Home » Alliance Discussions

Alliance Discussions

All employees of Research!America member organizations are eligible to join alliance member meetings. If your organization is not a Research!America member and you’re interested in more information about the alliance, email the development and membership team.

Upcoming Discussions

Alliance Discussion with Rashi Romanoff, Chief Executive Officer, and Liz Stout, Communications and Public Policy Administrator, National Association of Veterans’ Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF)

Date: Thursday, March 21, 2024 12:00 PM EDT

VA research does not demand the spotlight, but richly deserves it: from conducting the first trials of effective treatments of tuberculosis to pioneering the treatment of hypertension, the VA has been at the forefront of research advances that benefit veterans and us all. Join us for a discussion on Thursday, March 21st at 12:00 p.m. ET with the National Association of Veterans’ Research and Education Foundations. These unique and extraordinarily effective organizations are at the center of VA research collaboration and innovation.  Are you interested in how research is put to work to protect and advance the heath of our Nation’s veterans? As the VA celebrates an extraordinary milestone in its landmark 1 Million Veteran research initiative (more on the 21st!) join us for a lunchtime look at an unsung ecosystem responsible for untold medical and public health progress.

Register now.

Alliance Member-Only Meeting with Erik Fatemi, Principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs

Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2024 12:00 PM EDT

We hope you can join us on March 26 at noon ET for a second off-the record alliance members-only meeting with fan favorite, Erik Fatemi. Barring the unforeseeable, all 12 FY24 appropriations bills will be signed into law by that date, the President’s FY25 budget will be available, and the picture will be clearer on the future of NIST’s proposed “march-in” framework.

If you are a Research!America alliance member, please email Jacqueline Lagoy jlagoy@researchamerica.org for the registration link.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Josh Gordon, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health

Date: Thursday, March 28, 2024 4:00 PM EDT

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is turning 75 this year! For 75 years, NIMH has transformed the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research—bringing hope to millions of people. We hope you can join us on Thursday, March 28 at 4pm ET for a special alliance discussion featuring Dr. Joshua Gordon, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Gordon will share with us his thoughts on the Institutes’ evolution and its current work at a time when mental health is front and center among health concerns in the US and globally.

Register now on Zoom.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Cheryl McNeil, Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Florida

Date: Tuesday, April 9, 2024 12:00 PM EDT

The unique experiences of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ADS) and the parents who raise them bring both challenges and opportunities. We hope you can join us on Tuesday, April 9 at noon ET for a discussion with leading psychologist and behavioral research specialist, Dr. Cheryl McNeil, Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Florida, for a conversation on the research that is helping children with ASD and their parents navigate their day to day lives. Dr. McNeil will discuss her groundbreaking therapeutic approach, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for children with ASD, and how the research that underlies it is bringing about solutions for families in need.

Register now.

Alliance Discussion with Megan Hall and Erin Polak, GRAIL

Date: Tuesday, April 16, 2024 12:00 PM EDT

More than 1.2 million Americans develop cancer each year and a new cancer is diagnosed every 30 seconds in the United States. As we look toward eradicating cancer as we know it, we acknowledge that pervasive problems require persistent solutions that start with early detection. We hope you can join us on Monday, April 16 at 12 p.m. EST for an alliance discussion with Megan Hall, Distinguished Scientist and Vice President of Corporate Affairs, and Erin Polak, Vice President of Government Affairs, at GRAIL. Megan and Erin will discuss how GRAIL is working to change the trajectory of cancer care by detecting many more cancers at earlier stages with the Galleri test —the first clinically validated Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) test.

Register now.

Alliance Discussion with Thomas Heymann and Dr. Mallory Perry-Eaddy, Sepsis Alliance

Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2024 12:00 PM EDT

Sepsis, a life-threatening emergency that happens when your body’s response to an infection damages vital organs, affects over 1.7 million people, and takes the lives of over 75,000 children in the U.S. each year. We hope you can join us on Wednesday, May 29 at noon E.T. for an alliance discussion with Thomas Heymann, President & CEO of Sepsis Alliance, and Dr. Mallory Perry-Eaddy, Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Nursing and member of the Sepsis Alliance Advisory Board. Thomas and Dr. Perry-Eaddy will discuss the devastating effects of sepsis and how Sepsis Alliance is working to raise sepsis awareness in the community and educate healthcare professionals to diagnosis and treat sepsis faster, to save lives.

Register now.

Past Discussions

Alliance Discussion on Research!America January National Survey

Date: Wednesday, March 6, 2024 11:00 AM EST

With Americans preparing to cast their ballots this fall, keeping a pulse on public opinion is key! For more than 30 years, Research!America has commissioned public opinion surveys to help understand Americans’ views on medical, health, and scientific research and other pressing issues related to public health, research, and innovation.

