The Research!America 2023 Advocacy Awards were held in person on March 15 at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC.
Everyone who joined us for the 2023 Advocacy Awards was dazzled by our honorees, who participated in deftly moderated panel conversations about urgent priorities – overcoming resistance to trusting science and improving science communication.
In her remarks, outgoing Board Chair Susan Dentzer shared a powerful image, quoting Dr. Lewis Thomas: “Statistically the probability of any one of us being here is so small that you would think the mere fact of existence would keep us all in a contented dazzlement of surprise.”
The dazzlement of the surprise called science became a fitting motif for the evening. Thank you everyone who attended and to our many sponsors and benefactors who made the evening possible.
- Watch the full program.
- Watch the Science Communication panel discussion.
- Watch the Trust in Science panel discussion.
- View a photo slideshow from the program and reception.
2023 Honorees
Our 2023 Advocacy Awards honorees include outstanding advocates for medical and health research and individuals, entities, or partnerships demonstrating commitment to research through discovery, innovation, public communications, and leadership.
Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy
The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
U.S. Senator (D-NY)
Bio
The Honorable Todd Young
U.S. Senator (R-IN)
Bio
John Edward Porter Legacy Award, generously supported by Ann Lurie
Lawrence A. Tabak, DDS, PhD
Performing the Duties of the Director of NIH
Meet the Honoree
Geoffrey Beene Foundation Builders of Science Award
Helene Gayle, MD, MPH
President of Spelman College
Bio
Meet the Honoree│Learn More from the Honoree
Herbert Pardes Family Award for National Leadership in Advocacy for Research
Pamela B. Davis, MD, PhD
Arline H. & Curtis F. Garvin Research Professor; Professor, Center for Community Health Integration,
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Bio
Meet the Honoree│Learn More from the Honoree
Gordon and Llura Gund Leadership Award
Heywood Fralin
Chairman, Retirement Unlimited, Inc.
Bio
Michael J. Friedlander, PhD
Vice President, Health Sciences and Technology, Virginia Tech;
Executive Director, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Bio
Meet the Honorees │ Learn More From the Honorees
Paul G. Rogers Distinguished Organization Advocacy Award
The Michael J. Fox Foundation
for Parkinson’s Research
Bio
Meet the Honoree│ Learn More From the Honorees
Isadore Rosenfeld Award for Impact on Public Opinion
Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness
A film by Ken Burns, Erik Ewers, Christopher Loren Ewers, Julie Coffman, and David Blistein
Bio
Meet the Honoree│Learn More From the Honorees
Outstanding Achievement in Public Health Awards, generously supported by Johnson & Johnson
Outstanding Achievement in Public Health Award
Margaret A. Hamburg, MD
Former FDA Commissioner; President, InterAcademy Partnership for Science, Health and Policy;
Academies of Science and Health
Bio
Meet the Honoree │Learn More from the Honoree
Building the Foundation Award
James E. Crowe Jr., MD
Director, Vaccine Center; Ann Scott Carell Prof. of Pediatrics, Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology,
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Bio
Meet the Honoree │ Learn More From the Honoree
Meeting the Moment for Public Health Award
Rapid Translation Award
Noubar Afeyan, PhD
Founder and CEO,
Flagship Pioneering
Bio
Meet the Honoree
Thank you to our benefactors and sponsors!
Research!America’s Advocacy Awards
For information about sponsorship opportunities for the Advocacy Awards, please contact Katie Goode, Senior Director, Alliance Development and Membership at [email protected].