Michelle McMurry-Heath
McMurry-Heath in 2020
EducationHarvard University (BS)
Duke University (MD, PhD)
Scientific career
FieldsHealth policy
InstitutionsBiotechnology Innovation Organization, Johnson & Johnson, Food and Drug Administration

Michelle McMurry-Heath is a medical doctor, immunologist, and from June 2020 until October 2022 served as chief executive officer for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO).

Early life and education

McMurry-Heath was born and raised in Oakland, California.[1] Her mother was a public health nurse, and her father was a psychologist.[1]

After first pursuing a double major in art history and psychology during college, she changed her focus to biochemistry and received an undergraduate degree from Harvard University in biochemistry.[1] She is the first Black graduate of the Duke University combined MD / Ph.D. Medical Scientist Training Program, and completed her Ph.D. in immunology.[1][2]

Career

After completing her education, McMurry-Heath worked in research for 12 years.[3] After training from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, she shifted to science policy, which included work from 2001 to 2004 as a legislative aide for Senator Joe Lieberman and drafting a bioterrorism preparedness bill in 2002.[1][3][4]

During her work with the Aspen Institute, she was a founding director of the Aspen Institute's Health, Biomedical Science, and Society Policy Program.[4] She also worked as an adjunct assistant professor of health policy at George Washington University.[4] In 2010, she became the associate director at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health at the Food and Drug Administration.[1] In this role, she developed partnerships with medical device nonprofits.[5]

Towards the end of 2014, she became an executive at Johnson & Johnson and her management role later expanded.[1][6] While at Johnson & Johnson, she was advised by Michael D. Watkins, who continued as an advisor after she moved to her role as president and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO).[1]

She has previously worked with the Council on Foreign Relations.[7] From 2018 to 2020, she was Chair of the NESTcc Governing Committee.[8] She is a member of the AAAS Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy (COSEPP).[9]

In June 2020, McMurry-Heath became the chief executive of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), a lobbying organization that represents several hundred biotech companies,[1][10][11] including most of the companies that developed COVID-19 vaccines,[12] as well as academic institutions.[13] At BIO, she led the Coronavirus Collaboration Initiative, a group focused on developing COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.[14] In 2021, she was named as a possible nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration.[15][16][17]

McMurry-Heath resigned from her role as CEO of BIO effective October 11, 2022, and she continues to serve as an advisor to the board.[18][19]

Fellowships

Personal life

McMurry-Heath is married to Sebastian Heath, a veterinarian. They have one daughter and currently live in Washington, D.C.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lublin, Joann S. (November 21, 2020). "The Advice That Gave a Biotech Exec a Shot in the Arm". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  2. ^ Pflanzer, Lydia Ramsey. "'This is clearly about race, this is not about class': Biotech CEOs get personal about what it's like to be a Black leader in their industry and in America". Business Insider. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  3. ^ a b "Michelle McMurry-Heath, MD, PhD". Harvard Medical School. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Roundtable on Translating Genomic-Based Research for Health; Board on Health Sciences Policy; Institute Of, Medicine (2014). Conflict of Interest and Medical Innovation: Ensuring Integrity While Facilitating Innovation in Medical Research: Workshop Summary. The National Academies Press. pp. 66–67. doi:10.17226/18723. ISBN 978-0-309-30168-8. PMID 24672824. Retrieved 10 October 2021. ((cite book)): |author2= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ McMurry-Heath, Michelle; Hamburg, Margaret A. (2012-12-05). "Creating a Space for Innovative Device Development". Science Translational Medicine. 4 (163): 163fs43. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.3005269. ISSN 1946-6234. PMID 23209277.
  6. ^ "BIO gets a new chief lobbyist to face off against the growing ranks of critics in Congress". Endpoints News. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  7. ^ a b "Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath | BIO". www.bio.org. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  8. ^ "Announcing Michelle McMurry-Heath, MD, PhD and Adrian Hernandez, MD, MHS as NESTcc Governing Committee Chair and Vice Chair". NESTcc. 2018-09-11. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  9. ^ "About OGR". AAAS. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  10. ^ Griffin, Riley; Court, Emma (June 18, 2020). "Drug Makers Have Even Less Reason to Fear Price Reform Now". BloombergLaw. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  11. ^ Florko, Nicholas; Herper, Matthew (May 14, 2020). "Biotech's new chief lobbyist says she's a social justice advocate. Will the industry walk the walk?". STAT. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  12. ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (October 2, 2020). "Biotech Industry Pushes Trump Administration to Release New Vaccine Guidelines". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  13. ^ Midura, Kyle (June 12, 2020). "Epidemiological insider on lessons from two-millionth coronavirus case". ABC11. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  14. ^ Forbes, Steve (January 15, 2021). "Advancing The World Through Biotech With Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath". Forbes. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  15. ^ Florko, Nicholas (June 21, 2021). "BIO's chief on the FDA commissioner rumors, drug pricing, and IP rights". STATNews. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  16. ^ Kaplan, Sheila (June 13, 2021). "F.D.A. Still Lacks a Permanent Chief, Despite Pressing, Weighty Problems". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  17. ^ Cancryn, Adam; Owermohle, Sarah; Lim, David; Gardner, Lauren (October 6, 2021). "Biden closes in on pick to lead Food and Drug Administration". Politico. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  18. ^ Megan Wilson (October 28, 2022). "No win situation: Pharma CEO steps down after clashing with board members". Politico.
  19. ^ Hopkins, Jared S (October 10, 2022). "BIO Chief Executive Michelle McMurry-Heath Exits After Clashes With Board". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  20. ^ "Science & Technology Policy Fellowships | American Association for the Advancement of Science".
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