On Wednesday, March 6 at 11 am E.T. Mary Woolley, President and CEO of Research!America, shared newly released data from a national, omnibus survey commissioned in January 2024 by Research!America on topics like support for federally funded research, trust in science, global competitiveness, and more. Following an overview of our survey results, Erin Brown, Associate Director of Communications and Marketing at Research!America, and Jenny Luray, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Public Engagement at Research!America joined the conversation for a fireside chat on the results and their impact.

Watch the recording and view the slides.

Alliance Discussion with Josh Denny, CEO of the All of Us Research Program, NIH

Date: Thursday, February 29, 2024 2:00 PM EST

Since 2018, The All of Us Research Program within the National Institutes of Health has undertaken a historic effort to collect and study data from one million or more people living in the United States to create better health for all of us through precision medicine. On February 29 at 2 pm ET, Dr. Josh Denny, Chief Executive Officer of the All of Us Research Program, joined us to discuss the work of the All of Us Research Program, including their efforts to build a diverse database that can inform thousands of studies on a variety of health conditions.

Watch the recording.

Alliance Member-Only Meeting with Emily Holubowich, National Senior Vice President of Federal Advocacy with the American Heart Association

Date: Thursday, February 22, 2024 1:00 PM EST

Emily Holubowich, National Senior Vice President of Federal Advocacy with the American Heart Association and a national expert on federal health and fiscal policy, joined us for an alliance member-only to discuss FY24 and FY25 appropriations and clarify the ever-more confusing appropriations landscape.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Abraham Verghese, Bestselling Author of Cutting for Stone and The Covenant of Water; Professor, Stanford

Date: Monday, February 12, 2024 1:30 PM EST

Dr. Abraham Verghese, Bestselling Author of Cutting for Stone and The Covenant of Water, Linda R. Meier and Joan F. Lane Provostial Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, joined us to discuss how his career in medicine and writing has shaped his outlook on the art and science of human connection.

Dr. Verghese is the 2024 Advocacy Awardee for the Isadore Rosenfeld Award for Impact on Public Opinion, an award presented annually to a news media representative or other influential individual who has been extraordinarily effective in delivering medical, public health, or other health-related research advocacy messages to the public. Learn more about our Advocacy Awards and view our full slate of 2024 honorees.

 

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Elaine Larson, Columbia University School of Nursing

Date: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 12:00 PM EST

Considered one of the top global health threats facing humanity by the World Health Organization, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is on the rise. In the United States alone, AMR is implicated in nearly 3 million infections and tens of thousands of deaths each year. On February 6th at 12 PM ET, Dr. Elaine Larson, Anna C Maxwell Professor Emerita and Special Lecturer, School of Nursing; Professor of Epidemiology Emerita, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University; and Senior Scholar in Residence, New York Academy of Medicine, joined us to provide new details about the AMR threat and how we can chart a path to ensure antibiotics remain part of our disease arsenal.

View the recording and her slides.

Alliance Discussion with the Alzheimer’s Association

Date: Thursday, February 1, 2024 1:00 PM EST

Research!America hosted a conversation about the importance and impact of advocacy with two extraordinary research champions. Dr. Joanne Pike, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, and Tony Gonzales, Alzheimer’s Association National Early-Stage Advisor, joined us for this important discussion. The Alzheimer’s Association is the recipient of Research!America’s 2024 Paul G. Rogers Distinguished Organization Advocacy Award. Dr. Pike and Mr. Gonzales will discuss the Alzheimer’s Association’s work to address the dementia public health crisis, and what it takes to be an effective advocate on behalf of us all.

View the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Celine Gounder, Senior Fellow and Editor-at-Large for Public Health, KFF Health News

Date: Tuesday, January 30, 2024 12:30 PM EST

Meeting the Moment: A conversation with public health champion Celine Gounder

What comes to mind when you think of medical progress? Lives saved; diseases eradicated; lessons learned? Join us on January 30 at 12:30 p.m. Eastern for a discussion with Dr. Celine Gounder, Senior Fellow and Editor-at-Large for Public Health, KFF Health News, and recipient of Research!America’s 2024 Meeting the Moment for Public Health Award. Dr. Gounder will share insights from her career in epidemiology and health news reporting on how we meet the moment when tackling large-scale health threats, from smallpox to COVID-19, and speed the pace of medical progress.

Watch the recording.

Dr. Gounder is the 2024 Advocacy Awardee for the Meeting the Moment for Public Health Award, an award recognizing an individual that has been a “clear voice,” playing a key role in communicating important public health information to the public and rising to the challenge of the day. This award is part of the suite of Outstanding Achievement in Public Health Awards, generously supported by Johnson & Johnson. Learn more about our Advocacy Awards and view our full slate of 2024 honorees.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Rita Colwell, Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland

Date: Tuesday, January 23, 2024 11:30 AM EST

Where and when will the next infectious disease outbreak come? How can we ensure that our public health system is prepared? Dr. Rita Colwell, a Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland College Park, Founder of CosmosID, Inc., and former Director of the National Science Foundation, and the recipient of Research!America’s 2024 Builders of Science Award, discussed the strategies and tools that she has used to track outbreaks in United Nations countries and how these strategies and other advances may better prepare public health for the next outbreak.

