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The Alliance for a Stronger FDA Announces New Leadership Team for 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C., JANUARY 09, 2025 — The Alliance for a Stronger FDA, a non-profit coalition that advocates for increased FDA appropriations, announced today that a new leadership team will be heading the Alliance starting in January 2025. 

Cartier Esham, PhD., CEO of Esham Strategies will serve as the Alliance’s new Executive Director. Dr. Esham is a policy leader, recognized for her advocacy for a science-based FDA regulatory environment. Before founding Esham Strategies, she was the Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. In that role, she oversaw multiple BIO departments and was responsible for many of the organization’s public affairs initiatives. Dr. Esham holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Georgia.

In addition, the Alliance announced it had selected Washington, D.C.-based firm SL Strategies, as its new team for lobbying and appropriation expertise. Led by Sara Love Rawlings, a former Senate Appropriations staff member, Jordan Tenenbaum and Mary Moody Johnson, SL Strategies brings over 40 years of appropriations, agency budget and authorizing experience and insights into the evolving and increasingly dynamic government funding process. 

Dr. Esham succeeds Steven Grossman, who has served as the Alliance Executive Director for the past 4 years and previously served in leadership roles since the Alliance was founded 18 years ago.  Mr. Grossman informed the Alliance six months ago of his intention to take on new FDA-related challenges.   

“Steven Grossman, one of the Alliance founders, has been an extraordinary leader and advocate for the Alliance since its inception. His contribution to increasing FDA’s funding is immeasurable,” said Tom Kraus of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, current Alliance president, and Esther Krofah of Milken Institute FasterCures, incoming president, in a joint statement. 

“As a former member of the Alliance Board and an expert in association leadership and the FDA, Cartier Esham, is the perfect choice to continue building on Steven’s legacy,” they said. “Dr. Esham brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to advancing public health through robust FDA funding. 

“The appointments of Dr. Esham and SL Strategies reflect the organization’s determination to adapt and evolve in an ever-changing policy landscape. With a new administration and new Congress now taking office, the Alliance remains committed to advocating for increased funding as well as educating about the central role FDA plays in protecting and advancing the public health and in maintaining the U.S.’s leadership role internationally,” they said.  

The Alliance for a Stronger FDA represents 150-plus stakeholders – patient and consumer, research advocates, health professions societies, trade groups, and companies. The Alliance and its members advocate  for increased funding for the agency. The Alliance also serves as an educational forum for the FDA.

For more information about the Alliance for a Stronger FDA and its mission, visit www.strengthenfda.org or reach out to Cartier Esham at Cartier@strengthenFDA.org.

Newly Announced: RFP For Executive Director and Lobbying Contractor Roles

The Alliance is seeking proposals from qualified individuals or firms to serve as Executive Director (Contractor) and/or Lobbyist (Contractor) roles. Proposals may address either role individually or encompass both roles within a single submission.

Alliance Releases its FY 25 “Ask” for FDA Funding

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Highlighting Our Alliance’s FDA Shutdown Tool Kit

Our Tool Kit has been updated as of September 29th. We expect to update it on a regular basis until the threat of a shutdown has been eliminated.

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The Alliance has held seventeen (17) webinars with Senior FDA Officials so far in 2023, including six that focused directly on FDA’s budget. There is no better way to gain insight than to read the in-depth, hour-long, perspective each has provided to the Alliance. Head to our Events page for summaries and transcripts.

The Alliance sends out a Friday Update every week, offering a unique lens on FDA matters through both Advocacy at a Glance and Analysis and Commentary. Subscribe to our Friday Updates with your email below.

Catch Up on What Congress is Thinking

Alliance Analysis Of Proposed Final FY 24 Funding For The FDA

FDA’s FY 24 Appropriation is on track to become law before next week. Under the just-released bill, the agency would be level-funded for FY 24 (the current) year.

Alliance Submits Testimony on FY24 Appropriations

The Alliance’s April 2023 Testimony in support of FY24 funding for FDA

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How FDA is Funded: The Alliance for a Stronger FDA's primer on the agency’s resource needs.

Useful Links to FDA Website:

• What does FDA do? 

• What does FDA regulate? 

• FDA at a Glance: Useful Facts about Products,  Facilities, and Program Funding

• Is It Really “FDA Approved?”

• 10 Facts about What FDA Does and Does Not Approve

• How Do I Contact FDA?

• FDA Organizations Websites

About the Alliance

The Alliance for a Stronger FDA, created in 2007,  is a multi-stakeholder organization with 150+ members devoted to advocating for increased appropriations for the FDA and educating policymakers and the public about the FDA's mission and responsibilities. The Alliance’s unique coalition of patient and consumer groups and industry mirrors FDA’s unique role in public health, safety, and commerce.

A science-based, predictable, and efficient FDA is essential, but can only carry out its core mission and responsibilities if it has sufficient resources to do so. As FDA’s responsibilities have grown, so must its budget. If FDA lacks funding, there is no backstop, no other agency, that performs the critical work of the FDA.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) oversees products and services that comprise more than 20% of all national consumer spending, exceeding $2.7 trillion per year. Every American is touched multiple times each day by FDA-regulated products and services and relies on FDA for safe foods and safe and effective medical products. Not only is FDA pivotal to public health and safety, but it is also vital to our nation’s growth and prosperity and our national defense.