Alliance Discussions
All employees of Research!America members 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 at membership@researchamerica.org.
Upcoming Discussions
Alliance Discussion with Nick Bath, Partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. ET
Alliance Discussion with Tish Hevel, CEO of The Brain Donor Project
Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. ET
Alliance Discussion with Dr. Mary Pittman, Public Health Institute (PHI)
Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. ET
Research!America Alliance Discussion with John Crowley, Amicus Therapeutics
Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. ET
Past Discussions
Alliance Discussion with Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. ET
Alliance Discussion with Yvette Seger, FASEB
Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. ET
Alliance Discussion with Emily Holubowich, American Heart Association
Monday, March 13, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. ET
If your organization is a member of Research!America, join us for a closed door discussion with Emily Holubowich, VP of Federal Advocacy at the American Heart Association, who will discuss the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget request. We’ll also discuss the outlook for FY24 appropriations generally, in what can only be described as an indescribable federal funding environment.
Alliance Discussion with Caroline Montojo, PhD, Dana Foundation
Monday, March 6, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. ET
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 Clay Alspach, Principal at Leavitt Partners
Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. ET
Clay Alspach, Principal at Leavitt Partners and Former Chief Health Counsel of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, joined us for a closed door discussion with conversation surrounding IRA implementation.
Alliance Discussion with Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)
Thursday, February 23, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. ET
Amanda Jezek, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Government Relations, Lisa Cox, Director of Government Relations, and Eli Briggs, Director of Public Policy from Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) joined us for a discussion led by Jenny Luray, Research!America’s Vice President of Strategy and Communications, about antimicrobial resistance –a public health challenge only heightened by COVID-19 – and new efforts to fight back.
Alliance Discussion with Andi Fristedt, FDA
Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at noon ET
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.
Alliance Discussion with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. ET
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.
Alliance Discussion with KDCR Partners
Monday, February 6, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. ET
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.
Alliance Discussion with Dr. Helene Gayle
Thursday, February 2, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. ET
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
Monday, January 30, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. ET
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
Wednesday, January 25, at 1:30 p.m. ET
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, Dean of the School of Medicine,Case Western Reserve University
Tuesday, January 17, at 1:30 p.m. ET
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
Thursday, January 12, at 4:00 p.m. ET
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
Tuesday, December 20, at 2:30 p.m. ET
Join us for an alliance discussion with 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. Watch the recording.
Alliance Discussion with Dr. Michael Friedlander and Heywood Fralin
Wednesday, December 14, at 4:00 p.m. ET
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, CEO & Founder, Women’s Health Access Matters (WHAM)
Tuesday, December 6, at 2:00 p.m. ET
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, Vice President of Federal Advocacy, American Heart Association
Tuesday, November 29, at 2:30 p.m. ET
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, Counselor for Public Health and Science, HHS
Monday, November 21, at 2:30 p.m. ET
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.
Alliance Discussion with Aisling McDonough, Chief of Staff to Representative Anna Eschoo (D-CA)
Monday, November 7, at 1:00 p.m. ET
Aisling McDonough, Chief of Staff to Representative Anna Eschoo (D-CA) joined us for an off-the-record discussion on Chair Eschoo’s priorities for the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee in the remaining months of 2022 and going forward.
Alliance Discussion with Adam Felsenfeld, PhD, Program Director for the Division of Genome Sciences, NHGRI
Wednesday, November 2, at 1:30 p.m. ET
Dr. Adam Felsenfeld, Program Director for the Division of Genome Sciences at the National Human Genome Research Institute joined us to discuss the current work of the Human Genome Reference Program. Watch the recording and view the slides.
Alliance Discussion with Dylan George, PhD, Director of Operations for the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA), CDC
Wednesday, October 27, at 3:00 p.m. ET
Dr. Dylan George, Director of Operations for the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA) at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention joined us to discuss the exciting work of the CFA in its first year of operations. Watch the recording and view the slides.
Alliance Discussion with Rob Smith, Managing Director, Capital Alpha Partners
Wednesday, October 19, at 2:30 p.m. ET
The recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act includes provisions intended to reduce Medicare prescription drug spending. These provisions are also expected to affect the R&D investment landscape. So what exactly does the IRA do, and what happens next? Rob Smith of Capital Alpha Partners joined us to discuss. Watch the recording.
Alliance Discussion with Early Career Researchers
Thursday, October 13, at 1:30 p.m. ET
This alliance discussion will feature a conversation with three Research!America colleagues and early career researchers to share their ideas and perspectives on research and science advocacy.
Watch the recording.
Alliance Discussion with Breakthrough Discoveries for Thriving with Bipolar Disorder (BD²)
Wednesday, September 28, at 11:30 a.m. ET
This alliance discussion will feature Daniel Pham, Cara Altimus, and Emily Baxi from Breakthrough Discoveries for Thriving with Bipolar Disorder (BD²). BD² is a collective force transforming what we know about and how we treat bipolar disorder. It’s a commitment to the 40 million people living with bipolar disorder, those not yet diagnosed, and their loved ones. Watch the recording.
Alliance Discussion with Robert Gebbia, Chief Executive Officer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Wednesday, September 14, at 2 p.m. ET
Robert Gebbia, Chief Executive Officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, joined us for a timely discussion on the important work of ASFP during Suicide Prevention Month. View the slides and watch the recording.
Alliance Discussion with Stephen Morrison, PhD, Senior Vice President and Director, Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Strategic & International Studies
Tuesday, September 13, at 11:30 a.m. ET
Join us for an alliance discussion featuring Stephen Morrison, PhD, Senior Vice President and Director, Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. Watch the recording here.
Alliance Discussion With John Balbus, MD, MPH, Interim Director, Office of Climate Change and Health Equity, HHS
Date: Monday, August 29, at 11 a.m. ET
Join us for a discussion featuring Dr. John Balbus, Interim Director of the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity, on the important work of this new office within HHS. View the slides and watch the recording.
Alliance Discussion: On the Hill
Date: Thursday, August 18, at 12 p.m. ET
Join us for an August-friendly alliance discussion for a conversation about unfinished business on the hill and nonpartisan candidate outreach strategies as we approach the midterms. View the slides.
Alliance Discussion with Grace Graham and Kristen Shatynski, House Energy and Commerce Committee Health Subcommittee
Date: Tuesday, August 9, at 11:00 a.m. ET
Grace Graham, Chief Minority Council, and Kristen Shatynski, Professional Staff Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Health Subcommittee joined us for an off-the-record conversation on efficiencies within the NIH and other important issues to the research community.
Alliance Discussion with Daniel Bausch, MD, MPH&TM, President, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Date: Wednesday, August 3, at 11 a.m. ET
Join us for an alliance discussion featuring Daniel Bausch, MD, MPH&TM, President, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and Senior Director of Emerging Threats & Global Health Security, FIND, will join us to discuss the Monkeypox outbreak and the U.S. response. Watch the recording here.
