Alissa is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with extensive experience in clinical research across pediatric, adolescent, and adult populations. As an Investigator at PRA, she leverages her expertise to support diverse areas of clinical trials to support advancements in healthcare.
Alissa is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles where she completed her Master of Science in Nursing. In addition, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from California State University, San Marcos and a Bachelor of Science in Animal Physiology & Neuroscience from the University of California, San Diego. Her professional experience includes Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Infectious Diseases, Primary Care, Women’s Health and Research Drug and Development. When she isn’t working, she is traveling, cooking, reading, watching movies, or spending time with loved ones (including her cat).
Paige began working as a clinical research coordinator at Peninsula Research Associates in 2020. Since joining our team, she has worked on various clinical trials, including COVID-19 antibody treatment studies, a phase II recombinant protein COVID-19 vaccine study, a phase I mRNA COVID-19 vaccine study and a phase III pneumococcal vaccine study. Paige is passionate about helping patients receive quality healthcare through clinical research.
Paige graduated from Chapman University with a bachelor’s degree in health science. During her undergraduate studies, Paige worked as a clinical research intern in the Czech Republic and as a patient experience intern at UCI medical center.
Contact Paige at:
Office: 310-265-1623 x312
Paige.Endo@PeninsulaResearch.com
Kristen joined the PRA team as a clinical research coordinator in 2018. She primarily works with Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) food allergy trials, including peanut and egg allergy studies. Her study on Palforzia just got approved by the FDA! She will soon be leading a study involving OIT multi-food allergies. Additionally, Kristen’s areas of research include asthma, atopic dermatitis, COVID-19 vaccines, COVID-19 antibody treatments, and pneumococcal vaccines.
he brings her cheery attitude from working as a Summer Camp Counselor to PRA. Her expertise and love for working with children shines through in her patient interactions.
Outside of work, Kristen enjoys playing soccer and spending time with her family.
Contact Kristen at:
Office: 310-265-1623 x317
Kristen.Currie@PeninsulaResearch.com
Heather has been working as a clinical research coordinator at Peninsula Research Associates since 2017. She currently devotes her time to PRA’s phase III trials, focusing primarily on asthma, atopic dermatitis and diabetes studies. Heather helps maintain a high level of patient care while ensuring our research goals are being met.
Heather earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and business from Humboldt State University. She is currently working towards becoming a nurse practitioner.
Contact Heather at:
Office: 310-265-1623 x302
Heather.Mendoza@PeninsulaResearch.com
Monika manages the research coordinators and research assistants at Peninsula Research Associates. She also currently works on PRA’s trials in the following areas; COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 Vaccines, COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibodies, Quality of Life/Exercise Capacity asthma, atopic dermatitis and eosinophilic esophagitis. She helps the PRA team maintain a high level of patient care while ensuring our research goals are being met.
Monika earned her bachelor’s degree in BioPsychology from Tufts University. After graduation, she gained experience in venipuncture and injections as a veterinary technician. She also worked in the financial sector as a project manager and managing a start-up. Monika then moved into the pharmaceutical research industry, working for many years for the pharmaceutical company, Theravance. There, she worked primarily in the Drug Metabolism PharmacoKinetics Department, running in-vivo and in-vitro studies for novel compounds. Monika played a key role in this department, facilitating the advancement of many of those novel compounds through pre-clinical research to FDA approval for clinical trials. She brings the combination of her management skills and medical background to help meet PRA’s research goals.
Monika is very excited for this opportunity of working with the strong members that make up the PRA team and to maintain the superior level of research Peninsula Research Associates is known for.
Contact Monika at:
Office: 310-265-1623 x228
Monika.LaraLin@PeninsulaResearch.com
Debbie Cappy began working with Dr. Sher in 1991 and has played a key role in over 300 clinical research trials. Debbie’s areas of expertise include allergic rhinitis, asthma, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, infectious diseases, otitis media, pain management, sleep disorders, vaccinations, women’s health, and, most recently, COVID-19 vaccinations and treatments.
