Innovative Drug Development Initiative (IDDI) Workstreams 

The IDDI is a global, collaborative forum where representatives from academia, the pharmaceutical industry (established and emerging biotechnology), and drug regulators openly discuss questions surrounding the future of trials involving novel drugs. See our IDDI Special collection on Clinical Trial Design: Past, Present, and Future.

We believe in the power of early and ongoing dialogue with all stakeholders in the drug development process, including the crucial perspective of patients and their advocates. The IDDI aspires to explore novel approaches for combating and treating PVD and PH, focusing strongly on patient needs. There are eight IDDI Workstreams, each assigned to address various challenges PH patients face.  

Meet the 2025 IDDI Leadership Team

Sidra Hoffman

Sidra M. Hoffman, Ph.D., is a multidisciplinary scientist and clinical development leader with expertise in fibrotic, vascular, and inflammatory-driven rare pulmonary diseases. Currently, she serves as Senior Director of Clinical Development at Gossamer Bio. Dr. Hoffman is recognised for her contributions to clinical and translational medicine and her leadership in academic-industry collaborations. She holds a Ph.D. in respiratory cell and molecular biology from Maastricht University and a certification in Medical Affairs and Medicines Development from King's College London.

Luke Howard

Dr. Luke Howard is a Consultant Pulmonologist and Lead Clinician for the Pulmonary Hypertension Service, based at Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. He is also Lead Clinician for Exercise Physiology services at Imperial College Healthcare. Areas of research interest include cardiopulmonary physiology, and early and late phase clinical trials, particularly in the field of Pulmonary Hypertension and Pulmonary Embolism. The Pulmonary Hypertension Service is one of the designated units in the National Pulmonary Hypertension Service which is a clinical and research network which aims to deliver excellent clinical outcomes and promote basic, translational and clinical research in the field of pulmonary vascular disease.

Gil Golden

Dr. Gil Golden brings over 20 years of leadership in biopharma, with broad experience spanning product development, medical education, regulatory affairs, and corporate strategy. His work has supported drug, device, and biologics development from preclinical through Phase IV, often in collaboration with government, academic, and industry partners to address unmet medical needs. He currently oversees strategic contributions to all development phases and supports around 36 investigator-sponsored studies. Before joining United Therapeutics, he held executive roles at Guilford Pharmaceuticals, Pharmion, and Azur Pharma. Dr. Golden earned his Ph.D. in neuroendocrinology from the University of Pittsburgh and trained at the Medical College of Pennsylvania.

Sandeep Sahay

Dr. Sandeep Sahay is a pulmonary and critical care physician who leads the Pulmonary Hypertension Program at Houston Methodist Hospital and teaches as an Associate Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine. Originally from India, he trained at the Cleveland Clinic and UT Houston. Passionate about improving care for patients with pulmonary vascular diseases, he’s involved in leading clinical trials and shaping national and international guidelines. Dr. Sahay also plays an active role in medical education and mentoring. He’s received multiple awards for his work and continues to be driven by a deep commitment to research, teaching, and patient care.

Task Forces 

Our Disease and Specialty Task Forces focus on research into specific areas of PVD. They support us in understanding and implementing our vision and mission. Our Regional Task Forces focus on the key challenges facing patients, clinicians and researchers in their country or region. Several Regional Task Forces were impacted by the Covid pandemic and are currently inactive, but some are in the process of re-forming, such as the South East Asia Task Force and China Task Force. 

Find out more about each IDDI Workstream or Task Force below. PVRI members who are interested in contributing are encouraged to join. 

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Leaders

Steve Abman, University of Colorado
Sylvia Nikkho, Bayer

Core Team

Sylvia Nikkho, Bayer
Maria Jesus Del Cerro, Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal
Shahin Moledina, Great Ormond Street Hospital
Christina Garnett, FDA
Innovative Drug Development Initiative (IDDI) Workstreams

Leaders

Shahin Moledena, Great Ormond Street Hospital
Maria del Cerro, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital
Steve Abman, Children's Hospital Colorado
Disease and Specialty Task Forces

Leaders

Kellie Morland, United Therapeutics Corporation, USA
Greg Elliott, University of Utah / Intermountain Health, USA

Work Group 1

Athénaïs Boucly (Leader), Université Paris-Saclay / Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, France
Scott Visovatti (Leader), The Ohio State University, USA
Charles Fauvel, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Charles Nicolle / Université de Rouen, France
Victor Moles, University of Michigan, USA
Rebecca Vanderpool, The Ohio State University, USA

Work Group 2

Jason Weatherald (Leader), University of Alberta, Canada
Jean Elwing (Leader), University of Cincinnati, USA
Evan Patrick Minty, University of Calgary, Canada
Arun Jose, University of Cincinnati, USA
Jose Leonidas Alves Jr, University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil
Junyan Qian, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, China
Mengtao Li, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, China
Valentina Mercurio, Federico II University, Italy
Jason Zelt, University of Ottawa, Canada

Work Group 3

Sandeep Sahay (Leader), Houston Methodist Hospital, USA
Stephen Mathai (Leader), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA
Paul Williams, Milpark Hospital, South Africa
Sivadasanpillai Harikrishnan, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, India
Zhi-Cheng Jing, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, China
Geoff Strange, The University of Notre Dame, Australia
Tomas Pulido, Ignacio Chávez National Heart Institute, Mexico

Work Group 4

Kari Gillmeyer (Leader), Boston University Chobian & Avedisian School of Medicine / Center for Healthcare Organization & Implementation Research, USA
Christian Gerges (Leader), Medical University of Vienna, Austria
Lukas Hobohm, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany
Roberto Badagliacca, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
Edmund Lau, University of Sydney, Australia
Meghan Cirulis, Intermountain Medical Center / University of Utah, USA
Innovative Drug Development Initiative (IDDI) Workstreams

Leaders

Jessica Badlam, University of Vermont Medical Center
Meghan Cirulis, Intermountain Health Intermountain Medical Center
Disease and Specialty Task Forces