2023 Innovations in Regulatory Science Awards
Celebrating outstanding achievement in regulatory science
December 5, 2023
Each year, the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA brings the regulatory science community together to recognize the leadership, scientific breakthroughs, and unwavering advocacy that help safeguard America’s public health.
Join us as we celebrate the 2023 honorees and their contributions to regulatory science:
December 5, 6:15 PM Eastern
Willard InterContinental Hotel.
1401 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Washington, DC, 20004.
The evening begins with a networking reception, followed by remarks from FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, dinner, and the award presentations.

Francis Collins, MD, PhD
Dr. Francis Collins has exemplified leadership and the pursuit of innovation and scientific rigor throughout his career. As the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, he was instrumental in guiding the team that successfully carried out the Human Genome Project. While director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Collins worked with the larger biomedical research community to create principles and guidelines to foster rigor and reproducibility in preclinical research. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Collins spearheaded a public-private partnership to develop a coordinated research strategy for prioritizing and speeding development of the most promising treatments and vaccines. He currently serves as President Biden’s science advisor and as co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

GenomeTrakr
GenomeTrakr is an FDA initiative that is transforming food safety. By applying whole genome sequencing to food safety and publicly sharing sequencing data, the GenomeTrakr network has changed how foodborne illness outbreaks are investigated, adding speed and certainty to the investigations. To date, the genomic data gathered by the GenomeTrakr network has been used in hundreds of FDA foodborne illness investigations and numerous investigations by CDC and USDA providing expeditious leads to outbreak sources, and a means to verify the effectiveness of food safety systems in food manufacturing environments. Tapping whole genome sequencing data to advance food safety is becoming commonplace around the world, growing, in part, from the vision of FDA and its GenomeTrakr partners.

Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) and former Representative Fred Upton (R-MI)
Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) and former Representative Fred Upton (R-MI) are joint recipients of this year's Advocacy/Policy award. Both championed and co-sponsored the 21st Century Cures Act, bipartisan legislation passed in 2016 that has modernized the nation’s medical research system. From cancer research to precision medicine, the “Cures Act” has helped spur the development and approval of life saving drugs and devices, helping patients and families. The Act also established and helped implement a strategic plan for biomedical research.
If you would like to inquire about a seat at this year's event, contact admin@reaganudall.org.
Sponsors provide financial support to the event and the Foundation, but do not have input into the selection of honorees or content of the event program.