Today, Esther Krofah, EVP of Health for the Milken Institute, participated in a roundtable with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and HHS leadership to launch a department-wide effort to strengthen American scientific leadership in clinical trials and expand patient access to life-saving research.
“The Milken Institute has been working for over two decades on the question of how to accelerate biomedical progress for patients. We share the conviction of all those in the room today that the United States' biomedical enterprise is one of the nation's greatest assets, a strategic national treasure that has improved and extended lives, fueled economic growth, and strengthened national security. Other countries have recognized the opportunity, and competition to dominate the sector is increasing from around the world,” said Krofah in a statement during the roundtable. “While the United States remains the world’s leading engine of biomedical research, fragmented and outdated infrastructure, complicated administrative processes, increased cost and complexity of clinical development, and uncertain investment risk are slowing the translation of scientific discovery into new treatments and cures. Clinical trials, in particular, remain one of the most significant bottlenecks between scientific discovery and patient impact. This is a fixable infrastructure problem, not a scientific one, and it is one that can be addressed through focused leadership and sustained action by both the public and private sectors.”
The Milken Institute applauds HHS’ leadership in addressing the barriers that have made it increasingly difficult to conduct early-stage clinical development in the US through Operation Trialblazer, and calls for three bold actions to move the country forward: 1) Every American should have the opportunity to participate in clinical research; 2) HHS should designate a coordinator to advance near-term action to align federal activities; 3) We must make it easier for patients and clinicians to participate in clinical trials.
The Milken Institute’s full roundtable remarks can be read here: https://milkeninstitute.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/MilkenInstitute…