Dr. Colwell is the 2024 Advocacy Awardee for the Builders of Science Award, an award that recognizes distinguished scientists who have provided inspiration and determination in building or re-building an outstanding home for research. This award is part of the suite of Outstanding Achievement in Public Health Awards, generously supported by Johnson & Johnson. Learn more about our Advocacy Awards and view our full slate of 2024 honorees.

Watch the recording.

Alliance Member-Only Meeting with Brian Fahey, Legislative Director, House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie

Date: Thursday, January 18, 2024 2:00 PM EST

If your organization is a member of the Research!America Alliance, please join us for an off-the-record alliance member-only discussion with Brian Fahey, Legislative Director in the office of House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY-2).  We’ve asked Brian to discuss Chair Guthrie’s priorities for this key subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over NIH, ARPA-H, FDA, CDC, ASPR, BARDA, and the list goes on. Will the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) be reauthorized this year? Will the subcommittee move forward with the reauthorization of NIH?  How can advocates help the subcommittee as it works to address the opioid crisis, the mental health crisis, maternal mortality, antimicrobial resistance and other pressing health threats?

If you are a Research!America alliance member, please email Jacqueline Lagoy jlagoy@researchamerica.org for the registration link.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Bob Conn, Distinguished Policy Fellow, UCSD; President/CEO Emeritus, The Kavli Foundation

Date: Tuesday, January 16, 2024 2:30 PM EST

From public sector to private sector to philanthropy, the unique ecosystem of research and discovery in the United States has shepherded countless advances in science and medicine for decades. Dr. Robert Conn, Walter Zable Distinguished Professor and Dean Emeritus of Engineering at the University of California, San Diego, and recipient of Research!America’s 2024 Gordon and Llura Gund Leadership Award, discusses the role that American philanthropy has played in U.S. research and the unique advantages that this has provided to allow America’s research sector to flourish.

Watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Howard Zucker, Deputy Director for Global Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Date: Friday, January 12, 2024 12:00 PM EST

Complex and longstanding challenges are keeping our world out of balance, making us all more vulnerable to threats that could impact the future wellbeing of millions across the globe. We have a window of time as we recover from the impacts of COVID to innovate and improve global health. Dr. Howard Zucker, Deputy Director for Global Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, joined us to discuss the CDC’s work abroad and how it is instrumental in protecting the health of the United States and the international community: What are the “underlying conditions” our planet is suffering from today? And what is CDC doing to help address their impacts and ensure a healthier future for us all?

Watch the recording.

Alliance Member-Only Meeting with Erik Fatemi, Principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs

Date: Thursday, January 4, 2024 11:00 AM EST

New Year, Old Budget

All signs point to more mayhem in January as Congressional leadership navigates the twists and turns of the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations process. Erik Fatemi of Cornerstone Government Affairs joined us for an off-the-record conversation about the appropriations outlook and what that means for research advocacy. In particular, he walked through the potential impact of the Fiscal Responsibility Act on NIH and other research agencies.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Norman R. Augustine, Retired Chairman & CEO, Lockheed Martin Corp.

Date: Tuesday, December 5, 2023 12:00 PM EST

Norm Augustine, a leader in the decades long effort to elevate the priority of science and technology in our nation, joined us for an alliance discussionThe Honorable Bart Gordon, Member of Congress, 1985-2011, and Chair of the House Science Committee, 20072010, spoke with Norm about his storied career in federal and nonprofit service and as the former CEO of Lockheed Martin, and asked him to share insights from his influential leadership role in the R&D advocacy arena. 

Watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Philip Baiden, University of Texas at Arlington

Date: Wednesday, November 29, 2023 12:00 PM EST

On Wednesday, November 29 at noon ET, suicide prevention researcher Dr. Philip Baiden, Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Arlington’s School of Social Work, joined us for an important Alliance Discussion on suicide prevention. A leading expert in the field, Dr. Baiden’s vast expertise includes the social determinants of health, adolescent health risk behaviors, and substance use and mental health outcomes. Dr. Baiden spoke with us about his research on the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and suicidal behaviors in children and adolescents as we work toward a stronger understanding of suicide prevention and how to support those in need.

Watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. E. Oscar Alleyne, Managing Director, Public Health Division at MITRE

Date: Monday, November 20, 2023 12:00 PM EST

On Monday, November 20, at noon ET, epidemiologist and leading public health expert, Dr. E. Oscar Alleyne, Managing Director of the Public Health Division at MITRE, joined us for a special Public Health Thank You Day alliance discussion. MITRE partners across government, industry, and academia to improve our nation’s public health and well-being. Dr. Alleyne shared how improvements in our public health infrastructure and data modernization have helped communities around the country better tackle public health threats. Dr. Alleyne also shared a call to action for integrating people-centered approaches to delivering public health services. Watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Daniel Pham, Dr. Cara Altimus, and Dr. Emily Baxi, BD²

Date: Thursday, November 16, 2023 2:00 PM EST

It has been just over one year since the launch of BD2: Breakthrough Discoveries for Thriving with Bipolar Disorder. BD2 is a philanthropically driven nonprofit initiative that seeks to develop effective interventions so that all people with bipolar disorder thrive. To shorten the time it takes from research findings into clinical care, we have awarded over $60 million of funding to researchers, scientists, and clinicians to build a community focused on enhancing collaboration and open science across the teams. We featured Dr. Cara Altimus, Dr. Emily Baxi, and Dr. Daniel Pham to discuss the numerous mechanisms to encourage collaboration within the network to accelerate change in the bipolar disorder field.

View the slides and watch the recording.

Alliance Member-Only Meeting with Rob Smith, Capital Alpha Partners

Date: Tuesday, November 14, 2023 12:00 PM EST

Join us on Tuesday, November 14 at noon ET, for a timely Alliance Discussion ahead of the impending Continuing Resolution expiration on November 17th. If your organization is a Research!America member, we invite you to an off-the-record conversation with Rob Smith, Managing Director at Capital Alpha. With over two decades of experience in Washington’s healthcare landscape, Rob will delve into the complexities of Congress’s current happenings. He’ll help walk us through the outlook for FY24 appropriations following the November 17th Continuing Resolution expiration, what recent Congressional leadership changes mean as we enter an election year, and more. Bring your questions and insights! 

Email Jacqueline at jlagoy@researchamerica.org for the member-only registration link.

Alliance Discussion with Gelise Thomas, Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative at Case Western Reserve University

Date: Monday, November 6, 2023 12:00 PM EST

A diverse and inclusive research environment that engages scientists and community members is key to good science that leads to better health outcomes for all.  Gelise Thomas, Assistant Director of Strategic DEI & Health Disparities at the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative of Northern Ohio (CTSC) within Case Western Reserve University, joined us for an alliance discussion on November 6, at noon ET, to speak about the work of CTSC and how their Research Equity, Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion (READI) initiatives are working to shape a more diverse and equitable research landscape.

View the slides and watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Tom Romanoff, Bipartisan Policy Center

Date: Tuesday, October 31, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

In the midst of multiple AI-related congressional and administration policy and regulatory initiatives, we continue to receive requests for alliance discussions that take a step back and address big picture AI concepts. Outside of any particular use of AI, what are the concepts, terms, capacities, and issues that distinguish AI from good old-fashioned IT? Haven’t robots and virtual reality been around forever? What’s everyone suddenly so concerned about? And are calls for successfully regulating AI truly going to lead anywhere, or has that ship sailed?

We asked the best of the best, Tom Romanoff, the Director of the Technology Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center, to join us on the 31st for the express purpose of bringing AI down to earth. AI has the potential to bring about positive, negative, and “eye of the beholder” changes to our society and our lives. Research advocates, and really, all of us everywhere, have a stake in ensuring society leverage AI without becoming subservient to it.

View the slides and watch the recording.

Alliance Member-Only Meeting with Kathryn Bell, Minority Health Policy Advisor, Senate HELP Committee

Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

If your organization is a Research!America member, join us on Tuesday, October 24, at noon ET, for an off-the-record conversation with Kathryn Bell, Minority Health Policy Advisor to the Senate HELP Committee. Kathryn will discuss the request for information on NIH reform from HELP Committee Ranking Member Cassidy as the deadline for stakeholder feedback (October 27) approaches.

Email Jacqueline at jlagoy@researchamerica.org for the member-only registration link.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Edwin Oh, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 2:00 PM EDT

New Public Health Horizons: the evolving science of wastewater Intelligence

Edwin Oh, PhD, Associate Professor at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), joined us for an alliance discussion to chat about the impact, potential, and limitations of wastewater “intelligence.” Among his diverse areas of expertise, Dr. Oh is breaking new ground in wastewater surveillance and analysis as a means of minimizing the toll of infectious diseases and other public health threats. View his slides and watch the recording.

Alliance Member-only Meeting with Mary Dee Beal, KDCR Partners

Date: Wednesday, October 11, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

Join Research!America on Wednesday, October 11 at noon Eastern for a quick check in on what’s happening (or not) in Congress. We’ll discuss the continuing push and pull around FY24 funding and other R&D-related developments with Capitol Hill veteran Mary Dee Beal, Principal at KDCR Partners.

Email Jacqueline at jlagoy@researchamerica.org for the member-only registration link.