Alliance Discussion with Randall Rutta, Chief Executive Officer, National Health Council
Date: Wednesday, July 27, at 1 p.m. ET
National Health Council Chief Executive Officer Randall Rutta joined us to discuss his work with NHC, the organization’s vision for patient centricity, and how advocates can advance the goal of maximum patient engagement. View the slides and watch the recording.
Alliance Discussion with Julia Jester, Associate Vice President of Federal Relations, Association of American Universities (AAU)
Date: Tuesday, July 12, at 11 a.m. ET
Julia Jester, the Associate VP of Federal Relations at the Association of American Universities (AAU) joined us for an off-the-record update discussion on USICA.
Alliance Discussion with Lauren Bloch, Director of Health Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Faegre Drinker
Date: Wednesday, June 29, at 2 p.m. ET
Lauren Bloch, Director of Health Policy & Regulatory Affairs at Faegre Drinker, will join us to provide an update on ARPA-H legislation and action as the new health innovation incubator, intended to advance high-risk, high-reward breakthroughs in health takes shape. View the slides and watch the recording.
Alliance Discussion with Patroski J. Lawson, Chief Executive Officer of The KPM Group DC
Date: Wednesday, June 22, at 2 p.m. ET
Patroski J. Lawson, Chief Executive Officer of The KPM Group DC, and Katie Landes, Senior Director of Strategy and Execution at The KPM Group DC, joined us for a conversation on equity in mental health care access and its importance. Watch the recording here.
Alliance Discussion with Alex Keenan, Democratic Staff Director, Senate Appropriations Labor, HHS & Education Subcommittee
Date: Monday, June 6, 2022, at 2 p.m. ET
Alex Keenan, Democratic Staff Director of the Senate Appropriations Labor, HHS & Education Subcommittee, joined us for an off-the-record update on where we are in the FY23 appropriations process.
Alliance Discussion with Robert Valdez, PhD, MHSA, Director AHRQ
Date: Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at 11 a.m. ET.
Join Robert Valdez, PhD, MHSA, Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), for a discussion with alliance members. Watch the recording here.
Alliance Discussion with Clay Alspach, Principal at Leavitt Partners
Date: Thursday, May 5, 2022, at 1 p.m. ET.
Clay Alspach, Principal at Leavitt Partners and Former Chief Health Counsel of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, joined us for a conversation surrounding some of the most pressing issues on the table as Congress debates the reauthorizationof the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) and Medical Device User Fee Amendments (MDUFA) that are critical to ensuring continued innovations for patients. View the slides and watch the recording.
Alliance Discussion with Georges C. Benjamin, MD, Executive Director, American Public Health Association
Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at 1 p.m.
Join Georges C. Benjamin, MD, Executive Director, American Public Health Association and a Research!America Board member, is going to speak with us about the current state of the ever-evolving COVID-19 pandemic – where we are now, the new BA.2 variant, and what the future could hold for this pandemic (and if others may be on the horizon). Watch the recording.
Alliance Discussion with Rick Woychik, PhD, Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Date: Thursday, April 14, 2022, at 1:30 p.m.
Millions of Americans endure the sneezing, coughing, and congestion that arrive alongside the spring season every year. It’s just one example of how the environment and human health intersect. Rick Woychik, PhD, Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, joined us to discuss the myriad ways the environment and human health are interconnected. Watch the recording and view the slides.
Alliance Discussion with Barbara E. Bierer, MD, Faculty Director of the Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard University
Date: Thursday, March 31, 2022, at 2 p.m.
Barbara E. Bierer, MD, Faculty Director of the Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard University, and clinical trials expert, spoke with us about the importance of creating a system that maximizes the return of individual research results (IRR) to clinical trial participants, as well as efforts to advance that objective. She has spearheaded a policy framework grounded in honoring patient rights and expectations, promoting transparency, protecting privacy, and encouraging clinical trial participation. View the slides and watch the recording.
Research Security Webinar with Toby Smith, Vice President for Science Policy & Global Affairs, AAU, and Christina C. Eller, PhD, Assistant Director for Evidence and Policy, OSTP
Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at 2 p.m.
Toby Smith, Vice President for Science Policy & Global Affairs at the Association of American Universities and Christina C. Eller, PhD, Assistant Director for Evidence and Policy at the Office of Science and Technology Policy joined us to discuss how to address external threats to U.S. national security in academia while also maintaining our role as a global leader in science and technology.
On the Hill: Alliance Member Meeting
Date: Monday, March 14, 2022, at 1 p.m.
Join us for a discussion on appropriations.
Alliance Member Meeting with Darío Gil, PhD, Senior Vice President and Director of Research, IBM
Date: Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at 2 p.m.
Darío Gil, PhD, Senior Vice President and Director of Research, IBM, joined us for a discussion on quantum computing in medical research and development, ethical issues regarding neurotechnology, and the protection of personal medical data. Watch the recording.
Alliance Member Meeting with France A. Córdova, PhD, President, Science Philanthropy Alliance
Date: Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 1:15 p.m.
As part of our Special Discussion series with Research!America 2022 Advocacy Award honorees, France A. Córdova, PhD, President, Science Philanthropy Alliance and 2022 Geoffrey Beene Foundation Builders of Science Award honoree, spoke with Research!America CEO Mary Woolley about her tenure as director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), the role of private philanthropy in medical research, and much more. Watch the recording here.
Alliance Member Meeting with Paul T. Kim, Partner, Foley Hoag LLP
Date: Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 1 p.m.
Paul T. Kim, Partner, Foley Hoag LLP, joined us to discuss the critical intersection of the FDA approval process and the CMS coverage process – how do those processes work? Do they work in tandem? What are the dynamics around FDA’s “accelerated approval” pathway and Medicare and Medicaid coverage decisions? How do FDA’s and CMS’ roles in reviewing medical advances bear on patients? Watch the recording and view the slides.
Special Discussion with Neal F. Lane, PhD, Senior Fellow in Science and Technology Policy, Rice University Baker Institute for Public Policy
Date: Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 2:15 p.m.
Neal F. Lane, PhD, Senior Fellow in Science and Technology Policy, Rice University Baker Institute for Public Policy and 2022 Herbert Pardes Family Award for National Leadership in Advocacy for Research honoree, joined Victoria Schneider, PhD, Global Health R&D Program Manager at Research!America, for a Special Discussion focused on his career journey, the unique role of the President’s science advisor, and the critical steps the U.S. can take to better leverage R&D against current and looming societal challenges. Watch it here.
Alliance Member Meeting with Stefano Bertuzzi, PhD, MPH, Chief Executive Officer, American Society for Microbiology
Date: Thursday, February 3, 2022, 11:30 a.m. ET
Stefano Bertuzzi, PhD, MPH, Chief Executive Officer, American Society for Microbiology ,a leading expert of the microbial sciences, joined us to cover topics such as COVID-19 sequencing and testing, gain of function research of concern (a term that has garnered a lot of attention lately) and improving pandemic preparedness. Watch the recording and view the slides.
