Azurii Collier, PhD

Dr. Azurii Collier has nearly 20 years of research and consulting experience exclusively in the life sciences industry including, early-stage technology commercialization, R&D, and patient engagement. Currently, she is Director of Enterprise Innovation at AbbVie and leads enterprise-wide programs to accelerate regulatory timelines and drive more inclusive clinical trial designs. She earned her Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from Northwestern University and a B.S. in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology from Emory University. Her postdoctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine focused on neuropsychiatry and the mechanisms of memory deficits in patients with schizophrenia. She also completed management education from top business schools, including the Kellogg School of Management, The Wharton School, and University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for two established nonprofit organizations; President & Board Chair of Women in Bio (WIB), a global 4,000-member affiliate of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, and the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition (ISTC), a statewide coalition strengthening the state’s innovation economy. She is passionate about building biotechnology ecosystems, inspiring a more inclusive workforce, and healing the mind.