Debra Lappin to Serve on Board of Health Research Advocacy Organization

Debra Lappin, a nationally recognized strategist in FaegreBD Consulting's health and life sciences group, has been elected to a third term on Research!America's board of directors.

As a board member, Lappin provides more than two decades of experience in health care policy to Research!America. In the past, she has served as senior advisor to the directors of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a principal at FaegreBD Consulting, she counsels research institutions, voluntary health agencies, government and industry on collaborative relationships, public-private partnerships and emerging tools to accelerate translational research.

Research!America is a nonprofit alliance advocating increased medical and health research funding and heightened public attention and support for such research. Through policy advocacy, public education, public opinion polls and a national network of partner organizations, the group seeks to ensure strong investment in the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and National Science Foundation.

"Research!America is providing a valuable service by promoting research and funding that will improve the health and safety of the entire population," Lappin said. "Access to quality health care continues to be one of our generation's most prominent concerns, and expanding medical research will allow us to further progress in this area. I'm thrilled to continue my affiliation with this visionary organization."

Lappin is recognized nationally as a leader in public health and science policy. She has led major science policy campaigns calling for public access to scientific communications and genetic non-discrimination. She also served on the Committee on the Organizational Structure of the NIH, which significantly impacted the 2006 NIH Reform Act. Lappin has contributed her expertise to numerous health advocacy organizations throughout her career and currently serves as president of the Council for American Medical Innovation.