Alliance Member Meeting with Michael Lauer, MD, Deputy Director for Extramural Research, NIH
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2022, 11:30 a.m. ET
Michael Lauer, MD, Deputy Director for Extramural Research, NIH will join us for an off-the-record conversation. Topics will include how COVID-19, in addition to the current federal funding Continuing Resolution, are affecting NIH’s extramural grant program; workforce diversity; research security; and pandemic preparedness moving forward.
Special Discussion with Sue Peschin, MHS, President and CEO, Alliance for Aging Research
Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2022, 1:00 p.m. ET
A seasoned expert on the research and policy nuances surrounding some of the most pressing health challenges facing our nation, Sue Peschin, MHS, President and CEO, Alliance for Aging Research shared her perspective on priorities in the aging research arena and the landscape for aging issues in Congress. Watch it here.
Alliance Member Meeting with Amira Roess, PhD, MPH, Professor of Global Health and Epidemiology, College of Health and Human Services, Department of Global and Community Health, GMU
Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2022, 11:30 a.m. ET
Amira Roess, PhD, MPH, Professor of Global Health and Epidemiology, College of Health and Human Services, Department of Global and Community Health, GMU, joined us to discuss what’s known (and unknown) about the COVID-19 Omicron variant and its implications for the trajectory of the pandemic going forward. Watch it here.
Alliance Member Meeting with Eric Green, MD, PhD, Director, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH
Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2022, 2:00 p.m. ET
Eric Green, MD, PhD, Director, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, joined us to us to discuss the growing importance of genomic medicine in advancing health progress; new discoveries and applications in cancer detection and screening; the future of precision medicine; and his vision for the Institute’s role in genomic science. Watch it here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Steven Grossman, Deputy Executive Director, Alliance for a Stronger FDA, and Brent Del Monte, Principal, BGR Group
Date: Monday, December 20, 2021, 1 p.m. ET
Steven Grossman, Executive Director, Alliance for a Stronger FDA, and Brent Del Monte, Principal, BGR Group, spoke with us about the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) reauthorization that Congress is expected to take up next year. Steven and Brent shared with us insights into the possible legislative timing and what the reauthorization may entail. Watch it here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Lee A. Fleisher, MD, CMS Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Pete Kirkham, President, Red Maple Consulting
Date: Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 12:30 p.m. ET
Lee A. Fleisher, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, CMS, joined us to talk about the use of data and research to inform key policy decisions at CMS. Pete Kirkham, President, Red Maple Consulting, also provided a state-of-play update on the busy Congressional calendar. Watch it here.
Special Discussion with Dr. Ashish Jha, Brown University School of Public Health, and Christopher Murray, University of Washington
Date: Monday, December 6, 2021, 2:15 p.m. ET
Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of Brown University School of Public Health and Christopher Murray, Professor & Chair, Health Metrics Sciences and Director, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington discussed their respective roles in addressing COVID-19 and their observations and hopes for the future. Watch it here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Vivian W. Pinn, MD, Inaugural Director, Office of Research on Women’s Health, NIH (Retired)
Date: Tuesday, November 30, 2021, 1 p.m. ET
Vivian W. Pinn, MD, Inaugural Director, Office of Research on Women’s Health, NIH (Retired), and a leader in the health equity movement, spoke with Research!America CEO Mary Woolley about her vision for elevating women’s health and the challenges and triumphs that have defined her trailblazing path in the health equity arena. Watch it here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Bill Novelli, Georgetown University; Mathew Myers, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids; and Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, American Public Health Association
Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2021, 1:30 p.m. ET
Bill Novelli, Georgetown University, Mathew Myers, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, American Public Health Association joined us for a discussion on advocacy & social movements through reflection on the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. Watch it here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Diana W. Bianchi, MD, Director, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Date: Tuesday, November 9, 2021, 2 p.m. ET
Diana W. Bianchi, MD, Director, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, joined us to about ongoing research exploring the impact of COVID-19 on children, as well as other key priorities for NICHD. View her slides and watch the recording.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Joel White, Executive Director of the Health Innovation Alliance, and Pete Kirkham, President of Red Maple Consulting
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2021, 1 p.m. ET
Joel White, Executive Director of the Health Innovation Alliance, joined us to share what’s new in the digital health and telemedicine arenas (which have been so key as we have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic). We also heard from Pete Kirkham, President of Red Maple Consulting. Pete provided a “state of play” update on everything that’s happening on Capitol Hill. View Joel’s slides and watch the recording.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Grace Graham, Chief Counsel, House Energy and Commerce Committee
Date: Thursday, October 21, 2021, 11:30 a.m. ET
In this off-the-record meeting, Grace Graham, Chief Counsel, House Energy and Commerce Committee, will join us for a discussion. Register here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Jane Bigham, MPH, Senior Health Policy Advisor, Senate HELP Committee
Date: Wednesday, October 13, 2021, 2 p.m. ET
Jane Bigham, MPH, Senior Health Policy Advisor, Senate HELP Committee, will join us for a discussion.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Lee McIntyre, Research Fellow, Center for Philosophy and History of Science, Boston University
Date: October 6, 2021, 1 p.m. ET
Lee McIntyre, a Research Fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University, will join us for a discussion. Watch the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Paul L. Epner, MBA, MEd, CEO and Co-founder, Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine
Date: September 30, 2021, 1 p.m. ET
Paul L. Epner, MBA, MEd, CEO and Co-founder of the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine, joined us for a discussion about the crucial importance of equipping physicians with the right information and tools to diagnose disease with accuracy and timeliness. Watch the recording and review the slides.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Rena D’Souza, DDS, MS, PhD, Director, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Date: September 28, 2021, 2 p.m. ET
Rena D’Souza, DDS, MS, PhD, Director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, will join us for a discussion. Watch it here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Aisling McDonough, Senior Advisor, Health Policy, and Emma B. Alme, PhD, NHGRI/ASHG Genetics & Public Policy Fellow, Office of Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo
Date: September 20, 2021, 1 p.m. ET
