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Parikh and Benjamin Elected as Board Leaders at Research!America

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Research!America, a nonprofit alliance that advocates for science, discovery, and innovation to achieve better health for all, has elected Sudip Parikh, PhD, as the new Board chair. Georges C. Benjamin, MD, has been elected Board vice chair. They will each serve a two-year term.

“Sudip Parikh and Georges Benjamin are exceptional advocates for health and science. They have consistently shown their expertise and wisdom while serving on our board,” said President and CEO Mary Woolley. “They are two of the nation’s most cogent science communicators and their voices are vital as we work to protect and expand federal funding for research and elevate the importance of science in protecting against present and future health threats.”

Parikh is CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and executive publisher of the Science family of journals. He has spent two decades at the nexus of science, policy, and business.

“I am thrilled to chair the Board at Research!America and partner closely with our members to advocate for the policy and investment environment needed to elevate our nation’s leadership in advancing discoveries for health and medicine. It is important to protect and enable research funding as one critical component to tackle current and future public health challenges,” said Parikh.

Benjamin is executive director of the American Public Health Association and is known as one of the nation’s most influential physicians. He is leading a push to champion the health of all people and communities.

“I’m honored to take on this larger role at Research!America,” said Benjamin. “Especially now, it is imperative we advocate for science as we work together to achieve better health for all.”

Parikh succeeds former chair Susan Dentzer, president and CEO of America’s Physician Groups, who served as Board chair for two years. Benjamin succeeds former vice chair the Honorable Bart Gordon, partner at K&L Gates LLP and U.S. Representative from 1985-2011, who served as Board vice chair for two years.

“Research!America is grateful for the contributions of our outgoing leadership. The entire Board and staff thank Susan Dentzer and Bart Gordon for their tremendous service to our organization,” said Woolley. “Their expertise and leadership have helped Research!America strengthen its strategic vision and forge a clear path forward for the future.”

The Board of Directors also re-elected two officers: returning as Board secretary is E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, dean emeritus and former university executive vice president; endowed professor and director, Center for Advanced Research Training and Innovation; and co-director, Center for Birth Defects Research, University of Maryland School of Medicine. Returning as Board treasurer is Amy Comstock Rick, JD, principal of Amy Comstock Rick, LLC; former president and CEO of the Food and Drug Law Institute. Both are extremely well-regarded leaders in their respective fields of academic medicine and regulatory policy.

The great strength of the Research!America alliance is its 300+ member organizations, spanning the medical and public health research ecosystem. Member institutions include patient advocacy organizations, universities, industry, independent research centers, philanthropic organizations, scientific societies and trade associations.

Together, the Research!America alliance works to increase policymaker awareness of the health and economic benefits of medical and public health research while building a strong base of citizen support for more research and innovation. The alliance has played a pivotal role in supporting the nation’s research enterprise for more than 30 years.

Contact Tim Haynes, Senior Director of Communications, at 571-482-2737 or thaynes@researchamerica.org with press inquiries.

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