The Population Council is proud to announce the appointments of Dr. Bríd Devlin and Dr. Lisa Haddad as Executive Directors of the Center for Biomedical Research (CBR). Bríd and Lisa will also continue their roles as CBR’s Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Medical Officer, respectively. They had held Interim Co-Executive Director roles since August 2025.
As Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Bríd oversees the development of contraceptive and HIV/STI prevention products, along with CBR’s manufacturing, supply chain operations, and corporate engagement. Prior to joining the Council in 2022, Bríd was Executive Vice President at the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM), leading IPM’s product development operations. She has held leadership roles in several pharmaceutical companies, including Sanofi-Aventis, Johnson & Johnson, and Biosyn, where she directed research and formulation development of therapeutic compounds for global markets.
“CBR has a unique role in research and development as one of very few non-profits that takes an end-to-end approach in product development. From understanding what people want and need in their sexual and reproductive health products to formulating and developing products in our labs to securing regulatory approvals and streamlining supply chain processes, we are involved every step of the way. Alongside Lisa, I am excited to lead CBR as we investigate new approaches and drive innovation to improve people’s health,” said Bríd Devlin.
As Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer, Lisa leads CBR’s pre-clinical, social-behavioral, and clinical research and development efforts, advancing CBR’s portfolio of sexual and reproductive health products. Lisa joined the Council in 2019 from the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Family Planning at Emory University School of Medicine, where she led clinical and translational research focused on sexual and reproductive health among high-risk populations.
In addition to these responsibilities, Bríd and Lisa will jointly lead CBR’s strategy, fundraising, finances, and overall management.
“In this pivotal time in our field, it is critical that people have access and choice in their sexual and reproductive health products. At CBR, our research is focused on supporting women’s and men’s reproductive choices at all stages of their lives, including advancing novel male contraceptives, developing multipurpose products that prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, and opening new lines of research on preterm birth, infertility, and menopause. With Bríd’s partnership, I look forward to advancing these priorities and working with our incredible team of experienced researchers,” said Lisa Haddad.
“These appointments reflect the strength and vision of Bríd and Lisa’s leadership during their time at the Council and recently during their tenure as Interim Co-Executive Directors. We have the utmost confidence in their ability to guide CBR’s research in developing sexual and reproductive health products that support people’s choices and meet their needs at different points of their lives. We look forward to their continued success as leaders in the field and as partners in advancing the Council’s mission,” said Jim Sailer and Pat Vaughan, Co-Presidents.