The Power List Personified: Getting to Know Beatrice Lavery

We wanted to get to know a bit more about the inspirational and influential people featured in our 2025 Power List. First up, meet Beatrice Lavery, Vice President and Regulatory Strategy Senior Leader at Genentech.

“I am continually struck by the low proportion of patients who are aware of clinical research and the potential participation opportunities.”

We find out how she developed an interest in regulatory science, why she’s passionate about patients and clinical research, and the key to tackling vaccine misinformation amongst the public.

What inspired you to work in drug development?
 

I grew up in a small farming community in Alberta, Canada, but I fell in love with science at an early age. I naïvely thought that if you followed a scientific education, your options were to become either a doctor or a scientist. I chose the latter and, after grad school, found myself in the research department at Genentech doing discovery research. I met many passionate scientists and discovered the world of drug development through gracious individuals who shared information and mentored me.

However, when I transitioned into clinical development via regulatory affairs, I found my home. As a regulatory scientist, I enjoy applying the scientific method at scale, translating our hypotheses and ideas in conversations with regulators and other stakeholders, and being closer to the potential patient impact through innovative medicines.

On a personal level, several family members and friends have suffered from serious diseases, and I believe that our personal experiences underscore the urgency for innovation and transformation in clinical care for patients.

Tell us about the most important or interesting project you’ve worked on to date…
 

I am continually struck by the low proportion of patients who are aware of clinical research and the potential participation opportunities. I've been actively working and collaborating with stakeholders across the globe to better understand the challenges and barriers that contribute to this gap, and champion the evolution of clinical development to address these issues.

Specifically, I've engaged in cross-stakeholder discussions, working groups, and published articles in peer-reviewed journals. The focus of this work is to leverage a clinical data-informed and pragmatic approach to designing and executing clinical trials that increase the likelihood of including more patients from the broader community. As a clinical developer, I think it’s important to address this question across the entire development continuum, from expanding inclusion/exclusion criteria in clinical studies in a thoughtful and safe manner, to ensuring that we are partnering with community stakeholders to increase literacy and participation in clinical research.

Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that we generate evidence that can meaningfully inform healthcare decisions for all patients and physicians.

What’s the most exciting trend or modality in the biopharma industry right now?
 

I am really excited about the convergence of science and technology. There is great potential and value in the use of AI in research discovery, clinical research, and healthcare delivery. We are already seeing the promise of greater efficiency in clinical development, particularly in expediting the development of regulatory documentation, and in processing big data to inform clinical study design and execution.

My colleagues at Genentech are also bringing generative AI to drug discovery and development with their “Lab in a Loop” approach, where researchers use lab and clinic data to train AI models that predict drug targets and therapeutic molecules, with predictions tested and refined in the lab to improve accuracy and streamline the development of novel therapies. This convergence of scientific modalities with technology transformation may produce insights to dramatically change healthcare approaches. All stakeholders need to collaborate in a pragmatic and risk-proportionate manner to realize this value and better serve patients.

What can be done to improve the reputation of key therapeutics, such as vaccines, amongst the general public?
 

We need to ensure that science is translated to the general public through education, transparency, and community engagement to foster trust. It is essential that we combat misinformation and myths, leverage trusted messengers in the dialogue, and simplify the information about the safety, benefits, and importance of key therapeutics, especially vaccines. In my personal life, I have experienced this as the sole family member with a biological science and clinical development background, triaging and guiding many family members through their healthcare journeys.

How can we attract more talented scientists to the field?
 

I believe that an essential starting point is to nurture a curiosity and interest in science at an early age through the education systems. I’m a big fan of STEM programs. From there, we need to ensure an ecosystem of growth opportunities, funding, mentorship, and recognition. A key motivator for me in science is the lifelong potential for learning, and the value I receive from collaborating with peers and stakeholders across disciplines and around the globe.