Forum on Drug Discovery, Development, and Translation: Annual Report 2009 (2010)

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Message From The Co-chairs Message From The Co-chairs The year 2009 saw continuing upheaval in the scientific and business landscape of drug development. The process of discovering and developing new drugs is more dynamic, more global, and more risky than ever. But these develop- ments were overshadowed by political events, specifically the change in administrations in Washington, D.C., which has Gail Cassell brought significant change to the scientific landscape and priorities of the nation—from stem cell research to compara- Jeff Drazen tive effectiveness research to health care reform. With the new administration came a renewed emphasis on science, as expressed by Presi- dent Obama in a speech he delivered at the National Academy of Sciences, “Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health, our environment, and our quality of life than it has ever been before.” For drug development, the appointment of new leadership at the NIH and the FDA is es- pecially exciting and holds the promise of innovative and collaborative approaches to drug development and regulation. The new NIH director has made drug development for orphan diseases as one of his top priorities. This focus will undoubtedly lead to heightened interest in all phases of drug discovery and development in academia. The activities of the Forum in 2009 reflected the excitement and dynamism of this new environment, focusing on four critical areas: 1. Promoting the scientific basis for the regulation of drugs 2. Transforming clinical research 3. Fostering a robust research environment through collaboration 4. Promoting global leadership in drug development and translation This was a year to remember for new ground covered. The Forum provided an important lens for its diverse members and the public to collectively reflect, understand, and act on this changing environment. We look forward and hope for an equally exciting and promis- ing 2010. Gail Cassell Jeff Drazen Co-chair Co-chair