Leadership & Principal Investigators
Detailed profiles, board certifications, specialties, and downloadable CVs for each CMR physician and executive — the people sponsors and CROs work with directly.
Nusrat Deen
President & Chief Executive Officer
Executive Leadership
With decades of executive leadership in clinical research management, Nusrat Deen guides CMR's organizational growth, sponsor partnerships, and multi-site operational strategy. Her oversight spans the full study lifecycle — from feasibility and site selection through activation, enrollment, and close-out — across both Hazel Crest and Orland Park facilities.
Leadership & Research Operations
- •Site Operations & Organizational Management
- •Sponsor Relationships & Study Acquisition
- •Recruitment Oversight & Patient Engagement Strategy
- •Regulatory Coordination & Document Preparation
- •Budget & Contract Coordination Across Both Sites
Suhail H. Khadra, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Medical Director, CMR – Hazel Crest · Principal Investigator
Cardiology & Interventional Cardiology
Dr. Khadra previously served as Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Acting Chairman of Cardiology at Cook County Health. A Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, he has served as Principal Investigator on 33+ Phase II–IV trials spanning heart failure, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, CKD, and obesity-related cardiac conditions.
Clinical Specialties
- •Interventional Cardiology
- •Heart Failure (HFrEF & HFpEF)
- •Coronary Artery Disease & ACS
- •Cardiac Catheterization
- •Cardiovascular Clinical Research
Therapeutic Experience
- •Cardiovascular Medicine
- •Nephrology
- •Endocrinology & Metabolism
Tahir A. Abbasi, MD
Medical Director, CMR – Orland Park · Principal Investigator
Internal Medicine, Cardiology & Clinical Research
Dr. Abbasi previously served as Director of Non-Invasive Cardiology at Oak Forest Hospital and holds attending cardiologist privileges at multiple Chicago-area hospitals, including Ingalls Memorial/University of Chicago. He has served as Principal Investigator on 17+ Phase II–IV trials spanning heart failure, hypertension, CKD, and diabetes.
Clinical Specialties
- •Internal Medicine
- •Non-Invasive Cardiology
- •Echocardiography & Stress Testing
- •Cardiac Catheterization
- •Clinical Research
Therapeutic Experience
- •Cardiovascular Medicine
- •Nephrology
- •Endocrinology & Metabolism
- •Pain Management
- •Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal Disorders
Wahid Kassar, MD, FACE
Principal Investigator, CMR – Orland Park
Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolic Research
Dr. Kassar serves as Medical Director of the Diabetes Center at Silver Cross Hospital. A Fellow of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology and past President of its Illinois Chapter, he brings documented experience as Principal Investigator on Phase II–IV diabetes, obesity, and cardiometabolic trials, with international CME faculty speaking engagements across diabetes and obesity management.
Clinical Specialties
- •Endocrinology & Metabolism
- •Diabetes & Obesity Management
- •Thyroid & Hormone Disorders
- •Metabolic Syndrome
- •Clinical Research
Therapeutic Experience
- •Endocrinology & Metabolism
- •Nephrology
- •Cardiovascular Medicine
Eden D. Brandon, MD
Principal Investigator, CMR – Hazel Crest
Internal Medicine & Clinical Research
A graduate of Northwestern University School of Medicine, Dr. Brandon also serves as an internist at Ingalls Memorial Hospital. She has served as Principal Investigator on Phase II–IV trials spanning heart failure, hypertension, CKD, diabetes, and obesity-related cardiac conditions.
Clinical Specialties
- •Internal Medicine
- •Cardiovascular Risk Management
- •Clinical Trials
- •Preventive Medicine
Therapeutic Experience
- •Cardiovascular Medicine
- •Nephrology
- •Endocrinology & Metabolism
- •Pain Management
- •Orthopedics & Musculoskeletal Disorders
Lauren Baffo, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Sub-Investigator, CMR – Hazel Crest
Sub-Investigator — Clinical Trial Support
A board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, Lauren Baffo supports Principal Investigators with participant evaluation, protocol-required assessments, ECGs, physical examinations, medication reconciliation, and study procedure support. She brings cardiology-focused clinical experience from Chandra Diagnostic Cardiology and high-acuity perioperative nursing from Loyola University Medical Center.
Clinical Specialties
- •Advanced Practice Nursing (Family NP)
- •Cardiology Clinical Assessment
- •Participant Safety Evaluation
- •ECG & Diagnostic Procedures