In this off-the-record meeting, Aisling McDonough, Senior Advisor, Health Policy, and Emma B. Alme, PhD, NHGRI/ASHG Genetics & Public Policy Fellow, Office of Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo joined us to discuss ARPA-H.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Rima F. Khabbaz, MD, Director, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC
Date: September 9, 2021, 11 a.m. ET
Rima F. Khabbaz, MD, Director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases at the CDC will join us for a discussion. Watch it here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Carrie D. Wolinetz, PhD, Deputy Director for Health & Life Sciences, Office of Science & Technology Policy
Date: September 2, 2021, 1 p.m. ET
Carrie D. Wolinetz, PhD, Deputy Director for Health & Life Sciences, Office of Science & Technology Policy joined us for a discussion about OSTP. Watch the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Brian Southwell, PhD, Senior Director, Science in the Public Sphere Program, Center for Communication Science, RTI International
Date: July 29, 2021, 11-11:30 a.m. ET
We will hear from an expert on the seeming explosion of misinformation/disinformation, researcher Brian Southwell, PhD, Senior Director of the Science in the Public Sphere Program in the Center for Communication Science at RTI International. Southwell shared several resources to help us understand combat misinformation including The Duke Program on Medical Misinformation and the Vaccination from the Misinformation Virus documentary. Watch the full discussion.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Jessica Drislane and Jaime S. Rubin, PhD
Date: July 28, 2021, 1-1:45 p.m. ET
Jessica Drislane, CEO of OpenScholar LLC, and Jaime S. Rubin, PhD, Vice Chair for Investigator Development and Professor of Medical Sciences at Columbia University, spoke with us about different strategies for securing grant funding. Watch this informative discussion here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Tannaz Rasouli, Senior Director, Public Policy & Strategic Outreach, Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
Date: July 21, 2021, 12:00-12:30 p.m. ET
Tannaz Rasouli, Senior Director of Public Policy and Strategic Outreach at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), joined us to deliver a state of play. Watch it here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Larry Tabak, PhD, DDS, Principal Deputy Director of NIH, and Tara Schwetz, Assistant Director for Biomedical Science Initiatives at OSTP
Date: July 14, 2021, 1 p.m. ET
Larry Tabak, PhD, DDS, Principal Deputy Director of NIH, and Tara Schwetz, Assistant Director for Biomedical Science Initiatives at OSTP, joined us for an off-the-record discussion about the proposed ARPA-H.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Joni L. Rutter, PhD, Acting Director, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Date: July 13, 2021, 1:30-2 p.m. ET
Joni L. Rutter, PhD, Acting Director, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, joined us to discuss the Center’s priorities as it marks its 10th anniversary. Watch it here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Sherie Lou Santos and Mark Ratner
Date:Jul 8, 2021, 1 p.m. ET
Sherie Lou Santos, Health Policy Director for Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Mark Ratner, Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI) joined us.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Scott Corley
Date: June 28, 2021, 2:30-3 p.m. ET
Scott Corley, Executive Director, Task Force for American Innovation, joined us to discuss the outlook for bills that could have a dramatic effect on U.S. science and technology (the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act and the NSF for the Future Act). Watch the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Peder Maarbjerg, Assistant Director for External Coordination, ARPA-E
Date: June 22, 2021, 2-3 p.m. ET
Peder Maarbjerg, Assistant Director for External Coordination, ARPA-E, joined us for an off-the-record conversation on ARPA-E.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Robyn Castellani
Date: June 17, 2021, 1-1:40 p.m. ET
Robyn Castellani, a nationally recognized marketing and advocacy expert whose success is grounded in key findings from social and behavioral research, will share insights on how to connect with your audience with confidence, authenticity, and impact. Watch it here. View the slides here.
Research!America Alliance Member Roundtable on ARPA-H
Date: June 10, 2021, 11:00 a.m. ET
Our alliance members had the opportunity to share their thoughts and hear from others within our alliance about their perspectives on the ARPA-H proposal and the key variables that will determine the role it plays in advancing medical progress in this off-the-record, members-only meeting.
Research!America Alliance Member Webinar with Dr. Josh Gordon
Date: June 1, 2021, 1:30 p.m. ET
Dr. Josh Gordon, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), spoke with us about the Institute’s COVID-19 response, the intersection between the pandemic and mental health, and progress against other mental health threats. Watch the recording here and view his slides here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Lainie Rutkow
Date: Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 2 p.m. ET
Lainie Rutkow, JD, PhD, from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, joined us to discuss the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center and how it continues to evolve. Watch the recording here. Check out the slide deck here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with The Honorable Bart Gordon
Date: Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 10 a.m. ET
The Honorable Bart Gordon (U.S Representative, 1985-2011), former Chair and Ranking Member of the House Science Committee, will join us for a conversation on how lessons from ARPA-E, which he played a lead role in establishing, can be applied to support the success of ARPA-H. Watch the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Jennifer Cama
Date: Monday, May 10, 2021 at 1 p.m. ET
Jennifer Cama, U.S. House Appropriations Labor-H Subcommittee,joined us for an off-the-record conversation.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Ned Sharpless
Date: Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. ET
Dr. Ned Sharpless, Director of the National Cancer Institute, discussed the Institute’s research priorities, his perspective on the potential role of ARPA-H in driving progress against cancer, and other timely topics. Watch the recording and view his slides here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Dr. Carolyn Clancy and Emily J. Holubowich
Date: Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 1 p.m. ET
Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Acting Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, will join us for a conversation about the VA’s research priorities (the VA’s role in driving medical and public health progress is always impactful). Emily Holubowich, Vice President of Federal Advocacy with American Heart Association, will also join us to demystify the complexities of the federal budget and appropriations process. Watch the recording here. You can access Dr. Clancy’s slides here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Benjamin Yerxa, Karen Petrou, and Lauren Citron on “BioBonds” Proposal, and Dr. Albert Ruenes
Date: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 2 p.m. ET
Benjamin Yerxa, CEO at Foundation Fighting Blindness, Retinal Degeneration Fund (RD Fund), and Karen Petrou, Managing Partner of Federal Financial Analytics, Inc, will join us to discuss a “BioBonds” proposal aimed at creating a federally-backed loan program for certain clinical trials. Lauren Citron, Congressman Bobby Rush’s (D-IL) Legislative Director, will join Benjamin Yerxa and Karen Petrou to discuss the Congressman’s “BioBonds” high risk, high reward R&D financing proposal. Congressman Rush will also appear, via video.
