Maria E. Santaella, PhD(c), MSN, RN-BC, CPHON®, serves as senior vice president of research strategy at the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation, where she leads the organization’s research agenda and drives collaboration among lived experience experts (LEEs), researchers, and other key stakeholders. She oversees key national initiatives, including the Bleeding Disorders Research Collaborative, the research grants program, and Community Voices in Research (CVR), a community-driven registry that captures longitudinal lived experiences. She also provides strategic leadership to the Medical and Scientific Advisory Council (MASAC), its working groups, and related initiatives. A dual board-certified nurse with more than 30 years of clinical and research expertise, Maria is a published author recognized for advancing innovation, fostering cross-sector partnerships, and improving outcomes for individuals and families affected by inheritable bleeding disorders. In 2026, she was appointed editor-in-chief for the journal Bleeding Disorders: Care & Practice.