Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellow

Elizabeth McDuffie

Elizabeth McDuffie is a graduate student at Thomas Jefferson University.

Describe your interest in participating in the program. 
McDuffie: I am interested in participating in the Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellowship because of my interest in evidence-based policymaking and the direct impact these policies have on the scientific community and the global population. As a doctoral candidate during the COVID-19 pandemic, I was uniquely positioned to understand the complex science behind the disease and communicate that in simpler terms to members of my community. This experience deepened my passion for science advocacy and understanding how policy decisions directly impact how we engage with scientific information.

This year, I participated in the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) Capitol Hill Day, which gave me the opportunity to advocate for science funding in Congress. Engaging directly with members of Congress reinforced my interest in science policy and left me eager to learn more about how I could gain more experience in the field. My experiences as a biomedical researcher have given me a unique perspective on how legislative choices can directly impact scientific outcomes. I hope to use these experiences and the knowledge gained through participating in the fellowship program to pursue a career in science policy. The Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for me to participate in formal educational and professional experiences in science policy and communication. Access to a science policy and advocacy course would be the first hands-on training I receive from a professional organization. I am also excited about the opportunity to observe the inner workings of science policy committee meetings and the chance to author an op-ed.

How do you plan to use the knowledge and experience gained through your participation in the Howard Garrison Advocacy Program? 
McDuffie: I want to use the knowledge and experience gained through this program to help bridge the gap between legislative choices and the legislation's direct impact on diverse communications. I am passionate about increasing science literacy, especially in historically excluded communities. As an undergraduate student, I was fortunate to participate in the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U-STAR) program. As a National Institute of Health (NIH) funded program, the number of students in the MARC U-STAR program directly corresponds to NIH funding, a common advocacy topic in science policy. I want to advocate for increased funding for NIH programs that support historically excluded groups through their research journeys.

I am also eager to learn more about a career in science policy through participating in the Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellowship program. Graduate students are often faced with a pseudo-binary choice of academia or industry, which can limit the hands-on experiences and knowledge we have about other science-based career fields. As a student leader, I want to distill the knowledge I learn throughout the fellowship to other students interested in science policy. The tools and network I gain through participation in the fellowship would prepare me to both start a career in science policy and be an advocate for science funding and education.

Using no more than 250 words, describe your research as you would to a non-scientist.
McDuffie: Asthma is a disease that impacts approximately 300 million people globally. Common asthma symptoms include wheezing, coughing, and an inability to breathe. G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the primary regulators of contraction and relaxation in the lungs and are, therefore, responsible for many of the symptom's asthmatics experience. They are also the targets of many asthma therapies, including inhalers, which cause the lung to relax. While current treatments are effective, they do not prevent the underlying symptoms of asthma from re-occurring. My research focuses on better understanding the underlying causes of these symptoms and using this knowledge to design better therapeutics to treat asthmatics.

Briefly describe any past or present participation in additional career exploration activities, experiences, and/or programs.
McDuffie: As the president of Jefferson’s Business and Biotechnology Association, I have organized and participated in career seminars across several scientific-based fields, including science policy and advocacy. I also organized a speed networking event where students and professionals were able to network in person. As a part of my doctoral program, I also participated in a course designed to expose students to non-traditional careers for biomedical scientists. While in this class, I discovered science policy as a career option and conducted several informational interviews with professionals to gain more information about science policy and advocacy. I will also serve as a student representative on ASPET’s Committee for Mentoring and Career Development for the 2024-2025 term. These experiences have deepened my passion to pursue a career in science policy.

Elizabeth McDuffie is a member of American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, a FASEB member society.