Our Team

CEO and Principal Investigator

Dr. Gonzalo Laje is a distinguished psychiatrist, clinical researcher, and healthcare leader with over 25 years of expertise in psychopharmacology and psychiatric genetics. Board-certified in both General Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr. Laje maintains an active clinical practice across age groups and is widely recognized for his work in the diagnosis and treatment of complex, treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders. 

Dr. Laje spent nearly a decade at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he focused on pharmacogenetics, neuroimaging, clinical trials, genetic disorders (rare disorders), and novel psychiatric interventions. He has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications and several book chapters and is a co-inventor on two patents. His work has been featured in major media outlets, including The New York Times. 

COO and Clinical Rater

Ester Salmán, MPH is Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Centurion Neuroscience Research, where she leads clinical operations, research execution, and quality systems for neuroscience studies. Centurion is a private clinical research clinic built on the measurement-based care model of Washington Behavioral Medicine Associates (WBMA).

With over 25 years of experience in neuroscience and psychiatric clinical research, Ms. Salmán has led Phase I–IV CNS programs across biopharmaceutical, academic, public health, and private research settings. She is widely recognized for her expertise in psychometrics and clinical rating methodology, including rater training, diagnostic accuracy, and endpoint reliability.

Prior to Centurion, she served as Vice President of Clinical Research at Vistagen Therapeutics and held senior leadership roles at NYC Health + Hospitals and the NYS Psychiatric Institute–Columbia University. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and holds a Master of Public Health and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

VP, Geriatric Medicine and Clinical Rater

Dr. Rene P. Laje holds a Ph.D. in Social Work from Fordham University and an M.A. in Gerontology from the University of Northern Colorado. She began her research career at the New York State Psychiatric Institute / Columbia University, where she served as a Clinical Trials Manager in the Smoking Cessation Clinic. In this role, she oversaw clinical research operations, coordinated multi-site studies, and co-authored peer-reviewed publications on smoking cessation and relapse prevention. Dr. Laje held positions as Director of Social Work and Research Associate at the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington under Jiska Cohen-Mansfield, as well as at the New York City Department for the Aging. 

She has written and presented extensively on aging, Alzheimer's, caregiving, and behavioral health, with a research portfolio that spans clinical trials, applied gerontological studies, and translational behavioral research. 

Research Administrator

Walter Mattos, Jr., is the bilingual Site Administrator specializing in mental health administration. He brings over ten years of essential experience in the healthcare industry, with a dedicated focus over the last six years on optimizing and managing psychiatric practices. Walter is passionately committed to enhancing mental health service delivery and ensuring that operational workflows are smooth and highly effective.

A key strength is his fluency in both English and Spanish, which he utilizes to build a culturally inclusive environment and facilitate seamless communication with a diverse patient population. This linguistic ability has proven invaluable, strengthening patient-provider relationships, patient recruitment, and significantly contributing to enhanced patient retention and outcomes. Walter is also a leader in efficiency, having earned a Lean Six-Sigma Black Belt designation. He applies this expertise daily to streamline complex processes, solve unique management challenges, and consistently elevate the quality of patient care delivered across the practice.

Clinical Research Coordinator

Rebecca (Becca) Gaylin is the dedicated Study Coordinator, vital to maintaining seamless, high-quality patient care and ensuring research integrity. A graduate of William & Mary with a strong academic background in Psychology and Religious Studies, Becca plays a critical role in the clinical workflow. She is responsible for closely supporting both new and returning patients as they move through specialized study treatments, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy, Spravato treatment, and neurofeedback sessions. Beyond direct patient guidance, she is essential in the logistical operation of the site, adherence to GCP, data quality, strict adherence to protocol requirements, expertly managing necessary administrative processes, and facilitating comprehensive patient communications. Her contributions ensure a supportive experience for all participants and are crucial in securing the accurate clinical data required for both measurement-based care and successful ongoing research.

Sub-Investigator  and Clinical Rater

Carrie Colson, PMHNP-BC, is a highly skilled and dedicated Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner serving as a Co-Investigator for clinical research. With a degree from Frostburg State University and over two decades of experience in healthcare, she contributes extensive clinical authority in case management and psychiatric medication management across the lifespan of children, teens, and adults. In her Co-Investigator role, Carrie is instrumental in upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct and scientific rigor for all studies. She collaborates closely with the Principal Investigator (PI) on protocol oversight, ensuring strict adherence to complex investigational drug and protocol-required procedures. Carrie utilizes her comprehensive expertise to conduct thorough psychiatric evaluations for study eligibility and diligently monitors the safety and well-being of all participants, directly managing adverse event reporting and ensuring compliance with regulatory bodies. She is driven by a commitment to a patient-centered approach, furthering the site's goal of advancing effective, safe, evidence-based care.

Lead Clinical Research Nurse 

Olesea Beyer is a solution-focused clinical research nurse who contributes over ten years of diverse healthcare experience, particularly in acute and outpatient behavioral health and the neurosciences field. As a Registered Nurse (RN), she holds national certifications in critical care, stroke care, and emergency neurological life support. This specialized background ensures clinical acuity and rapid, sensible assessment capabilities, which are critical for maintaining participant safety and adhering to complex neurological and psychiatric protocols, especially in trials involving psychotropics. Her extensive experience in various behavioral health settings provides a deep understanding of the patient population, supporting accurate screening and diagnostic assessments. Olesea is committed to rigorous study oversight, utilizing her GCP training to ensure precise medication administration, protocol adherence, and high-quality data collection. 

Clinical Research Nurse 

William Gorman is an experienced mental health and critical care professional whose diverse clinical background is highly valuable to a clinical research site. His extensive experience includes working at prominent Maryland Hospitals such as the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, and the LifeBridge Health system. This foundation has provided him with expertise across multiple specialties, including the Neurobehavioral Unit, ICU, Dialysis, and Oncology.

His broad critical care skills are further reinforced by his certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), demonstrating his capability in managing complex medical scenarios that may arise during clinical trials. William is committed to providing excellent care to research participants by successfully ensuring precise medication administration and delivering individualized support and comprehensive patient monitoring essential for study integrity.