Minaris Advanced Testing Leadership

Dr. Heather Malicki serves as Executive Director of Analytical Sciences at Minaris Advanced Therapies, with over 19 years of experience in contract testing and an additional five years in large pharma. She oversees analytical development and quality control programs that support the development of complex biologics and advanced therapy products.

Her career spans roles at DuPont Pharmaceuticals and Merck, before she joined Minaris in 2006, where she has since advanced through leadership positions in analytical sciences and quality.

Dr. Malicki earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Indianapolis and her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Molecular Virology from Thomas Jefferson University.

Kathleen Kenney serves as Director of Viral Clearance at Minaris Advanced Therapies, bringing 15 years of experience in biopharma and 14 years of specialized expertise in viral clearance. She leads a team dedicated to designing and executing viral clearance studies that meet stringent regulatory requirements.

Since joining Minaris, Kathleen has advanced from laboratory technician to study director, supervisor, manager, and now director, building a deep track record of conducting and overseeing dozens of successful studies.

Kathleen earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Pittsburgh.

Christine Garland serves as Director of Testing Quality at Minaris Advanced Therapies, bringing over 30 years of experience in pharmaceutical quality control and quality assurance, including seven years in the contract testing sector. She is responsible for ensuring rigorous quality standards across all testing services.

Before Minaris, Christine held leadership roles spanning quality control and quality assurance in both large pharmaceutical organizations and specialized testing environments.

Christine earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Melissa McDonnell serves as Director of Business Transformation at Minaris Advanced Therapies, bringing 20 years of experience across large pharma, medical devices, and CDMO operations. She leads initiatives that optimize operations, enhance quality, and deliver measurable value to clients.

Before joining Minaris in 2011, Melissa held quality, engineering and operations roles at Johnson & Johnson, Stryker, and Becton Dickinson. She has advanced within Minaris through positions in project and program management, business excellence and operations, most recently leading product management and supply chain planning.

Melissa holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Engineering, is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and is completing her EMBA in 2025.