Sanford Research to speak at 2023 Milken Institute Future of Health Summit

Lora Black, executive director of clinical research at Sanford Research, will be one of the featured speakers at the 2023 Milken Institute Future of Health Summit Wednesday in Washington D.C. Black will join an invitation-only roundtable discussion on the Community-Based Research Collaboratory.

The 2023 Milken Institute Future of Health Summit confronts the most significant issues affecting medical research, preventative care and public health. The summit, which includes more than 200 speakers over three days, brings together medical experts, leading scientists and political leaders to foster innovative solutions and turn ideas into actionable policy.

Black’s session brings together participants and advisors to a new consortium, the Community-Based Research Collaboratory, to be convened by FasterCures in 2024 with support from the Heritage Provider Network. This initiative is designed to develop a learning community and platform for investigators conducting clinical research close to communities. The aim is to build awareness of the capabilities and strengths across sectors, identify barriers that could be eliminated by collective solutions and generate enabling resources for community-based research infrastructure.

Black will be joined by Lu de Souza, executive medical director, Learning Health Network and Oracle Life Services and Rachel B. Ramoni, chief research and development officer, Office of Discovery, Education and Affiliate Networks, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs.

“Sanford Research remains dedicated to providing clinical research opportunities locally, with the broad aim to move patient care forward through science - contributing to improving the lives of patients across the country,” said Black. “I'm honored to join the prestigious Milken Institute Future of Health Summit and share our commitment to leading clinical research in rural communities. This incredible group of people who are coming together for these three days have the knowledge and the resources to enact real change – and it is our patients who will benefit.”

Black has oversight for enterprise-wide clinical research strategy and operations across Sanford Health, that includes international cancer research collaborations. She has been a nurse for over 20 years, starting at the bedside in medical oncology. She transitioned to the clinical research department 17 years ago as a clinical research coordinator in oncology and has subsequently transitioned to work in nearly every role within clinical research during her tenure.

In addition to being a clinical research administrator, Black is an active member of the national clinical research and health policy community, serving on multiple national committees to address clinical trial access for underserved populations, policy development and implementation needed to move the industry forward.

Sanford Research is a premier research institute in the Midwest, conducting research to innovate health care through cutting edge science. Researchers work to build the foundation for future treatments, driving evidence-based care.

For more information about Sanford Research, visit Research.SanfordHealth.org.