Jeff Allen, Ph.D. serves as the President and CEO of Friends of Cancer Research (Friends). For over 25 years, Friends has created unique scientific partnerships, accelerated policy change, and supported groundbreaking research to deliver new therapies to patients quickly and safely. As a key thought leader on issues related to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, healthcare, and regulatory policy, he is regularly published in prestigious medical journals and policy publications and has contributed his expertise to the legislative process on multiple occasions. Recent Friends initiatives include the establishment of the Breakthrough Therapies designation, innovative research consortia to enhance biomarker development, and the launch of a unique cross-sector partnership to accelerate clinical trial conduct and rapidly assess if a patient’s treatment is working. Jeff received his Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology from Georgetown University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bowling Green State University.