Pharmaceuticals
10 vivarium operations experts
These ten professionals have run vivarium operations inside drug and biotech research organizations, with titles such as vivarium operations manager and head of vivarium operations. A reader can learn how in-house teams manage animal facilities that support research.
Professionals to explore
01—10Boris Jerchow
LinkedInExperience: Head Vivarium Operations · Novartis
Head Vivarium Operations at Novartis since 2019, which the profile places at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR). Former Head Research Animal Facilities (2017–2019) and Animal Welfare Officer (2017–2019) at University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), and Deputy Director Animal Services at Max Delbrück Center (2005–2017).
Dominic Montani
LinkedInExperience: Associate Director, Regional Vivarium Operations and Strategy · Eli Lilly and Company
Associate Director, Regional Vivarium Operations and Strategy at Eli Lilly and Company since 2025. Former Associate Director (2022–2025), Manager (2016–2022) and Team Leader (2011–2014) at Eli Lilly and Company. The profile lists skills in Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and strategic planning.
Jim Akins
LinkedInExperience: Director Vivarium Operations · Sutro Biopharma, Inc.
Director Vivarium Operations at Sutro Biopharma, Inc. since 2022, a role the profile lists in operations at director level. Former Sr. Manager, Vivarium (2017–2022) and Vivarium Manager (2014–2017) at Sutro Biopharma, and Facility Manager Senior Caregiver at The Gorilla Foundation (2012–2014).
Jose Lorabello
LinkedInExperience: Manager of Vivarium Operations · Moderna
Manager of Vivarium Operations at Moderna since 2024. Former Manager of Animal Resources at Innovive (2024) and Supervisor - Comparative Medicine at Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard (2022–2024). The profile describes experience in in vivo pharmacology and comparative medicine, including staff training and overseeing vivarium operations.
Katja Tonsky
LinkedInExperience: Vivarium Operations Manager · Pfizer
Former Vivarium Operations Manager at Pfizer (2006–2015), Vivarium Manager Senior Scientist at Alere Inc. (2015–2017) and Vivarium Supervisor at Johnson & Johnson (2003–2006). At Alere the profile says this person was responsible for all operational aspects of the vivarium, including facility use, supervising animal care and technical staff, animal husbandry and SOPs.
Laurette Burgess
LinkedInExperience: Director, Vivarium Services · Eisai US
Director, Vivarium Services at Eisai US since 2026, with Associate Director, Vivarium Services at Eisai US also listed from 2006 with no end date. Former Manager, Group Leader, Department of Comparative Medicine at Eyetech Pharmaceuticals (2004–2006). The profile describes a laboratory animal science and vivarium operations professional focused on building teams.
Philip J. Overton II
LinkedInExperience: GAB Head of Vivarium Management · AstraZeneca
GAB Head of Vivarium Management at AstraZeneca since 2024. Former Vivarium Project Manager at The National Institutes of Health (2022–2024) and Project Manager at SciTech Services, Inc. (2019–2022). The profile describes this person as a certified Registered Laboratory Animal Technologist (RLATG) with more than 18 years in laboratory animal research.
Rebecca Varrall
LinkedInExperience: Global Head of In Vivo Sciences, Vivarium Operations & Scientific Collaborations · Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
Global Head of In Vivo Sciences, Vivarium Operations & Scientific Collaborations at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine since 2024. Former North America Regional Lead- In Vivo Sciences (2022–2024) and Global Director Of Operations and Vivarium Management Lead (2020–2022) there, and Associate Director Of Operations at Pfizer (2016–2020).
Rob Clifford
LinkedInExperience: Global Director Vivarium Operations and Management · Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
Global Director Vivarium Operations and Management at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine since 2023. Former Associate Director Study Logistics at Charles River Laboratories (2017–2023), and Assistant Director of Husbandry Operations (2016–2017), Operations Manager (2016) and Senior Manager (2007–2016) at University of Pennsylvania.
Syed Zaidi
LinkedInExperience: Vivarium Operations Manager - Senior Scientist · Merck
Vivarium Operations Manager - Senior Scientist at Merck since 2022, where the profile says this person compiles managerial reports, trains departmental and research staff and works with members of the Research and Development Division. Former Manager at Brigham and Women's Hospital (2021–2022).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's scope to yours, since running a single vivarium at a growing biotech differs from managing vivarium operations across several sites for a large drug maker. Also decide whether your question is about building and staffing a facility, day-to-day animal care or compliance, and pick someone whose roles centered on that work.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you plan vivarium capacity as the number of in vivo studies changes?
- 02When does it make sense to run an in-house vivarium rather than use outside animal facilities?
- 03How do you prepare a vivarium for animal welfare inspections and accreditation reviews?
Reaching vivarium operations experts
How can I contact one of these vivarium operations experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 9 companies, including Novartis; Eli Lilly and Company and Sutro Biopharma, Inc., based on profile data retrieved on October 4, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach vivarium operations experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
Request a correction or removal