Debbie works very closely with the IRB, IBC, sponsors, monitors, and FDA Inspectors. She ensures that ICH/GCP guidelines are followed in hopes that new, safe and effective medications and therapies will become available to the general public.
Debbie received her clinical research coordinator certification from the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) in 2006. Debbie continues her clinical research education with ACRP, NIH, and the National Health & Safety Association.
Contact Debbie at:
Office: 310-265-1623 x301
Debbie.Cappy@PeninsulaResearch.com
As Chief Financial Officer, Renée manages all cost, managerial, and financial accounting for Peninsula Research Associates. She is responsible for the day-to-day administration of accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, benefits, and human resources. In addition to assisting management with important financial decisions, Renée also prepares forecasts, budgets, and financial statements. Renée’s expertise includes determining ways to reduce costs and meeting the legal requirements to keep the financial state of Peninsula Research Associates in good standing.
Renée has been with PRA since 2015 and brought with her a plethora of knowledge and experience of the healthcare industry and financial decision support.
Renée enjoys cooking and traveling with her husband and two children.
Contact Renée at:
Office: 310-265-1623 x310
Renee.Goldstein@PVMedGroup.com
Leigh Ann is a board licensed family nurse practitioner. She serves as a research sub-investigator for many of our studies at Peninsula Research Associates. Her primary focus is on food allergy treatments, eczema, asthma and COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
Leigh Ann also provides primary care services to a wide range of patients at Palos Verdes Medical Group (PVMG), a multi-specialty private practice associated with PRA.
Leigh Ann completed her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) at the University of Southern California. She also attended Mount St.. Mary’s College of Nursing as well as Marymount College in Rancho Palos Verdes. Leigh Ann’s experience includes working as an ED nurse, charge nurse, trauma coordinator and home health care nurse.
Leigh Ann is a South Bay native and is loving the fact that she is able to work and raise her family in the same community that she grew up in.
Contact Leigh Ann at:
Office: 310-265-1623
LeighAnn.Schmidt@pvmedgroup.com
Dr. Sher completed his medical degree at the University of Utah School of Medicine (1983) and residency in pediatrics (1987) and fellowship in allergy and immunology at the University of California Los Angeles.
He is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and American Board of Allergy and Immunology. He is a fellow with the American Academy of Pediatrics; American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology; and American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.
Since founding Peninsula Research Associates (PRA) in 1999, Dr. Sher has been the PI for over 200 clinical trials for conditions such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, ADHD, COPD, hypertension, otitis media, pneumonia, and sinusitis. Many of these trials have contributed to new medications and devices in the market.
Dr. Sher continues to work as a physician at Palos Verdes Medical Group, a multispecialty practice and urgent care center encompassing pediatric care; ADHD; internal medicine; and adult and pediatric asthma, allergy, and immunology. Dr. Sher has been practicing in Rolling Hills Estates for the past 25 years.
Dr. Sher stays involved in the community in programs such as the Los Angeles County School Nurses Association and Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, where he is currently the Medical Chair for the South Bay region. He has also been appointed to serve on several national committees for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology and American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology including the Specific IgE Task Force, Immunotherapy and Allergy Diagnostics Committee, and Rhinitis and Sinusitis Committee.
Dr. Sher has published articles in numerous medical journals, including the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal; Clinical Infectious Disease; Clinical Therapeutics; and Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. He authored “Diagnosing Allergic Diseases: Why Knowing the History is as Important as the Test,” published in Contemporary Pediatrics, and co-authored “Community-based Treatment of Acute Uncomplicated Bacterial Rhinosinusitis with Gatifloxacin,” “Safety and Efficacy of Gatifloxacin Therapy for Children with Recurrent Acute Otitis Media (AOM) and/or AOM Treatment Failure,” and “Pearls and Pitfalls of Allergy Diagnostic Testing: Report from the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology/American Academy.
Click here for a list of publications and features of Dr. Lawrence Sher’s.