Vani Nilakantan, PhD
About Vani Nilakantan, PhD
Vani Nilakantan, PhD, serves as the System Vice President of Research at CommonSpirit Health, where he has implemented strategic initiatives to enhance research operations and employee engagement. With a robust academic background and extensive experience in various research roles, he has authored over 500 publications and managed numerous clinical studies throughout his career.
Work at CommonSpirit Health
Vani Nilakantan currently serves as the System Vice President of Research at CommonSpirit Health, a position held since 2021. In this role, she has implemented strategic initiatives that have significantly improved the research landscape within the organization. Notably, she has decreased external legal spending by 90% and increased the federally negotiated indirect rate by 7%. Additionally, she has set a five-year strategic direction for system-wide research and innovation programs, focusing on organizational alignment and operational excellence. Under her leadership, the research portfolio grew by 15%, and the timeline to contract was reduced by 20%.
Previous Experience at Aurora Health Care
Prior to her current role, Vani Nilakantan worked at Aurora Health Care from 2010 to 2016. She held multiple positions, including Research Director and Director of Investigator Initiated Research. During her tenure, she managed research initiatives that contributed to the organization's growth and development in clinical research. Her experience at Aurora Health Care laid a strong foundation for her subsequent leadership roles in research.
Education and Expertise
Vani Nilakantan has an extensive educational background in the sciences. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Toxicology from the University of Kentucky, where she studied from 1992 to 1997. Prior to that, she obtained a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering Sciences from the University of Florida (1988-1991) and a Master of Science in Marine Biological Sciences from Annamalai University (1986-1988). She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology (Honors) from Delhi University (1983-1986). This diverse educational background supports her expertise in research and innovation.
Research Contributions and Publications
Vani Nilakantan has made significant contributions to the field of research, authoring over 500 publications as part of research outcomes for her system over a two-year period. Her extensive research experience includes roles at various institutions, such as the Medical College of Wisconsin, where she served as an Assistant Professor and Senior Research Associate. She has led the management of over 650 studies involving 250 investigators and 10,000 patients enrolled in clinical trials, demonstrating her commitment to advancing clinical research.
Leadership and Strategic Planning
Throughout her career, Vani Nilakantan has demonstrated strong leadership and strategic planning skills. At CommonSpirit Health, she improved employee engagement scores by more than 30% over a two-year period through effective leadership and stakeholder engagement. Additionally, she reduced the financial gap by 10% through strategic planning and restructuring efforts. Her ability to align organizational goals with research initiatives has been a key factor in her success in various leadership roles.