Dr. Albert Ruenes, a nationally recognized urological surgeon and leader at his community hospital in Doylestown, PA will join us to discuss the challenges community hospitals faced as COVID-19 bore down on our nation, the ongoing challenges this relentless virus poses for hospital providers, and his perspective on pandemic preparedness going forward. Watch the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Walter J. Koroshetz
Date: Thursday, April 15, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. ET
Walter J. Koroshetz, MD, Director, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) will speak with us about the Institute’s work to combat “Long COVID,” including a soon-to-be-launched effort on the issue. Watch here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Alex Keenan
Date: Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 2 p.m. ET
Alex Keenan, majority Staff Director for the Senate LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee, joined us for an off-the-record conversation on the Chair’s priorities for the Subcommittee and the status of FY22 appropriations.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Shannon Zenk and David Goldston
Date: Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 2 p.m. ET
Dr. Shannon Zenk will share insights on the unique and evermore significant role nursing research plays in health and health care. MIT’s David Goldston will then join us to discuss the Schumer/Young Endless Frontier Act, a soon-to-be-reintroduced bill aiming to significantly reinforce our nation’s technological capabilities. Watch the recording.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Mike Stebbins
Date: Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. ET
Dr. Mike Stebbins, President of Science Advisors and former Assistant Director for Biotechnology at OSTP, joined us to discuss a proposal recently referenced by President Biden designed to accelerate progress against particularly steep challenges in the health arena. Check out the presentation slides and watch the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with David Skorton
Date: Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 2 p.m. ET
Dr. David J. Skorton, President and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges, joined us to discuss the Association’s 2021 priorities, the impact of COVID-19 on medical research, and securing robust FY22 funding for NIH. Watch it here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Peter Marks
Date: Monday, March 8, 2021 at 1:15 p.m. ET
Dr. Peter Marks, Director of FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), joined us to discuss updates on vaccine development outlook, updates on emergency use authorization, and more. You can find the slides here and access the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Anne Schuchat
Date: Thursday, March 4, 2021 at 1:45 p.m. ET
Dr. Anne Schuchat, Principal Deputy Director of CDC. Dr. Schuchat discussed COVID-19 variants, current developments in COVID-19 vaccination and other key issues as efforts to combat the pandemic continue. Watch the discussion here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with John Burklow
Date: Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at 1 p.m. ET
John Burklow, Associate Director for Communications and Public Liaison at US Department of Health and Human Services, NIH, will join us to discuss NIH’s priorities for 2021 as the agency continues its efforts to assure science wins out over this and future pandemics, advances research aimed at other deadly and debilitating health threats and contends with such emerging issues as cyber security breaches. Watch the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Sherie Lou Santos and Mark Ratner
Date: Friday, February 26, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. ET
Sherie Lou Santos, Health Policy Director for Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Mark Ratner, Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI) will join us to discuss 21st Century Cures 2.0, the Research Investment to Spark the Economy (RISE) Act, and other 2021 priorities for their bosses. Watch the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Kafui Dzirasa
Date: Thursday, February 11, 2021; 2 p.m. ET
Dr. Kafui Dzirasa, K. Ranga Rama Krishnan Endowed Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University Medical Center, joined us to reflect on his experience pursuing a career in science and discuss the path to a future in which racial, ethnic, and gender diversity, inclusiveness, and justice are intrinsic, rather than aspirational, societal attributes. Watch the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call on Key Insights into Americans’ Views on Science
Date: Thursday, February 4, 2021; 2:00 p.m. ET
Featured Speakers:
- Cary Funk, Director of Science and Society Research at Pew Research Center
- Dr. Chris Volpe, Executive Director for Science Counts
- Mary Woolley, President and CEO of Research!America
Research!America Alliance Member Call on FY22 Funding
Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2021; 1 p.m. ET
Subject matter experts, Rob Smith with Capital Alpha Partners and Sarah Egge with SplitOak Strategies, will discuss the 2021 Congressional agenda, appropriations, 21st Century Cures “2.0,” the reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), FDA regulatory developments, drug pricing proposals, and more. Watch the recording.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Steve Clemons
Date: Friday, January 22, 2021; 2:00 p.m. ET
Editor-At-Large of The Hill Steve Clemons joined us for a look at current political dynamics and the implications for R&D-related funding and policy this year. Watch the recording.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Georges Benjamin
Date: Thursday, January 14, 2021; 2:00 p.m. ET
American Public Health Association Executive Director Dr. Georges Benjamin discussed COVID-19 vaccine distribution, new strains of the virus, and other key issues as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on. Watch the recording.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Larry Tabak
Date: Monday, January 11, 2021; 2:00 p.m. ET
Dr. Larry Tabak, Principal Deputy Director of the National Institutes of Health, and Dr. Michael Lauer, NIH Deputy Director of Extramural Research, discussed updates for FY21 NIH grants and answered audience questions. Watch the recording.
Some resources mentioned:
COGR white paper that Dr. Lauer mentioned regarding research funders’ approaches to COVID’s impact on productivity: Research Impact Under COVID-19: Financial Crisis and the “Pandemic Normal”
Office of Extramural site noting ESI status extension and links to submission instructions: Can ESI Status Be Extended Due to Disruptions From COVID-19?
Stephen I. Katz Award links and application due dates: Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Bill Novelli and Frank Sesno
Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2020; 1:30 p.m. ET
Bill Novelli joined us for a fireside chat led by and Frank Sesno. Bill Novelli, founder of the Business for Impact program at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, former CEO of AARP, and founder and Chair of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, discussed his new book Good Business: The Talk, Fight, Win Way to Change the World (https://www.billnovelli.com/), as well as the lessons he has learned that can be helpful in finding purpose in our work. View the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Dr. Peter Marks
Date: Monday, December 14, 2020; 1:30 p.m. ET
With several COVID-19 vaccine candidates under FDA review, Dr. Peter Marks, Director of FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), joined us to discuss the Emergency Use Authorization process and FDA’s commitment to rigorous safety and efficacy evaluation of these fast-tracked vaccines. View the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Dr. Jon Lorsch, NIGMS
Date: Monday, December 7, 2020; 1:30 p.m. ET
Dr. Jon Lorsch, Director for the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), joined us to address such topics as the impact of COVID-19 related costs on NIGMS-funded basic research. Watch the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Dr. Alan Peterson
Date: Thursday, December 3, 2020; 2 p.m. ET
Dr. Alan Peterson joined us to discuss the critical intersection between the pandemic and mental health, including depression and PTSD. Dr. Peterson is Professor and Chief, Division of Behavioral Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He also discussed the latest in PTSD research and the research into the lingering effects of the pandemic.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Paul Bock
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2020; 3:30 p.m. ET
This member meeting will focus on the 2020 election outlook. Paul Bock, Partner with Thorn Run Partners and former Chief of Staff for Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), will join us to discuss the 2020 election outlook. Listen to the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call on BRAIN Initiative
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2020; 1 p.m. ET
NINDS Director Dr. Walter Koroshetz, BRAIN Initiative Director Dr. John Ngai, Chief of the Scientific and Public Engagement Branch in the Office of Neuroscience Communications and Engagement (ONCE) Dr. Samantha White who provided an update on this Initiative and relevant issues such as neuroethics.
Research!America Alliance Member Call on ClinicalTrials.gov with Anna Fine and Becky Williams
Date: Thursday, October 15, 2020; 2:30 p.m. ET
Guest speakers Rebecca Williams, PharmD, MPH, acting director of ClinicalTrials.gov at the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health and Anna Fine, PharmD, Deputy Director at NLM ClinicalTrials.gov detailed the role ClinicalTrials.gov is playing in COVID-19 information-sharing and the status of a major ClinicalTrials.gov modernization project in which Research!America has been participating. Access the summary report of the modernization comments here. Watch the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Lou Garrison and Dr. Andras Incze
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2020; 11 a.m. ET
Dr. Lou Garrison, Professor Emeritus, Comparative Health Outcomes, Policy, and Economics (CHOICE) Institute, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington and Dr. András Incze, founder and CEO of Akceso Advisors, discussed the International Reference Pricing (IRP) model as it relates to a recent Executive Order on drug costs. Dr. Garrison and Dr. Incze emphasized that the E.O. could have long-term negative impacts on R&D and access to treatments worldwide. As an alternative, Drs. Garrison and Incze outlined how a value-based approach – one in which price is tied to the value of a therapy’s health outcomes – could function to address affordability while supporting innovation. For a copy of the slides presented, please contact Dr. Lou Garrison at lgarrisn@uw.edu.
