Woodlands, Texas
Vice President Research Services
The US Oncology Network, Inc., Woodlands, Texas (acquired by McKesson)
Vice President Research Services
Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, LLC, Denver, CO (a Division of US Oncology)
Director of Research Operations
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
Director of Operations
Attorney General of State of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR
Asst. Attorney General
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
Research Associate
Mr. Coker has spent the last twenty years in the clinical research industry. He helped coordinate the effort to fund the Clinical and Translational Science Award for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences over two decades ago - still the largest single federal award to the university. There he managed a clinical research unit and oversaw research in areas such as:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Diabetes
- Metabolic Disorders
- Nutrition
- Substance Abuse
- Sleep Disorders
Mr. Coker has spent a significant portion of his career in the oncology space and has had personal responsibility in areas such as:
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
- Breast cancer
- Carcinoid Tumor
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
- Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
- Colorectal Cancer
- Gastric (Stomach) Cancer
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST)
- Liver Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Lymphoma
- Melanoma
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Ovarian Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Renal Cell Cancer
- Wilms Tumor
In addition to these areas Mr. Coker has frequently worked in the in vitro diagnostic area including the next generation sequencing space.
