Cathy Owen brings almost 20 years’ experience in IRB management and services, human subject’s protection, and pharmaceutical research support, to her role as President and CEO of MidLands Independent Review Board, LLC (MLIRB), where she is responsible for executive leadership, operations, and strategic management and direction of MLIRB.

Ms. Owen began her career in human research subjects’ protection in 1992, when she joined Quintiles, Inc. (Overland Park, KS), as Manager IRB Operations. Cathy was responsible for IRB operations and management at Quintiles for nine years. In her capacity as Manager IRB Operations, Cathy oversaw the committees’ operations to ensure compliance with current and anticipated federal regulations.  She also oversaw the institutional review process for Phase I through IV, single- and multi-site research, cooperative research, preparation and review of required documentation and study files, and the investigator qualification process. 

In 2001, Cathy joined Mid*Lands Institutional Review Board, the predecessor to MLIRB, as Director and minority owner. Her career and tenure at Mid*Lands was marked by increased responsibilities as Mid*Lands expanded its operations. She became co-owner and Vice-President in 2004. In 2009, Ms. Owen acquired sole ownership of Mid*Lands IRB, and assumed her current responsibilities as President and CEO at that time.

Under Cathy’s leadership, Mid*Lands began the AAHRPP accreditation process, which culminated in Mid*Lands achieving full AAHRP accreditation status in September, 2010. The trend of MLIRB’s growth is reflected in other continuous process improvements that Ms. Owen has directed, including expansion to two Boards that meet weekly, enhanced client web portal and electronic document management capabilities, and most recently, the name change to MidLands IRB (MLIRB) and its new logo and updated corporate identity.

Ms. Owen has over 12 years of credentialing and certification associated with IRBs and human research subject’s protection. She achieved Certified IRB Manager (CIM) in 1999 from the National Association of IRB Managers (NAIM).  She was in the first group of individuals to pass the test for Certified IRB Professional (CIP) status in 2000 from Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R), and Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) from the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SoCRA) in 2003.  Cathy has continued to maintain these certifications through testing or educational requirements.