Research!America Alliance Member Call about Injury Prevention Research
Date: Thursday, October 1, 2020; 1:30 p.m. ET
Dr. Ross McKinney Jr., Chief Scientific Officer, AAMC moderated a panel discussion with esteemed panelists Dr. Rebecca Cunningham, Director, Injury Prevention Center at the University of Michigan, Dr. Stephen Hargarten, MPH, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Associate Dean of Global Health at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Dr. Therese S. Richmond, Andrea B. Laporte Professor of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Frederick P. Rivara, Seattle Children’s Guild Association Endowed Chair in Pediatric Research at the University of Washington, on what is new in injury prevention research and what is needed to move the needle on firearms violence research.
You can view the full recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Larry Tabak
Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2020; 2:30 p.m. ET
Dr. Larry Tabak, Principal Deputy Director of the National Institutes of Health, discussed how NIH is addressing the current funding situation due to COVID-19 and the outlook for FY2021 grants. Dr. Tabak stressed the continued flexibility of NIH regarding the needs of extramural researchers. The extramural staff at NIH have worked diligently to switch to remote operations, and processes like peer review and the application process have continued to be successful. In some areas, like peer review, the remote model may even be continued beyond the pandemic. Regarding the flexibility of the Institutes/Centers (ICs), many are considering extensions on a grant-by-grant basis, recognizing that researchers face unique challenges during this time. Overall, flexibility has and will continue to be key for all parties. In October, a survey will be sent to extramural organizers/researchers and feedback is greatly appreciated.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Eliseo Pérez-Stable
Date: Monday, July 27, 2020, 2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. ET
Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, MD, Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), discussed that the groups of his institute’s focus — racial and ethnic minorities, those from low socio-economic status, underserved rural residents, and sexual and gender minorities — have a shorter life expectancy than other Americans. COVID-19 has spotlighted this dramatically.
Access his recent opinion piece on this in JAMA. Dr. Pérez-Stable also discussed funding opportunities for scientists — of particular interest for those working alongside NIMHD– through NIH’s Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Dr. Judith Salerno
Date: Thursday, July 23, 2020, 1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. ET
Judith A. Salerno, MD, MS, President of The New York Academy of Medicine, shared her experience returning to clinical work at Bellevue Hospital during the height of the COVID-19 crisis in New York City. Dr. Salerno joined the palliative care unit, connecting families with loved ones in the ICU, which was logistically difficult given that most of her patients were intubated, and family members could not visit in person. When Dr. Salerno arrived at Bellevue, there were seven ICUs full of intubated COVID-19 patients. The vast majority were people of color, and about half of Dr. Salerno’s patients’ families did not speak English, so she had to speak through a translator. Many of the patients had worked in environments like kitchens or construction sites and lived in apartments with many other people. Some delayed seeking care because they did not know they were entitled to care no matter their legal status; others had to keep working because they needed the money.
Dr. Salerno also discussed the severe PPE shortage. On her first day, Dr. Salerno received just one N95 mask to use, though she eventually accumulated five masks that she rotated through — one for each day of the week. Dr. Salerno noted that she saw many unanticipated symptoms given that doctors thought COVID-19 was an acute respiratory syndrome; these included kidney failure, strokes, and clotting such that limbs required amputation. Dr. Salerno and her colleagues also saw guidance shifting early on because there was no clear understanding of best practices at the beginning of the pandemic. Now, Dr. Salerno says, there is much clearer guidance, like using anticoagulants, acquiring dialysis machines, and implementing new treatment regimens.
Dr. Salerno also noted that she is very concerned about emotional trauma in health workers, particularly young medical professionals. She spoke about the nightmares that workers experienced and of walking two miles home every day just to decompress. While there are mental health resources in place now, Dr. Salerno predicts that the fallout from this crisis will be long-lasting. Finally, Dr. Salerno emphasized that advocates must relentlessly press for vaccination awareness and future funding.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Dr. Gary Gibbons
Date: Monday, July 13, 2020, 1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Gary Gibbons, MD, Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) discussed NHLBI’s COVID-19 response given the significance of heart and lung conditions, racial and ethnic disparities in the pandemic’s impact, and the effect of COVID-19 on research outside the pandemic’s sphere. Dr. Gibbons explained how COVID-19 is affecting many of the organ systems under the umbrella of NHLBI. The institute is working to understand the pathophysiology of COVID-19, test new treatments, promote blood safety, and test behavioral, social and community-based interventions. Dr. Gibbons also explained that COVID-19 seems to specifically affect the blood, leading to blood clots which can damage the heart and lungs. Dr. Gibbons has high hopes for serum treatment from recovered patients being used to prevent the disease from worsening in other patients. NHLBI has also launched a collaboration called connect, which does just that among different clinical trial sectors within the NHLBI. Dr. Gibbons also touched on Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) Associated with COVID-19 and how NHBLI is investigating this disease. See the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Meeting with Dr. Chris Austin
Date: Thursday, July 9, 2020, 4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Chris Austin, MD, Director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences at the National Institutes of Health joined us to talk about NCATS’s new Open Data Portal, National COVID Cohort Collaborative and other NCATS priorities. Also on the live video call was Dr. Joni Rutter, Deputy Director of NCATS, who discussed the current open science initiatives at NCATS in the context of COVID-19. The National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) is a centralized, secure platform to store and study data. The goal is to collect and harmonize up to 1-2 million U.S. clinical health records. Then, collaborative analytics will be performed to develop treatments and answer questions like “Can we predict who might have severe outcomes?”
Another initiative, SARS-CoV-2 OpenData, is speeding the identification of drugs for COVID-19 by sharing results and methods from ongoing research of drug repurposing. The idea is to run as many experiments as possible across all drugs and to make the data immediately available to the world.
Finally, CURE ID is a mobile app created from a collaboration between NCATS and the FDA. The app allows health care workers to share their clinical experience using approved drugs to treat diseases other than the one they were originally intended for.
Research!America Alliance Member Webinar with Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK)
Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2020, 11:30 a.m. ET
Featuring: Congressman Tom Cole
Research!America members met virtually with Congressman Tom Cole, the ranking member of the Labor-H subcommittee. Rep. Cole explained that Congress is working on both the appropriation markups and another supplemental bill. Congressman Cole expects that the supplemental will be completed by late July or early August. It will include financing for personal assistance, NIH, state and tribal assistance, and school and daycare funding. The congressman expressed the need for Congress to set aside emergency money and to build up the CDC’s infrastructure to prepare for a future crisis. Equating COVID-19 to a “biomedical Pearl Harbor,” Rep. Cole emphasized that we “need to spend billions to save trillions” and prioritize strengthening our public health system and research enterprise during this appropriations season. Overall, Rep. Cole thinks that NIH will receive increased funding but that in the next year they may see a dip in funding since most of this year’s funding is coming from supplements.
