Company Announcements

Slope-Founded consortium turned non-profit charts a bold path forward for biospecimen excellence

RICHMOND, Va. , June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Slope, a biospecimen lifecycle software company, and the Biospecimen Management Consortium (BMC), a clinical trial partnership dedicated to advancing best practices and innovation in biospecimen management, today proudly announce the BMC's transition from Slope to a stand-alone, non-profit organization. This pivotal step empowers the BMC to further fulfill its mission of driving sample excellence in clinical research.

With this transition, the BMC also announces the appointment of its inaugural Board of Directors, a distinguished group of experts representing a broad spectrum of stakeholders.

• Karina Bienfait, Executive Director, Consent, Biospecimen & Imaging Management, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS)
• Kira Pavlik, Associate Director, Clinical Trial Operations, Yale Cancer Center
• Cornelia Nippgen, VP, Global Clinical Operations, Replimune
• Michael Tanen, Senior Director, Head of Laboratory Operations, MSD
• Eli Stoddard, Senior Director, Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Eli Lilly and Company
• Michael Cooper, Assistant General Counsel, R&D, Day One Biopharmaceuticals
• Jim Munz, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Slope

The BMC's newly established Steering Committee brings together key representatives from BioNTech, BMS, Halda, Inhibrx, Profound Research, Roche, and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, ensuring a diversity of perspectives and expertise to guide the Consortium's strategic direction. The broader BMC membership will play a pivotal role in advancing the Consortium's initiatives.

"We've reached a defining moment for the BMC. Transitioning to a non-profit unlocks our full potential to unite clinical trial stakeholders and advance biospecimen management," said Amy Ripston, Founder and President, BMC. "We applaud Slope for initially funding the creation and early development of the BMC—championing innovation and laying the groundwork that will allow the BMC to drive lasting, ecosystem-wide change. Moving forward, the newly established Board of Directors will govern and drive the BMC's short- and long-term strategy."

"Transitioning the BMC to a non-profit organization is a critical milestone in our journey to elevate the role of biospecimens as foundational data in clinical research," said Karina Bienfait, Chair of the BMC Board of Directors. "With increasing regulatory scrutiny and the growing importance of biospecimen quality and management, our new structure will enable us to drive greater collaboration, set responsible standards, and deliver meaningful impact for patients and research communities worldwide."

"I am honored to have been selected as the Vice Chair of the BMC," said Kira Pavlik, Associate Director, Clinical Trial Operations, Yale Cancer Center. "Bringing the site voice to the forefront of biospecimen innovation, and partnering with sponsors to drive sample excellence, is critical to ensuring the successful execution of clinical trials."

"Slope invested in and founded the BMC to create a consortium of pharmaceutical and clinical research site leaders committed to driving innovation and change in biospecimen management across the clinical trial ecosystem. Our plan was always to transition the BMC from Slope to an independent, stand-alone non-profit organization. That day is here, and we are honored to have played the role of the founding organization and look forward to helping support industry-academic collaboration, and driving toward responsible standards and best practices in biospecimen management with the BMC in the future," said Rust Felix, CEO, Slope.

Looking ahead, the BMC is poised to expand its reach, foster greater collaboration among stakeholders, and set new benchmarks for excellence in biospecimen management. Continuous updates can be found on the BMC website at biospecimen-consortium.org.

About the Biospecimen Management Consortium (BMC):
The Biospecimen Management Consortium (BMC) is non-for-profit organization dedicated to driving sample excellence in clinical research. Founded in June 2024, the BMC purpose is to raise awareness of the importance and opportunities of biospecimen management, develop responsible standards and best practices, and advocate for change within the clinical trial ecosystem through efficiencies, policy, and thought leadership. To learn more about the BMC, please visit biospecimen-consortium.org.

About Slope
Slope is a global provider of biospecimen lifecycle management software for clinical trials. With a focus on tech-enabling the full biospecimen lifecycle, Slope empowers sponsors to make informed decisions using high-quality, real-time sample data. For more information, visit slopeclinical.com.

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SOURCE Biospecimen Management Consortium; Slope