Alliance Discussion with David Ridley, Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business

Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 11:00 AM EDT

Incentivizing Hard-won Solutions 

David Ridley joined us to discuss Priority Review Vouchers (PRV)s.The PRV is an R&D investment incentive designed to spur development in areas of unmet medical need. The first PRV program, focused on the development of drugs for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), was signed into law in 2007, and subsequent legislation expanded the availability of this incentive to include drugs for rare pediatric diseases and medical countermeasures.

Dr. Ridley walked us through a quick “PRV 101” and shared his thoughts on the future of these and other incentives aimed at addressing critical gaps in R&D investment.

Watch the recording.  

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Bri Sheppard and Dr. Heidi Olson, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford

Date: Tuesday, September 26, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

Rural Health Disparities: What will it take to make progress? 

 Rural Americans face a range of alarming health disparities compared to their urban counterparts. Some grim examples: according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rural Americans are more likely to die from cancer, heart disease, unintentional injury, and stroke than those living in urban areas. What role can research play in addressing these disparities? What has research already revealed about the known causes of rural health disparities, and what innovative strategies are being deployed to address those causes?  

Leading rural health experts from the University of Illinois Rockford, Dr. Brianna Sheppard and Dr. Heidi Olson, joined us to discuss. 

View the slides and watch the recording. 

Research!America Alliance Member-only Meeting with Cheryl Jaeger, Crossroads Strategies and Jane Loewenson, NVG, LLC

Date: Thursday, September 14, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

The September 30th end of Fiscal Year 2023 is fast approaching. What’s possible, probable, and probably not in the cards as R&D relevant funding and policy priorities hang in the balanceIf your organization is a Research!America alliance member, join us for a candid, off-the record conversation with two highly respected Capitol Hill Veterans, Cheryl Jaeger and Jane Loewenson. Cheryl and Jane have agreed to walk us through the good, the bad, and the ugly as Congress considers issues bearing on the pace, reach, and sustainability of medical and public health progress. 

Email Jacqueline at jlagoy@researchamerica.org for the member-only registration link.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Mitch Prinstein, American Psychological Association

Date: Thursday, September 7, 2023 1:00 PM EDT

Our world is more connected than ever before. Our communities lie at our fingertips, from Twitter to Instagram to TikTok, but does interconnectedness have its drawbacks? What does it mean to grow up in a world where your community is online?

Dr. Mitch Prinstein, Chief Science Officer at the American Psychological Association, joined us to discuss how social media is affecting our youth. He shared insights from APA’s recent report about social media and adolescents and APA’s priorities in the area of adolescent mental health. Watch his presentation and view his slides.

Alliance Discussion with Dan Farmer, Principal at BGR Government Affairs

Date: Thursday, August 24, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

On Thursday, August 24th at noon ET, Dan Farmer, principal on the Health and Life Sciences Practice at BGR Government Affairs, joined us to speak about a precedent-setting coverage pathway for Breakthrough medical devices and the implications for patients and research inside and outside the medical device arena. View his slides and watch the recording.

Research!America Alliance Discussion with Erik Fatemi, Principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs

Date: Wednesday, August 23, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

August recess seems like a good time to provide a refresher on all things appropriations. Erik Fatemi, Principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs, joined us to share a look at the terms you need to know; discretionary vs. mandatory spending; how the House and Senate bills are applying the budget caps in the debt limit deal (or not); why you should care about “CHIMPs”; and what it all means for NIH funding in FY24. View his slides and watch the recording.

 

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Jon Lorsch, Director of National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Date: Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:00 AM EDT

What is NIH’s Role in Securing the Research Workforce? 

Jon R. Lorsch, PhD, Director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences at NIH joined us to provide an update on the Institute’s role in bringing about more sustainable and inclusive career paths for early career researchers across medical and health research engineering disciplines. View the slides and watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Bill Novelli, Founder: Business for Impact Center at Georgetown University McDonough School of Business, and Mary Woolley, President & CEO, Research!America

Date: Wednesday, July 26, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

Bill Novelli, Founder of the Business for Impact Center at Georgetown University McDonough School of Business joined Research!America to discuss the art and science of effective R&D advocacy. Bill Novelli co-founded the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care, and is the author of “Good Business: The Talk, Fight, Win Way to Change the World.” Our own Mary Woolley, President and CEO of Research!America, also joined the conversation. Mary and Bill looked at successful, and not so successful, avenues to greater support for public and private sector-fueled R&D.

Watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Dan Jernigan, Director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)

Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 2:30 PM EDT

How is the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) helping to better protect the U.S. from public health threats? Dan Jernigan, MD, MPH, Director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) at the CDC, joined us to discuss the new vision for NCEZID and how the Center is incorporating innovation into its mission. This includes advanced molecular detection, how wastewater surveillance is critical to monitoring disease outbreaks, and how the CDC is tackling the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. Watch the recording. 

