Jessica Sheldon, MPH, serves as a Feasibility Strategy Associate Director at Parexel International LLC, where she focuses on feasibility for rare and genetic disease clinical development. Driven by a deep commitment to improving outcomes for individuals living with rare and genetic conditions—as well as their families and care networks—Jessica has built extensive expertise in designing and implementing innovative clinical trial feasibility strategies. She brings together strong scientific grounding and strategic insight to navigate the unique challenges of orphan drug development. Jessica’s work is rooted in patient‑centricity, health equity, and the advancement of precision medicine. She partners with cross‑functional teams to optimize enrollment and support patients participating in clinical trials, helping expand access to potential breakthrough therapies. Her analytical rigor and attention to detail ensure that feasibility planning is thorough, data-driven, and aligned with the needs of both patients and sponsors—ultimately accelerating progress in rare disease research. At the World Orphan Drug Congress USA 2026, Jessica will share her perspectives on overcoming feasibility, site selection, and recruitment challenges in orphan drug studies. She will highlight how robust, customized, feasibility assessments are essential to the success of rare disease trials. With a proven track record and a clear commitment to advancing clinical research in this space, Jessica is recognized as a trusted leader dedicated to making a meaningful difference for rare disease communities worldwide.
Clinical trial feasibility in rare diseases has been traditionally challenging due to extremely small, geographically dispersed patient populations, limited natural history data, and high diagnostic delays. These factors, combined with a scarcity of specialized investigators and complex, often invasive protocols, make recruitment and retention difficult, frequently resulting in long timelines and high, unsustainable costs.
Today’s presentation will spotlight solutions that are vastly improving clinical trial design, enrollment and the overall research experience for better rare outcomes.
Sposnored by Parexel