Erica Sluys
Medical communications specialist based in Switzerland with over 10 years of experience from basic laboratory and clinical research to medical strategy, marketing and education
Therapeutic Areas
Oncology
Rare Diseases
Newborn Screening
Immunology
Women’s Health
Neurology
Diagnostics
Skills
Medical Strategy, Messaging and Positioning
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Educational material for patients
Congresses, symposia, advisory boards
Illustrator, inDesign and Photoshop
Social Media Marketing
Languages
English mother tongue
French bilingual proficiency (C1)
Publications
Genome-wide association mapping of ethanol sensitivity in the Diversity Outbred mouse population.
Parker CC, Philip MV, Gatti DM, Kasparek S, Kreuzman AM, Kuffler L, Mansky B, Masneuf S, Sharif K, Sluys E, Taterra D, Taylor WM, Thomas M, Polesskaya O, Palmer AA, Holmes A, Chesler EJ. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2022 Apr 5. doi: 10.1111/acer.14825. PMID: 35383961
A New Approach to Objectively Evaluate Inherited Metabolic Diseases for Inclusion on Newborn Screening Programmes
Burlina A, Jones SA, Chakrapani A, Church HJ, Heales S, Wu THY, Morton G, Roberts P, Sluys EF, Cheillan D. Int J Neonatal Screen. 2022 Mar 25;8(2):25. doi: 10.3390/ijns8020025. PMID: 35466196
Application of a Novel Algorithm for Expanding Newborn Screening for Inherited Metabolic Disorders across Europe
Jones SA, Cheillan D, Chakrapani A, Church HJ, Heales S, Wu THY, Morton G, Roberts P, Sluys EF, Burlina A. Int J Neonatal Screen. 2022 Mar 15;8(1):20. doi: 10.3390/ijns8010020. PMID: 35323199
Identification of a novel gene regulating amygdala-mediated fear extinction
Gunduz-Cinar O, Brockway E, Lederle L, Wilcox T, Halladay LR, Ding Y, Oh H, Busch EF, Kaugars K, Flynn S, Limoges A, Bukalo O, MacPherson KP, Masneuf S, Pinard C, Sibille E, Chesler E, Holmes A. Mol Psychiatry. 2018 Jan 8;24(4):601-12. doi: 10.1038/s41380-017- 0003-3. PMID: 29311651
Prefrontal inputs to the amygdala instruct fear extinction memory formation
Bukalo O, Pinard CR, Silverstein S, Brehm C, Hartley NH, Whittle N, Colacicco G, Busch E, Patel S, Singewald N, Holmes A. Sci Adv. 2015 Jul; 1(6): e1500251. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1500251. PMID: 26504902
Tolerance to ethanol intoxication after chronic ethanol: role of GluN2A and PSD-95
Daut RA, Busch EF, Ihne J, Fisher D, Mishina M, Grant SGN, Camp M, Holmes A. Addict Biol. 2015 Mar 20(2): 259-62. doi: 10.1111/adb.12110. PMID: 24397780
Patient Websites
Employment
2019-2021
Helvet Health
Nyon, Switzerland
A small, owner run healthcare marketing and communications agency working for small to mid-sized international pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies
Associate Medical Director
▪ Responsible for managing and ensuring the accuracy of all medical content and knowledge of all product lines, features and benefits, marketing objectives and the competitive environment
▪ Involved in the strategy and execution of product launches and rebranding, disease awareness campaigns and product websites
▪ Peer-reviewed publications: planning, development and submission working with key opinion leaders and client
2016-2018
Covance Central Laboratories
Meyrin, Switzerland
A drug development service company that, through unique perspective and precision delivery, has helped bring one-third of prescription drugs on the market today from potential to reality
Study Design Lead
▪ Worked with pharmaceutical companies to accurately interpret clinical protocol requirements
▪ Leveraged technical, therapeutic area and pharmaceutical industry knowledge
▪ Highlighted risks and budget impacts associated with study design to Covance internal stakeholders
▪ Liaised with internal departments to understand Covance capabilities and assesses feasibility of requests in order to meet client needs related to study design
2014- 2016
TVF Communications
London, UK
A London and Boston-based healthcare communications agency built on the core values, trust, vision, and focus
Medical Writer
▪ Wrote and developed strategic and educational material for pharmaceutical companies (Bayer, Shire), key opinion leaders, health care providers and patients
▪ Provided strategic medical input for pitches and business development
▪ Led compliance and writing training for junior writers
▪ Projects: symposiums, advisory boards, sales representative training, digital and infographic tools, publications, global disease awareness and communication campaigns
2012- 2013
National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Rockville, MD
Worked in the Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience under Dr. Andrew Holmes
Research Assistant
▪ Scheduled, executed and analyzed behavioral experiments with mice on fear conditioning, learning and memory, alcohol sensitivity and addiction
▪ Utilized immunohistochemical techniques for visualization of the limbic system neural circuitry
Education
2014
Kings College London, Institute of Psychiatry
London, UK
MSc in Clinical Neuroscience
Dissertation: The effects of a single dose of oxytocin on trust in patients with schizophrenia. Project included the clinical assessments of 16 participants, multi-level linear regression analysis, comprehensive literature review, and interpretation of behavioral results.
2012
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
BA in Biological Science
Minor in Bioethics