Kayla Parks Slupek, MS, joined the Acumen team in May 2026 as Director, Clinical Trial Management. She has an extensive background in clinical operations, with expertise in global clinical trial planning and execution, study start up and enrollment strategies, vendor oversight, risk-based trial management, inspection readiness, and cross functional leadership across all phases of clinical development. Throughout her career, she has progressed through roles of increasing responsibility, advancing from Clinical Trial Assistant (CTA) to Clinical Research Associate (CRA), Clinical Trial Manager (CTM), to Director, and Senior Director of Clinical Operations.

Kayla holds a Master of Science in Medical Physiology from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Prior to joining Acumen in 2026, Kayla worked exclusively within small biotechnology organizations focused on the development of novel therapies across a range of therapeutic areas. Her experience includes leading and supporting clinical trials in rare disease and neurology, with a particular emphasis on epilepsy and stroke, as well as oncology, dermatology, and gastroenterology. She has partnered with cross functional teams to advance clinical development programs from early phase research through pivotal trials, including contributing to a pivotal Phase 3 study that led to regulatory approval and provided patients with access to a new therapeutic option.