Sarasota-based Omeza has named Dr. Suzanne Bakewell its vice-president of research and development and chief scientific officer. A principal scientist and leader with expertise in early-stage drug and medical device development, cancer biology, and nanotechnology, she will lead research and development and clinical trial development for Omeza. She will also be responsible for regulatory affairs and intellectual property rights for Omeza’s line of products.

Prior to joining Omeza, Bakewell was responsible for leading early-stage drug development and designing translational studies for clinical trials in both industry and academia. Trained as a physiologist, her doctoral research at Washington University focused on cancer metastasis to bone and the tumor microenvironment. As a Susan G. Komen Fellow in the Dr. Lewis Chodosh lab at the University of Pennsylvania, Bakewell studied cancer cell dormancy and disease recurrence.