Dr. David Strong

Principal Investigator

Dr. David Strong, MD/PhD is a Principal Investigator at Headlands Research Detroit. He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University where his thesis project focused on the study of metabolism in central nervous system neurons using targeted molecules to inhibit or stimulate energy storage and production pathways. He graduated from the Medical Scientist Training Program at Washington University in St. Louis after completing his dissertation in the Department of Pathology & Immunology. His thesis investigated the genetic host and pathogen factors responsible for virulence during Norovirus infection.

Dr. Strong is a graduate of the Emergency Medicine Residency Program at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He completed Fellowship training in Emergency Medical Services through the Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center program. After graduation, he joined the Henry Ford Medical Group where he provided care for a diverse patient population and gained experience recognizing and treating a wide range of acute and chronic clinical diseases. Dr. Strong is dedicated to making excellent medical care available to the communities in Southeast Michigan. During the COVID-19 pandemic he served as the Medical Director of the TCF Regional Care Center, providing care for COVID patients during the initial months of the pandemic. He is currently the Deputy Medical Director for the Region 2 South Healthcare Coalition, tasked to work with local healthcare providers and public health partners to ensure the healthcare preparedness of the region. He is excited to join Headlands Research and have an opportunity to bring the innovative and promising treatments associated with clinical trials to the patients most in need.

Dr. Strong is board-certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine in both Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services. He is a designated fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians and the National Association of EMS Physicians. As a Principal Investigator at Headlands, his main areas of research interest include vaccines, immunomodulators, and the metabolic syndrome.

He is a proud native of Southeast Michigan where he and his wife are raising two children.

Dr. Sophie Toya

Principal Investigator

Dr. Toya is a Pulmonologist/Intensivist with extensive experience in basic and translational pulmonary
research along with diverse clinical experience in pulmonary and critical care medicine. Her previous
research interests include pulmonary vascular endothelial pathology in acute lung injury and the role of
endothelial progenitors derived from embryonic stem cells in reversing and preventing such injury.

Dr. Toya has extensive mentorship experience along with a teaching and publishing background. She has
the ability to work across therapeutic areas, experience working with cross-functional clinical teams, and
the ability to apply principles of logical and scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical
problems, data curation, project management and presentation.

She has held academic appointments at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Indiana University and
Central Michigan University. Dr Toya has been a Principal Investigator in clinical trials on COPD, asthma,
Interstitial Lung Disease, and lung cancer among other pathologies. She has also served as a consultant
for Clinical Research Organizations.