Nasrin Salehi

Senior Principal Scientist at Pfizer Inc.

Speaker

Dr. Nasrin Salehi is a Senior Principal Scientist and team leader in Analytical R&D within the Microbiology Strategy and Testing team at Pfizer. Her responsibilities include managing microbiological testing, ensuring regulatory compliance, and overseeing contamination control processes ranging from cell banking through to the final clinical drug product. As a recognized Subject Matter Expert in molecular biology, Dr. Salehi leads the molecular laboratory in her division. She has driven initiatives that have streamlined microbiological release testing, strengthened contamination control measures, and improved regulatory compliance. Her dedication to advancing innovative technologies and agile biomanufacturing strategies is evident in her work.

Dr. Salehi plays a vital role in Pfizer’s global Rapid Microbiology Methods team and actively participates in industry alliances such as PDA, PhRMA, CAACB, and NIIMBL, among others. Through these collaborations, she contributes to regulatory updates, best practices, and the promotion of novel approaches in pharmaceutical microbiology. Currently, Dr. Salehi leads projects focused on the implementation of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) for adventitious virus detection and rapid Mycoplasma release testing.

Dr. Salehi holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Michigan Technological University, with a focus on Gene and Cell Therapy. She also earned a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Tehran and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine (DVM). Her academic achievements have equipped her with extensive expertise in research, education, and technical innovation. She is an active member of several professional societies and regularly contributes to scientific publications and international conferences.