Alliance Member Meetings

Upcoming Meetings

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 will join us to talk about NCATS's new Open Data Portal, National COVID Cohort Collaborative and other NCATS priorities.

If you are an alliance member, register here.

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) will join us to discuss 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.

If you are an alliance member, register here.

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 Katie Goode at kgoode@researchamerica.org

Past Meetings

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, 2:00 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

This alliance call hosted Jeff Allen, president and CEO of Friends of Cancer Research (Friends). 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.

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)(link is external) and the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) Initiative(link is external). 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.

Access Dr. Benjamin’s presentation here.

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.