Prepare for impact.
We develop educational programs that prepare patients and care partners to apply their lived experience to inform the development of new and better medicines.
New from the Patients’ Academy
Health Equity and Representation in Research for Patient Advocates
A free, introductory course designed for people who work in patient advocacy organizations and individual patient advocates who want to better understand how they can help make research more diverse, inclusive and equitable.
Our Mission
We envision a future in which patients and their care partners are routinely engaged by drug companies, regulators and payers for their expertise throughout the development and assessment of every new medicine.
The Patients’ Academy for Research Advocacy is helping patients and care partners get ready to engage in research as full partners whose unique experience can advance science and medicine.
Learn Why
“There is no phase of drug development that couldn't be improved by a more active, thoughtful approach to patient engagement.”
Read OUR FOUNDER’s Article In BioCentury
Our Programs
Our programs are designed with and for patients, with input from drug developers, regulators and other stakeholders. Participants learn not only the basic process of developing drugs, but also how decisions are made by other stakeholders, and where and how the voices of patients can improve drug research and development by focusing it on products and outcomes that meet their needs.
Explore our Courses
Our Team
Founder Susan Schaeffer spent 15 years educating industry about innovation in clinical development, regulation, pricing and market access.
Partner with us.
We are an independent nonprofit whose success depends on partnering with like-minded patient groups and industry sponsors who share our vision for patient-centered R&D.