Research!America Alliance Member Webinar with Dr. Tom Frieden
Date: Monday, June 29, 2020, 1:30 p.m. ET
Featuring: Dr. Tom Frieden, CEO, Resolve to Save Lives
Former CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of Vital Strategies, joined alliance members to discuss a proposal he and other public health leaders have developed to expedite the resources needed when pandemics and other national public health emergencies arise. Dr. Frieden advocated for a balanced portfolio of research that spans basic to operational across a range of agencies, to achieve the maximum possible health benefit. He argued that research should not just be led by the NIH — it should include the FDA, CDC, BARDA, HHS, and Department of Agriculture. Dr. Frieden stated that the federal government has not stepped up to lead during this emergency, emphasizing that public health must guide us forward. He advocated for sustained support for public health through funding and public messaging, disease surveillance, more nuanced reopening strategies, and use of the “Box-it-in” approach, which includes widespread testing, contact tracing, isolating infected people, and quarantine periods. Dr. Frieden mentioned a resource for state-level data: covidexitstrategy.org, which was created by Resolve to Save Lives.
If you are a Research!America alliance member, click here to see the recording.
Research!America Alliance Member Webinar with Dr. Nora Volkow
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2020, 1 p.m. ET
Featuring: Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at NIH and Patrick J. Kennedy, Former U.S. Representative (D – RI) and Founder of the Kennedy Forum.
Dr. Volkow discussed the Institute’s COVID-19 response and the precarious intersection between the pandemic, individuals with substance use disorders, and substance misuse. Dr. Volkow began the meeting by describing the landscape of COVID-19 and drug use. Dr. Volkow explained that taking drugs negatively impacts the lungs, metabolism, and heart, increasing the chances of a complication for a patient with COVID-19. While access to addiction treatment is still woefully insufficient, COVID-19 has changed some regulations regarding telehealth. Doctors can now prescribe addiction medication via telehealth and patients are allowed to take methadone at home for one month at a time. Dr. Volkow ended her segment by talking about NIDA’s supplemental initiative to garner research about COVID-19 as it relates to HIV or hepatitis C treatments.
After hearing from Dr. Volkow, The Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy spoke about his experience on Capitol Hill striving for more inclusive mental health reform. He applauded NIDA for emphasizing service related research. Mr. Kennedy explained that depression needs to have it’s own agency, similar to NCI or NIDA and that we will need a “Moon Shot” to make vast improvements for depression treatment and regulations. Mr. Kennedy also expressed the need for mental health services to be reimbursable by insurance companies.
If you are an alliance member, click here to see the recording.
Immigration Update with Scott Corley and Michael Maloney
Date: Monday, June 22, 2020, 2 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Featuring: Scott Corley, President of Corley Consulting and Michael Moloney, CEO of the American Institute of Physics.
Scott Corley of Corley Consulting gave a state of play for current and upcoming executive actions regarding immigration and researchers. President Trump was expected to sign an executive order on June 22, under the executive 212(f) authority that will suspend the following immigration programs days with very few exclusions: H1B, L1 (except for L1-A, which includes intracompany transferees who work in managerial or executive positions in a company located outside of the U.S.), and J visas (J-1 is for individuals approved to participate in work-and study-based exchange visitor programs, and J-2 is for the spouse and/or children of J-1 recipients). However, this will only impact new visas, not visa renewal, and the elimination of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) will not be included in the executive order.
Michael Moloney, PhD, of the American Institute of Physics led a discussion of the steps members could take in the advocacy space. Currently, a Change.org petition created by Dr. Ushma Neill of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has gathered almost 10,000 signatures. Several organizations, including American Association for Dental Research, and APS, are also involving their own members, particularly students who have experience with these programs; they are leading Twitter and letter writing campaigns directed at members of Congress. Dr. Moloney also highlighted NAFSA as a resource for data to support advocacy.
Research!America Alliance Member Webinar with Dr. Jeff Allen
Date: Friday, June 19, 2020, 12 p.m. ET
Featuring: Dr. Jeff Allen, President and CEO of Friends of Cancer Research
For this alliance meeting, Jeff Allen, president and CEO of Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) joined members. Dr. Allen spoke about the halted clinical trials and the long term impacts of COVID-19 on clinical research. Though COVID-19 has stalled trials, limited patient access to treatment, and plummeted preventive screenings, there have been a few silver linings. These include expediting IRB reviews, preplanned modifications and amendments, utilization of master protocols, and the adoption of remote services such as telehealth and prescription delivery. Friends has partnered with the Regan-Udall Foundation to develop the COVID-19 Evidence Accelerator. The goal of the accelerator is to leverage real-world data to learn about the COVID-19 crisis and how effective therapeutics, diagnostics, and vaccines are and will be. The accelerator uses tools such as prioritized research questions, common data elements, and common protocols to facilitate the combination of real-world data from many collaborative sources. Dr. Allen stated that the goal is to generate open communication and speed the process of data collection and analysis.
If you are an alliance member, click here to view the recording.
Research!America Alliance Member Webinar with Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2020, 1 p.m. ET
Featuring: Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, The White House
Dr. Droegemeier anticipates the administration releasing its R&D priorities memo in July, and that education will figure prominently. He welcomed suggestions for reinvigorating the research enterprise as it reopens. In closing, he said, “The research enterprise is the future of our country. Science has a special moment right now; we can’t take our foot off the gas.”
Research!America Alliance Member Webinar with Dr. Josh Gordon
Date: June 1, 2020, 1 p.m. ET
Featuring: Dr. Josh Gordon, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Dr. Gordon discussed the Institute’s work about NIMH’s COVID-19 response and the critical intersection between the pandemic and mental health. He explained that the global impact, social isolation, and the length of the crisis will affect people’s mental health and require innovative solutions. While many NIMH clinical trials have been stalled due to COVID-19, new survey and telehealth trials have begun to obtain the best possible understanding of how this crisis is affecting patient populations. Dr. Gordon further explained that NIMH has opened and will open more supplementary opportunities for extramural researchers to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and possible solutions.
If you are an alliance member, click here to view the recording.
Research!America Alliance Member Webinar with Dr. Carolyn Clancy and Dr. Rachel Ramoni
Date: May 29, 2020, 2 p.m. ET
Featuring: Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Deputy Under Secretary for Discovery, Education and Affiliate Networks (10X), Veterans Health Administration; Dr. Rachel Ramoni, Chief Research and Development Officer (10P9), Veterans Health Administration
This alliance call hosted two members of the Veterans Health Administration; Dr. Carolyn Clancy, the Deputy Secretary for Discovery, Education and Affiliate Network, and Dr. Rachel Ramoni, Chief Research and Development officer. Dr. Clancy began the discussion by demonstrating the breadth and funding of the Veteran’s Association. Dr. Ramoni then spoke about the VA’s overarching strategic principles and the valuable clinical trials structure which has allowed the VA to quickly adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic. The VA is uniquely positioned to contribute to research. During the COVID-19 crisis, the VA has expanded access for the Mayo Clinic convalescent-plasma protocol at more that 80 VA medical clinics, conducted the HITCH clinical trial which is testing a prostate cancer drug, degarelix, as a COVID-19 treatment, conducted the Epidemiology, Immunology, and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 (EPIC3) “natural history” observational study with DOD, assisted in NIAID-sponsored trials of remdesivir and baricitinib, and worked with big data and informatics. During the question portion of the meeting, Dr. Clancy explained that the VA is making strong progress in telehealth. For a recap of this discussion, click here.
