Donna A. Messner, PhD is a Research Director at CMTP. A specialist in qualitative social research design and implementation, her current project responsibilities include expert stakeholder engagement on methods for comparative effectiveness research and for evaluation of molecular diagnostic biomarkers in oncology. Prior to joining CMTP, Dr. Messner was a postdoctoral fellow in the Penn Center for the Integration of Genetic Health Care Technologies at the University of Pennsylvania, where she conducted research on the social impact and regulation of direct-to-consumer genetic testing. She also investigated the social dynamics of a case of stakeholder collaboration in decision-making on a genetic test patent. Dr. Messner holds a PhD in Science and Technology Studies from the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, with doctoral work on changing standards for evidence in the development and application of FDA’s accelerated approval procedures for drugs. She was also a visiting doctoral student in the School of Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, where she studied regulatory theory. Dr. Messner additionally holds an MSc (with distinction) from the University of Edinburgh, an MA from George Mason University, and an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Virginia Tech. Prior to pursuing doctoral work in the social sciences, Messner had an 18-year career as an analytical chemist, laboratory manager, and project scientist.
