Meet the investigators behind Precefi’s Internal Medicine network.
Precefi’s internal medicine network brings together experienced clinical investigators with broad therapeutic expertise across cardiovascular disease, endocrinology, respiratory conditions, and beyond. Our sites are equipped to execute complex, multi-indication trials with the enrollment efficiency and operational consistency that sponsors expect, all supported by Precefi’s one-contract model for seamless, high-quality trial execution.
Internal Medicine Network
Hugo Jimenez, M.D.
Physician and clinical researcher with dual surgical and primary care training spanning over 25 years of medical practice. Earned his Medical Doctorate in 1994 from the University of Medical Sciences Dr. Raúl Dorticós Torrado in Cienfuegos, Cuba, followed by a four-year Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology residency at University Hospital Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima, with advanced rotations at Orthopedic Hospital Frank País in Havana. He practiced as a staff orthopedic surgeon in Cienfuegos for over a decade (2000–2010), during which he held an appointment as Auxiliary Professor of Orthopedics at the University of Medical Sciences (2003) and served as an ad hoc reviewer for the peer-reviewed journal MEDISUR.
After relocating to the United States, Dr. Jimenez gained extensive hospital experience including positions at Doctors Hospital (Coral Gables), Coral Gables Hospital, and Memorial Hospital of Miramar, and completed a Family Medicine residency at West Kendall Baptist Hospital in Miami and a rotatory internship at Hospital Metropolitano Dr. Pila in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He is ECFMG certified and has authored six peer-reviewed publications spanning orthopedic outcomes, osteoporosis, thromboembolic prophylaxis, and preventive local analgesia. He has also earned multiple awards for scientific presentations in orthopedic surgery.
At International GCC Research, Dr. Jimenez contributes to clinical trials across dermatology (plaque psoriasis, scalp psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris), respiratory (COPD, asthma, RSV), cardiovascular disease, endocrinology (Type 2 diabetes), osteoarthritis, chronic lower back pain, and vasomotor symptoms. Sponsors include Pfizer, Janssen, Moderna, Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Amgen, Astellas, Dermira, and Symbio. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Ariel Sotolongo, MSN, ARNP
Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner and Sub-Investigator with over 12 years of continuous clinical trial experience and a uniquely diverse medical background spanning two countries. Originally trained as a physician at the Institute of Medical Science in Santa Clara, Cuba, where he earned his Medical Doctor degree in 1997, followed by postgraduate specializations in Oncology (1998) and Family Practice (2003). After relocating to the United States, he transitioned into advanced practice nursing, earning his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (2012) and Master of Science in Nursing as an Advanced Family Nurse Practitioner (2013) from Florida International University.
Since 2013 he has served as a Sub-investigator in clinical dermatology research and beginning in 2025, at International GCC Research in Miami. Over that span, he has contributed to clinical trials across a wide range of dermatology indications including plaque psoriasis, scalp psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, onychomycosis, tinea pedis, hyperhidrosis, rosacea, alopecia, actinic keratosis, seborrheic keratosis, warts, pruritus, pachyonychia congenita, notalgia paresthetica, and cosmetic dermal fillers. His research extends beyond dermatology to include respiratory (RSV, COPD, asthma), cardiovascular, and contraceptive studies. He has worked with sponsors including AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celldex Therapeutics, Moderna, Amgen, Dermira, Pfizer, Pearl Therapeutics, Symbio, and IQvia. His current active studies include the BMS PRAGMATYK trial in psoriasis, AbbVie’s risankizumab vs. deucravacitinib study in moderate plaque psoriasis, AbbVie’s SWITCH-UP study in atopic dermatitis, and the Celldex EMBARQ-CSU1 trial in chronic spontaneous urticaria.
Gilberto Jimenez, M.D.
Physician and Principal Investigator with over two decades of clinical experience in internal medicine and a deep, multi-therapeutic clinical research portfolio. Earned his medical degree from the University of Havana School of Medicine (1970), followed by Internal Medicine residency training at the Clinic Chirurgic Provincial Hospital of the University of Camagüey (1970–1974), the Superior Institute of Medical Science in Camagüey (1978–1980), and additional U.S.-track residency training at Ramon Betances Hospital–Mayaguez Medical Center/Ponce School of Medicine Consortium in Puerto Rico (1997–2000). He also served in emergency medicine at San Antonio Hospital in Puerto Rico from 1997 to 2001.
Since 2002, Dr. Jimenez has maintained an active internal medicine practice across multiple hospital and rehabilitation settings in South Florida, including Palmetto General Hospital, Palm Spring Hospital, Susana Wesley Rehab, and St. Catherine Rehab, while also operating his own private practice, Gilberto Jimenez MD Inc. As Principal Investigator at International GCC Research, he has led clinical trials spanning dermatology (plaque psoriasis, scalp psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris), respiratory (COPD, asthma, RSV), cardiovascular disease, endocrinology (Type 2 diabetes), osteoarthritis, chronic lower back pain, vasomotor symptoms, cytomegalovirus, and contraceptive studies. Sponsors include Janssen, Pfizer, AbbVie, Amgen, Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Astellas, Moderna, Dermira, Symbio, and IQvia.
