18 Oct Bayh-Dole Coalition Thanks Outgoing NIH Director Francis Collins for 12 Years of Service
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 18, 2021) — Today, the Bayh-Dole Coalition issued a statement expressing profound gratitude to Dr. Francis Collins for his more than 12 years of service to the scientific community as Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
“Dr. Collins’ stalwart defense of the Bayh-Dole Act helped America maintain its status as the world leader in research and development,” said Bayh-Dole Coalition executive director Joseph P. Allen. “He repeatedly rejected attempts to misuse the law in ways that would have deterred collaboration between NIH-funded labs and the private companies that bring lifesaving drugs, medical devices, and other technologies to market. Many people are alive and well in the United States and around the world as a result.”
Collins is a renowned physician-geneticist best known for his leadership of the International Human Genome Project, which sequenced the entirety of the human genome in 2003. He is the first NIH Director to serve more than one presidential administration.
“The university tech transfer community relied heavily on Dr. Collins’ visionary leadership,” said AUTM CEO Stephen J. Susalka. “His respect for innovators will be deeply missed, and we’re hopeful that President Biden will nominate a like-minded replacement.”
Collins’ path-breaking tenure features ambitious quests for breakthroughs in neuroscience, cancer treatments, and precision medicine. As the largest biomedical research funder in the world, the NIH conducts and supports research into new cures and treatments that save lives and improve patient care.
“Dr. Collins worked tirelessly to advance scientific research at every level — from NIH and university labs, to affiliated medical centers, to independent companies,” said Wendy Streitz, President of the Council on Governmental Relations. “He secured his legacy as a giant of American science, and his relentless advocacy for innovation will be felt by generations to come.”
The Bayh-Dole Coalition looks forward to building on the success of Dr. Collins’ tenure by strengthening America’s research infrastructure and facilitating the commercialization of new technologies.
About the Bayh-Dole Coalition: The Bayh-Dole Coalition is a diverse group of research and scientific organizations, as well as those directly involved in commercializing new products, dedicated to protecting the Bayh-Dole Act and educating policymakers about the positive impacts of the legislation.
About AUTM: AUTM is the non-profit leader in efforts to educate, promote and inspire professionals to support the development of academic research that changes the world and drives innovation forward. It is composed of more than 3,000 members who work in more than 800 universities, research centers, hospitals, businesses and government organizations around the globe.
About the Council on Government Relations: COGR is an association of leading research universities, affiliated medical centers, and independent research institutes. COGR communicates the viewpoint and concerns of its members and fosters productive relationships between the research community and federal policymakers, advocating for innovation and change that avoid unnecessary regulatory burden.