The People Behind Every Study
Investigators, research coordinators and certified raters supporting studies and participants at our Stockbridge site.
Study expertise
Investigators with experience across CNS and Psychiatric, Sleep Disorders and select therapeutic areas.
Skilled coordination
Research coordinators and certified raters help keep visits and assessments on track.
Personal support
Participants and study partners have a team to turn to with questions.
Meet our investigators and research team.
Michael A. Burke, MD, DLFAPA
Board-certified psychiatrist and Principal Investigator with over 30 years of clinical research experience, conducting Phase II–III industry-sponsored trials continuously since 1988. At CRIGA he leads CNS and Psychiatric studies, overseeing start-up, regulatory compliance, recruitment and data quality.
His work spans Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s Disease, ADHD, PTSD and Substance Use Disorders — randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials as well as open-label and long-term safety studies across Phase I–IV.
He has held academic appointments at Emory University and the University of Miami, and leadership roles within the Veterans Health Administration and behavioral health programs. He is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.
Phillip W. Nowlin, MD
Board-eligible family medicine physician and clinical research investigator with extensive involvement in Phase I–IV trials. As Principal Investigator he brings expertise in protocol execution, regulatory compliance and efficient site operations.
His research covers central nervous system disorders, Sleep Disorders, metabolic conditions and gastrointestinal disease — including studies in Depression, Narcolepsy, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Idiopathic Hypersomnia, Diabetes and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
He is well versed in Good Clinical Practice, study start-up and standardized clinical rating scales, and brings a patient-centered approach from a long background in clinical practice.
John Hai Nhu Vu, MD
Dr. John Vu is a board-certified physician and experienced clinical research investigator with extensive involvement in Phase I–IV clinical trials. He serves as a Principal Investigator and Sub-Investigator across a wide range of studies, with strong expertise in Sleep Disorders, central nervous system conditions, and metabolic diseases.
Dr. Vu has participated in numerous industry-sponsored trials, including studies in Narcolepsy, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Idiopathic Hypersomnia, Pediatric Insomnia, Migraine, Alzheimer’s Disease, ADHD, and gastrointestinal disorders. His experience includes both early- and late-phase research, contributing to the evaluation of novel therapeutics and complex study designs.
In addition to his research work, Dr. Vu maintains an active clinical practice and brings a strong foundation in patient care, regulatory compliance, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP). He is highly experienced in the use of standardized clinical rating scales and is committed to ensuring high-quality data and patient safety in every study.
Dr. Vu completed his medical training in family medicine and holds board certification in Family Medicine. He is a graduate of Mercer University School of Medicine and completed his Family Medicine residency at MUSM. He started his alternative medicine path in 2000 to broaden his treatment options for his patients.
Shawn Saunders, PhD, ARNP
Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner with decades of leadership across Phase I–IV trials, serving as both Principal Investigator and Sub-Investigator. Her background covers academic and private research settings alike.
She has led trials across central nervous system disorders, psychiatry, Sleep Disorders, cardiovascular disease, endocrinology and gastrointestinal conditions — Alzheimer’s Disease, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, PTSD, Narcolepsy, Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Diabetes among them.
She is a highly skilled neuropsychological rater, proficient in ADAS-Cog, MADRS, HAM-D, PANSS, C-SSRS, SCID and MMSE, and works to ICH-GCP (E6 R3). She holds a PhD in Counseling & Psychological Studies and an MS as a Psychiatric and Primary Care Nurse Practitioner.
Ralph Harris, PhD
Research Investigator with over 20 years of experience in behavioral health, addiction medicine and clinical research, supporting Phase I–IV trials across multiple therapeutic areas.
His work covers CNS and Psychiatric research, including Substance Use Disorders, Depression and other psychiatric conditions, with a strong focus on patient safety, protocol adherence and data integrity. He is highly experienced with CGI, HAM-D, CDRS-R, C-SSRS, KSAD-PL and DSM-based assessments.
He holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology with certifications in addiction and co-occurring disorders (LCADC, NCAC II, CAADC, SAP). He has served as a Scientific Review Officer for NIH peer review and for SAMHSA’s Division of Grant Review, and is a member of the Injury Prevention Research Center at Emory.
Wendy M. Harris, FNP-C
Certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of clinical experience and more than a decade in clinical research. She practices in pediatrics at Coker Pediatrics in Griffin, Georgia, and serves as Sub-Investigator on Phase I–IV trials.
She has supported studies across CNS and Psychiatric, Sleep Disorders, metabolic conditions and pediatric indications, with a focus on protocol adherence, patient safety and data integrity, and is proficient with CGI, HAM-D, C-SSRS and DSM-based assessments.
She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Georgia State University and belongs to the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society.
Meet our Executive Leadership Team
For Volunteers
You’ll know your coordinator by name
Call: 678-782-5358
Location: Stockbridge, Georgia (Metro Atlanta)
For Sponsors & CROs
CVs, licenses and GCP training on request
Email: [email protected]
Location: Stockbridge, Georgia (Metro Atlanta)