Note: During the presentation, a second malaria case in Texas is mentioned. This case has not been classified as a locally acquired. The latest data on locally acquired malaria can be found at CDC’s website.

Alliance Member-Only Meeting with Paul Kim, Kendall Square Policy Strategies LLC

Date: Tuesday, July 11, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

If your organization is a member of Research!America, join us on for a discussion with Paul Kim, Principal at Kendall Square Policy Strategies LLC, for an update on where we are in the process to reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA). Signed into law in 2006, this legislation that has dramatically bolstered our nations multi-agency biodefense infrastructure and reauthorization remains critical to our continued preparedness for known and unknown biosecurity threats. This is a members-only, off-the-record discussion. Email Jacqueline at jlagoy@researchamerica.org for the member-only registration link.

Alliance Member-Only Meeting with Mary Dee Beal, KDCR Partners

Date: Thursday, June 29, 2023 1:00 PM EDT

Congressional veteran Mary Dee Beal, Principal at KDCR Partners, joined us for a closed-door discussion for an update on where we are in the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations process following the signing of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Reinhard Laubenbacher, University of Florida

Date: Thursday, June 15, 2023 11:30 AM EDT

Let’s face it, “digital twin” sounds more like a dystopian Netflix series than a significant development in the medical research arena. Yet digital twin modeling could revolutionize the discovery, development, and delivery pipeline. Reinhard Laubenbacher, PhD, Professor in the Department of Medicine and Director of the Laboratory for Systems Medicine, at the University of Florida, joined us for a conversation about the past, present, and future of digital twins in research. Watch the recording. 

Alliance Member-Only Meeting with James Lucier, Capital Alpha Partners 

Date: Monday, June 12, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

We held an off-the-record conversation with James Lucier of Capital Alpha Partners about the implications of the debt deal for research, public health, and public-private R&D partnerships. What is the outlook for funding for NIH and other research and public health agencies? What does the deal mean for pandemic preparedness? What can advocates do to help shape the answers to those questions? Does the deal affect other legislative efforts, like reauthorization of PAHPA.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, University of Nevada

Date: Thursday, June 8, 2023 11:00 AM EDT

More than 6.7 million individuals in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is growing rapidly. Each day that passes without effective treatments brings tragic consequences for patients and their loved ones. As the debate over coverage for new Alzheimer’s drugs continues,  Jeffrey Cummings, MD, ScD, of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, joined us to discuss the challenging path that led to these medicines, the state of the science now, and hope for the future. Watch the recording and view his slides.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Neil Vora, Conservation International

Date: Tuesday, June 6, 2023 11:00 AM EDT

Neil Vora, MD, a physician with Conservation International, joined us to discuss his work in addressing pandemic prevention. His work focuses on the link between human health and the health of the planet – particularly as it relates to the increasing threat of viruses that can ‘spillover’ from animals to humans – and how policy can be used to prevent future pandemics. View his slides and watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Vincent Conitzer, Carnegie Mellon University

Date: Wednesday, May 24, 2023 1:00 PM EDT

More than 27,000 individuals – many of them luminaries in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) — have signed an open letter by the Future of Life Institute calling for a pause in the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4. Given the widespread implications of AI for research and health (and virtually everything else), key signatory, Vincent Conitzer, PhD, joined us for an alliance discussion on the concerns that prompted this letter and its many supporters. Watch the recording.

Alliance Member-Only Meeting with Dr. Peter Marks, FDA’s CBER

Date: Tuesday, May 23, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

Peter Marks, MD, PhD, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at FDA, joined us for a members-only alliance discussion to discuss efforts to shape a robust, cost- and time-efficient regulatory review pathway for advances in gene therapy. Offering unimagined hope for the treatment and cure of rare childhood diseases and other treatment-elusive health threats, gene therapy is one of the most promising, and challenging, areas of focus for 21st century science. This was a members-only, off-the-record discussion.

Alliance Discussion with Steven Grossman, Alliance for a Stronger FDA

Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

Steven Grossman, Executive Director of Alliance for a Stronger FDA, joined us to discuss all things FDA, including recent developments bearing on FDA’s role in the R&D ecosystem and the President’s FY 24 budget. Watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Gary Gibbons, NIH NHLBI

Date: Thursday, May 11, 2023 11:00 AM EDT

Gary Gibbons, MD, Director of the NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, joined us for a Zoom conversation about where we stand in the fight against sickle cell disease (SCD). SCD affects over 20 million people worldwide, including nearly 100,000 in the U.S. alone. Progress against this disease has been tragically slow. However, recent advances offer renewed hope. Dr. Gibbons shared his perspective on the path that has brought us here and what the future may bring, against a health threat that heightens health disparities and has for far too long has eluded medical progress. Watch the recording.

