Leerink Partners Embarks on Data Modernization Strategy to Drive Innovation and Growth 

Challenges

Following its separation from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) Financial Group, Leerink's business and IT leaders began re-envisioning their technology strategy with a forward-looking perspective, focusing on several key areas, including the modernization of data infrastructure. This included enhancing their data capabilities to leverage the full potential of SaaS solutions and cloud technologies in support of their growth objectives. While the firm had historically addressed its diverse business needs through a custom in-house solution, it recognized the need to innovate rapidly in order to stay ahead of industry trends, remain competitive, and take advantage of emerging advanced technology capabilities. 

With a key focus on enhancing data engineering capabilities, Jeff Gerson, Leerink’s Chief Information Officer, devised a multi-faceted approach to adopt SaaS solutions and modernize its data analytics platform, aimed at meeting the complex data analysis and reporting needs of management and business lines, while also exploring the potential of new AI capabilities. The challenge lay in executing these initiatives simultaneously and cost-effectively, without disrupting ongoing business operations. The adoption of new SaaS solutions also required near real-time data transformation, validation, and synchronization with legacy systems to support critical business processes. Balancing modernization efforts with the need to maintain business continuity was a significant challenge, particularly for a lean team. 

Changing the Engine Mid-Air 

Leerink has a long-standing history of collaborating with key vendors and leveraging their specialized expertise to successfully execute critical initiatives. The transition back to being a privately-owned organization brought significant changes across systems, processes, and personnel, creating the challenge of advancing technological capabilities while concurrently modernizing its core systems and infrastructure. In 2023, the Leerink team embarked on the ambitious task of implementing several new enterprise systems, including a CRM solution, while simultaneously developing a modern data platform to support CRM needs and beyond. To ensure the success of these large-scale, parallel initiatives, Leerink’s CIO engaged expert data consultants to align strategy and manage interdependent efforts. The Clarista team was brought on board to guide the design and implementation of a modern data solution that would achieve two key objectives: establishing a secure, governed bridge between legacy and modern systems, and laying the foundation for the firm’s long-term analytics and AI capabilities 

To address these challenges, a strategic three-step implementation plan was developed to ensure a smooth transition while preserving business continuity: 

The beauty of this three-phase approach lay in its organic progression—each phase building naturally upon the achievements of the previous one, creating a seamless journey from infrastructure to insights. In just four months, Leerink successfully transformed their data capabilities into a strategic advantage, setting the stage for future innovation and growth. This rapid implementation, coupled with full process transparency and automated monitoring, ensured a confident launch and sustainable operations—bringing Leerink's transformation vision to reality. 

Impact

The agility of the Clarista solution enabled Leerink to effectively tackle the challenge of upgrading multiple key enterprise systems, including CRM, while transforming its data capabilities into a strategic advantage. With remarkable speed, the team deployed a comprehensive cloud data solution with legacy compatibility in just four months. This rapid implementation, coupled with full process transparency and automated monitoring, ensured a confident launch and sustainable operations—bringing Leerink’s transformation vision to reality.