Rafael Del Orbe
Medical Director
Rafael Del Orbe is Senior Medical Director, Medical Affairs, Hematology at Worldwide Clinical Trials. A board-certified hematologist with more than a decade of clinical, laboratory, and research experience, he has worked across malignant and non-malignant hematology, from congenital anemias and myeloproliferative neoplasms to acute leukemias and lymphoproliferative disorders.
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Rafael began his career in clinical medicine in Venezuela, earning his medical degree at Universidad de Los Andes and board certification in Internal Medicine in Caracas before moving to Spain for Hematology and Hemotherapy training at Cruces University Hospital. He later earned a Doctorate in Molecular Biology and Biomedicine from the University of the Basque Country and completed an Executive MBA at the University of Barcelona. At Cruces University Hospital, he led the special unit for congenital anemias, including sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and other rare red blood cell disorders. He headed the Molecular Biology and Red Cell Disorders laboratory, overseeing genetic diagnostics to guide personalized treatment decisions. He also served as principal investigator and sub-investigator on clinical trials across non-malignant and malignant hematology indications.
Before joining Worldwide, Rafael was Medical Director for Hematology and Oncology at ICON Biotech, where he provided medical expertise throughout the clinical drug development lifecycle. His direct experience spans early through late phase trials, medical monitoring, protocol design, and the safe oversight of complex hematology studies. At Worldwide Clinical Trials, he applies this specialized knowledge to clinical development plans, medical monitoring, and the strategic support of hematology programs. He is a member of the Spanish Society of Hematology and Hemotherapy and the European Hematology Association, and is fluent in Spanish, English, and French.