Alliance Member-Only Meeting with Sara Maskornick, Senate HELP Subcommittee on Children & Families

Date: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 11:00 AM EDT

Sara Maskornick, Democratic Staff Director of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Children & Families, joined us for a closed-door, alliance member-only meeting to provide an update on the Senate’s efforts to develop and secure passage of legislation to reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA). Signed into law in 2006, PAHPA dramatically bolstered our nation’s multi-agency biodefense infrastructure. In the lingering wake of COVID-19 and with other biosecurity threats emerging, the need to revisit and reauthorize the law has never been more important. This was a members-only, off-the-record discussion.

Alliance Discussion with John Crowley, Amicus Therapeutics

Date: Tuesday, May 2, 2023 1:00 PM EDT

John Crowley, Chairman and CEO, Amicus Therapeutics, joined us to discuss the personal journey that led to his remarkable impact on progress against rare diseases, and the path to dramatically faster progress going forward. Watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Meena Seshamani, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2023 11:00 AM EDT

Meena Seshamani, MD, PhD, Deputy Administrator and Director of Center for Medicare at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services joined us to discuss the status of the Inflation Reduction Act implementation and how CMS is incorporating external input, along with other facets of this complex and consequential implementation process. This was a members-only, off-the-record discussion.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Rebecca Cunningham, University of Michigan

Date: Monday, April 24, 2023 3:00 PM EDT

Rebecca Cunningham, MD, Vice President for Research at the University of Michigan, joined us to discuss the role of research in addressing firearm injury as the individual and societal toll of this deadly public health threat grows. Watch the recording and view her slides.

Alliance Member-Only Meeting on AI with Dr. Regina Barzilay, MIT

Date: Monday, April 17, 2023 1:00 PM EDT

Regina Barzilay, PhD, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT, joined us to discuss the potential – and potential pitfalls – as health-focused artificial intelligence (AI) evolves. Dr. Barzilay answered questions and shared her own story: and how confronting breast cancer convinced her AI can dramatically improve the diagnosis and treatment of disease. This was a members-only, off-the-record discussion.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Mary Pittman, Public Health Institute

Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2023 2:00 PM EDT

Research is only as good as the data informing it. Mary Pittman, President and CEO, Public Health Institute (PHI) joined us for a discussion focused on what good data really looks like in the context of public health research; tools and approaches to make data more precise; and how social determinants of health and other community-informed measures provide critical context to make public health data—and the research that comes from it—more meaningful and actionable. Watch the recording and view the slides.

Alliance Discussion with Tish Hevel, The Brain Donor Project

Date: Wednesday, April 5, 2023 11:00 AM EDT

Tish Hevel, CEO of The Brain Donor Project, joined us for a discussion on brain donation. In concert with the NeuroBioBank of the National Institutes of Health, The Brain Donor Project is the leading organization working to increase awareness and facilitate brain donation in pursuit of faster neurological scientific breakthroughs. Tish helped illuminate the process of brain donation, dispel the myths surrounding it, and shared how the Brain Donor Project can help you and your loved ones be the brain behind the breakthrough. Watch the recording and view the slides.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Nora Volkow, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Date: Wednesday, March 22, 2023 11:00 AM EDT

Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), joined us for a candid conversation about the opioid crisis. Where are we on the arduous path to ending this crisis? How is public and private sector-fueled research contributing? Your participation added value to a conversation focused on a battle our nation and the global community can, and must, win. Watch the recording and view the slides.

Alliance Discussion with Yvette Seger, FASEB

Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2023 1:00 PM EDT

Yvette Seger, Director of Science Policy, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) joined us to give us a crash course on how you can weigh in on policy at NIH and other research agencies through Requests for Information (RFIs). It’s easier than you think! Watch the recording and view the slides.

Alliance Member-Only Meeting with Emily Holubowich,  American Heart Association

Date: Monday, March 13, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

Emily Holubowich, VP of Federal Advocacy at the American Heart Association, joined us for a close-door discussion on the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget request. She also discussed the outlook for FY24 appropriations generally, in what can only be described as an indescribable federal funding environment. This was a members-only, off-the-record discussion.

Alliance Discussion with Caroline Montojo, PhD, Dana Foundation

Date: Monday, March 6, 2023 1:00 PM EST

We were joined by Caroline Montojo, PhD, President of the Dana Foundation. Dr. Montojo discussed highlights from the 2022 national survey we commissioned in partnership with the Dana Foundation, on brain health and brain health research. Additionally, she shed light on the Foundation’s vision for a future in which brain science benefits from and reflects society. Watch the recording and view the slides.

 

Alliance Discussion with Andi Fristedt, FDA

Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2023 12:00 PM EST

What are FDA’s 2023 priorities under the new drug and medical device user fee bills? What exactly was included about clinical trial diversity in December’s Omnibus legislation? FDA Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation and International Affairs, Andi Fristedt, joined us to share an inside look at key issues impacting patients, researchers, and industry. Watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with the Michael J. Fox Foundation

Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 1:00 PM EST

Debi Brooks, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of the Michael J. Fox Foundation – recipient of our 2023 Paul G. Rogers Distinguished Organization Advocacy Award – joined us to discuss their critical work in Parkinson’s Disease research the foundation is doing and their unique vantage on patient engagement. Watch the recording.