Research!America Alliance Member Webinar with U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-8)
Date: Thursday, May 28, 3 p.m. ET
An alliance member call with U.S. Representative Don Beyer, (D-VA-8) to discuss current priorities and recent AHRQ proposals.
Research!America Alliance Member Webinar with Dr. Victor Dzau
Date: May 22, 2020, 1 p.m. ET
Featuring: Dr. Victor Dzau, President of the National Academy of Medicine
Dr. Dzau discussed the NAM’s work related to COVID-19, main issues in what it will take to effectively respond to the pandemic, and what might change in how we respond to future outbreaks. Dr. Dzau started the conversation with an impressive overview of the National Academy of Medicine’s response to COVID19. He explained that an expert committee has completed 11 expert consultations on topics ranging from virus shedding to the effectiveness of fabric masks. Dr. Dzau also stressed the importance of innovation and technology.
If you are an alliance member, click here to view the recording.
Research!America Alliance Member Webinar with the Honorable Louis W. Sullivan
Date: May 11, 2020
Featuring: Dr. Louis Sullivan, former Secretary, Health and Human Services, and Chairman, Sullivan Alliance to Transform the Health Professions.
Dr. Sullivan spoke about the importance of biomedical research and how it has improved human health. In 1989, Dr. Sullivan was on the front lines of the HIV/AIDS crisis as secretary of HHS under the Bush administration. Today, HIV/AIDS patients live longer and healthier lives because of biomedical innovation. Dr. Sullivan explained that examples of research leading to treatments and vaccines, such as HIV/AIDS, smallpox, and polio, can be used to show the public the importance of biomedical research. Now, in the current pandemic, biomedical research must continue to be a high priority. Dr. Sullivan also discussed the African American, Latino, and Indigenous populations which are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Minorities have higher infection rates and hospitalization rates and are more likely to die from COVID-19 than non-minorities. Dr. Sullivan explained that this is because more minorities work in service jobs, minorities have a history of distrusting medical professionals, and are more likely to have underlying conditions such as heart disease and obesity which make patients more susceptible to COVID-19. Dr. Sullivan finished his remarks by stating that investing in health is an investment in a better future.
You can view the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Peter Hotez
Date: May 6, 2020
Featuring: Dr. Peter Hotez, Dean of the Baylor School of Medicine National School of Tropical Medicine
Dr. Peter Hotez spoke about the history of vaccines, COVID-19 vaccine development, and the spread of the novel coronavirus across the southern hemisphere. He also spoke about the anti-science and anti-vaccine movements in our country and globally.
You can watch the meeting here and you can view his slides here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Francis Collins and Dr. Keith Yamamoto
Date: April 30, 2020
Featuring: Dr. Francis Collins, Director, National Institutes of Health; Dr. Keith Yamamoto, Professor Emeritus; Vice Chancellor for Science Policy and Strategy; Director, UCSF Precision Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
Dr. Collins provided an overview of NIH’s unprecedented Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) and the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) Initiative. Dr. Yamamoto discussed the impact of COVID-19 on the research ecosystem and highlighted some of the collaborations taking place to respond to the pandemic. Listen to the recording here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Donna Cryer
Date: April 28, 2020
Featuring: Donna Cryer, President and CEO of the Global Liver Institute; Leslie Ritter, Associate Vice President, Federal Government Relations at National MS Society
Donna shared updates on her organization’s comprehensive COVID-19 response program. Leslie discussed the disruptive impact of COVID-19 on research supported by voluntary health associations, philanthropies and scientific societies.
For a recording of the call, click here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg
Date: April 20, 2020
Featuring: Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg, President of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and chair of the National Academies Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases
Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg discussed the steps needed to contain and ultimately end the COVID-19 pandemic.
For a recording of the call, click here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Rick Bright and Scott Whitaker
Date: April 15, 2020
Featuring: Dr. Rick Bright, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA); Scott Whitaker, President and CEO of AdvaMed
Scott Whitaker discussed how the medical device and diagnostic sectors are working on to combat the pandemic. Dr. Rick Bright provided an update on BARDA’s COVID-19 efforts.
You can find a link to this terrific conversation here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Robert Redfield
Date: April 13, 2020
Featuring: Dr. Robert Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Research!America hosted a conference call for our members and partners on April 13, 2020, with Dr. Robert Redfield who provided an overview of the COVID-19 pandemic and the CDC’s response.
There is no recording available for this call. Access highlights from the call here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Adrienne Hallett
Date: April 9, 2020
Featuring: Adrienne Hallett, Director of the NIH Office for Legislative Policy and Analysis
Research!America hosted a conference call for our members and partners on April 9, 2020 with Adrienne Hallett who shared updates on NIH COVID-19 response efforts.
There is no recording available for this call.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Georges Benjamin
Date: April 7, 2020
Featuring: Dr. Georges Benjamin, Executive Director of APHA
Research!America hosted a call on April 7, 2020, with Research!America board member and APHA Executive Director Dr. Georges Benjamin, discussing the nationwide response to COVID-19 and National Public Health Week.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Rear Admiral Erica Schwartz and Emily Holubowich
Date: March 30, 2020
Featuring: Rear Admiral Erica Schwartz, Deputy Surgeon General; Emily Holubowich, Vice President of Federal Advocacy of the American Heart Association
The Research!America Alliance Member Call on March 30, 2020, featured Deputy Surgeon General RADM Erica Schwartz who spoke about frontline COVID-19 testing and protecting our first responders. Emily Holubowich wrapped up the second half of the call by providing an FY21 appropriations state-of-play.
There is no recording available of this call.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Skorton
Date: March 24, 2020
Featuring: Dr. David Skorton, President of the Association of American Medical Colleges
Research!America hosted a call on March 24, 2020, with Dr. David Skorton on strategies for academic health centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a content-filled, motivating conversation, Dr. Skorton and his colleagues emphasized the irreplaceable value of fundamental research and the critical importance of public-private partnerships.
You can find a link to this terrific conversation, including alliance member Q&A, here.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Jacqueline Corrigan Curay and Dana Acton
Date: March 19, 2020
Featuring: Dana Acton, Legislative Director for House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY-17); Dr. Jacqueline Corrigan-Curay, Director of the Office of Medical Policy at FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)
Dr. Jacqueline Corrigan-Curay provided an update on FDA’s implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act and Dana Acton discussed FY21 appropriations and supplemental COVID-19 funding.
There is no recording available of this call.
Research!America Alliance Member Call with Dr. Larry Tabak and Dr. Michael Lauer
Date: March 16, 2020
Featuring: Dr. Larry Tabak, Principal Deputy Director of the National Institutes of Health; Dr. Michael Lauer, Deputy Director for Extramural Research at the National Institutes of Health
Dr. Tabak and Dr. Lauer discussed NIH’s efforts to ensure research institutions and scientists are accorded the flexibility needed as they confront COVID-19-related research disruptions.
A recording of the detail-rich call can be accessed here.
