Dr. Caren Heller is Chief Scientific Officer at the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, where she is responsible for all mission-related activities, including a diverse research portfolio, education, support, and advocacy programs. She is responsible for investing > $25 million annually in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research and infrastructure, including IBD Plexus, an innovative disease-specific big data platform; IBD QorusTM, a quality of healthcare improvement network; IBD Ventures, an entrepreneurial investing program; industry-academic drug discovery initiatives; and investigator-initiated research projects. Dr. Heller has prior work experience in academic research, as a consultant and an employee at large biopharmaceutical and start-up companies related to pharmaceutical drug development, medical/commercial evaluation of new therapies and technologies, and strategic planning for new program and product opportunities. She received her M.D. from Columbia University and an M.B.A. from The University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business. She is board certified in internal medicine and trained in rheumatology and clinical pharmacology. She was selected for inclusion in Crain's inaugural Notable Women in Health Care in NYC, 2018.