Alliance Member-Only Meeting with KDCR Partners

Date: Monday, February 6, 2023 12:00 PM EST

If your organization is a member of Research!America, join us for a closed door discussion with congressional and executive branch veterans from both sides of the aisle, Julie Hershey Carr and Lisa Kountoupes. This was a members-only, off-the-record discussion.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Helene Gayle

Date: Thursday, February 2, 2023 11:00 AM EST

Dr. Helene Gayle, President of Spelman College and recipient of Research!America’s 2023 Geoffrey Beene Foundation Builders of Science Award, joined us for an alliance discussion. Dr. Gayle has contributed in profoundly important ways to addressing the social determinants that impact health and the inequities that compromise it. Watch this thought- and action-inspiring conversation between Dr. Gayle and Research!America Board Member Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath.

Alliance Discussion with Hip Hop Public Health

Date: Monday, January 30, 2023 2:30 PM EST

Hip Hop Public Health Executive Director and CEO, Lori Rose Benson, and President and Founder, Dr. Olajide Williams, of Hip Hop Public Health, joined us for a special alliance discussion. Through Hip Hop Public Health‘s pioneering Multisensory Multilevel Health Education Model, youth develop essential health literacy knowledge and skills, and serve as intergenerational advocates for themselves, their families and their communities. Hip Hop Public Health is the recipient of Research!America’s 2023 Meeting the Moment for Public Health Award. Watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Margaret Hamburg

Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2023 1:30 PM EST

Dr. Margaret Hamburg. Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, an internationally recognized leader in public health, medicine, and biomedical research and innovation, joined us for an alliance discussion. She has served in numerous leadership roles including Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, National Academy of Medicine Foreign Secretary, President/Chair of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Vice President/Senior Scientist at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (DHHS), New York City Health Commissioner, and Assistant Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. Dr. Hamburg is the recipient of the Research!America’s 2023 Outstanding Achievement in Public Health Award. Watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Pamela Davis, MD, PhD, Case Western Reserve University

Date: Tuesday, January 17, 2023 1:30 PM EST

Pamela Davis, MD, PhD, Arline H. & Curtis F. Garvin Research Professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine recipient of Research!America’s 2023 Herbert Pardes Family Award for National Leadership in Advocacy for Research was joined by her colleague, Heidi Gullett, MD, MPH, for a discussion on the vital role of the community–as planners, participants and advocates–within the research team. Watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Dr. James Crowe

Date: Thursday, January 12, 2023 4:00 PM EST

Dr. James Crowe, Director of the Vaccine Center and Ann Scott Carell Professor of Pediatrics, Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and winner of Research!America’s 2023 Building the Foundation Award, joined us to discuss the significance of public-private partnership in the response to COVID-19 and in achieving fast-paced progress against other deadly and debilitating health threats. Watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Erik Ewers and Christopher Loren Ewers

Date: Tuesday, December 20, 2022 2:30 PM EST

Erik Ewers and Christopher Loren Ewers, co-directors of Hiding in Plain Sight, Youth Mental Illness and winners of Research!America’s 2023 Isadore Rosenfeld Award for Impact on Public Opinion Award joined us for a conversation. Watch the recording.

 

Alliance Discussion with Dr. Michael Friedlander and Heywood Fralin

Date: Wednesday, December 14, 2022 4:00 PM EST

Research!America’s 2023 Gordon and Llura Gund Leadership Award honorees Heywood Fralin, Chairman of Retirement Unlimited, Inc. and Michael J. Friedlander, PhD, Vice President of Health Sciences and Technology at Virginia Tech and Executive Director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC joined us for a conversation on the innovative partnership model of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and it’s impact on the research ecosystem. Watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Carolee Lee, Women’s Health Access Matters (WHAM)

Date: Tuesday, December 6, 2022 2:00 PM EST

Join us for an alliance discussion featuring Carolee Lee, Chief Executive Officer & Founder of Women’s Health Access Matters (WHAM). View her slides and watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Emily Holubowich, American Heart Association

Date: Tuesday, November 29, 2022 2:30 PM EST

Emily Holubowich, VP of Federal Advocacy at the American Heart Association, joined us to provide an update on the legislative outlook as we approach the end of the 117th Congress. Watch the recording.

Alliance Discussion with Sarah Despres, HHS

Date: Monday, November 21, 2022 2:30 PM EST

In recognition of Public Health Thank You Day, Sarah Despres, Counselor for Public Health and Science at The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, joined us for an off-the-record conversation on all things public health.

Home