Meet the RECOOP Team

Sandor G. Vari, MD, received his medical degree in 1978 at Semmelweis Medical University, Budapest, and worked as a surgeon. In 1989, he received a Fulbright scholarship. His research included biotechnology/biomedical photonics at Cedars-Sinai. In 1994, Vari worked part time at the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) in Heraklion, Greece, and then from 1995–97 at the LMT Lichtmeßtechnik GmbH Berlin, Germany. He received several research grants from National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, Department of Commerce (U.S. and Europe) Framework Programmes 4-5. In 2002, Vari established the International Research and Innovation in Medicine (IRIM) program at Cedars-Sinai. In 2006, he organized the Regional Cooperation for Health, Science and Technology (RECOOP HST) Consortium with Cedars-Sinai and 11 Central and Eastern European universities and academic organizations from 7 countries. In 2011, 20 universities and research organizations were members or associate members of the consortium. The RECOOP HST Consortium was converted into an association in 2014. Vari is director of the IRIM program at Cedars-Sinai and president of RECOOP HST Association.

Linn Defensor has worked in clinical research for 25 years at Cedars-Sinai in various positions, including as a research coordinator, a study manager and, most currently, in research compliance. She has served as the clinical research site management network leader of the Regional Cooperation for Health, Science and Technology Association since 2006. A contributing lecturer in the Master of Science in Clinical Research program at the American University of Health Sciences in Long Beach, California, she has a medical and a nursing degree, as well as a master of science in health sciences with a major in clinical research administration. Defensor has been a speaker in various national research compliance conferences, especially in the field of research billing. She and her husband commute between their residence in Los Angeles and a mountain cabin to visit with their grandson and his parents. She enjoys hiking and bicycling with her family including her daughter, an attorney, and her son, a musician and activist.