2025 Impact Report
As we reflect on the past year, we are grateful for the progress we have made together — and are clear-eyed about the importance of our work ahead. In 2025, federal government and agency regulation continued to evolve, which challenged us to fight back for our core belief in equitable healthy aging.
Proposed and enacted federal budget cuts to health research, regulatory agencies, and critical safety net programs created urgent threats to the well-being of older adults. Reductions in funding for public health and scientific innovation risk slowing breakthroughs that prevent illness, improve, and extend lives. Additional cuts to federal programs that provide healthcare, meals, and community-based services risk the health and security of older adults. These realities underscore why we need to strengthen, not scale back, the systems that support healthy aging across the lifespan.
Through our health education programs, advocacy work, and partnerships, we continue to champion lifelong opportunities for growth, vitality, and contribution. Advancing this vision requires a culture that values science, promotes equity, and invests in policies that protect dignity and independence for all. While progress is never linear, our collective efforts are helping to build a future where health and well-being are treated not as privileges, but as priorities.
As we prepare to celebrate the Alliance’s 40th anniversary in 2026, we are reminded that our legacy is built not only on what we have achieved, but on how we respond to the challenges before us. With your partnership, we will lead the way together in advocating for innovation — ensuring that the next 40 years bring even greater advances for older adults and for generations to come.

Chair, Board of Directors

President & CEO
Mission
The Alliance for Aging Research is dedicated to changing the narrative
to achieve healthy aging and equitable access to care.
Vision
The Alliance strives for a culture that embraces healthy aging as a greater good
and values science and investments to advance dignity, independence, and equity.

The Alliance for Aging Research is a proud recipient
of Candid’s Platinum Seal of Transparency.
The Alliance for Aging Research is proud to be rated
a 4-star charity by Charity Navigator.

Financials
FY24 Total Revenue: $4,731,931
For more information about the Alliance’s financials, visit the Financial Reports & Funding section of our website.
2025 Board of Directors

Michele Markus
CHAIR
Head of Global Health Accounts; Worldwide Enterprise Leadu003cbru003eOmnicom Health Group

Mark Simon
vice CHAIR
Strategic Advisor, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.

Karen Gally
secretary
Vice President and General Counsel, Otsuka America
(Through Fall 2025)

Mary Bordoni
TREASURER
Senior Director, Strategic Alliances, Bristol Myers Squibb
(Beginning Spring 2025)

William Schuyler
treasurer
(Through Spring 2025)

Andrea Masciale
Secretary
(Beginning Fall 2025)

George Beach
Distinguished Emeritus Board Member
Founder and Chairman, Beach Creative Communications

Carla Cartwright
Board Member
VP of Global Digital and Regulatory Policy, Johnson and Johnson

Margaret H. Davis-Cerone
Board Member
Senior Director, Team Lead Federal Policy, Pfizer Inc.

Harmeet Dhillon
Board Member
Vice President, U.S. Government Affairs, Public Policy and Patient Advocacy, GlaxoSmithKline

James E. Eden, EdD
Distinguished Emeritus Board Member
President, The Eden Group, LLC

Kelsey Kurth
Board Member
Principal, Amgen
(Through Fall 2025)

Kim Love, MPP
Board Member
Senior Director, Government Affairs and Strategic Alliances, Amgen
(Beginning Fall 2025)

Cassandra A. McCullough, MBA
Board Member
Chief Executive Officer, Association of Black Cardiologists

Janet McUlsky
Board Member
President, McUlsky Health Force

Dorothy Ouchida
Board Member
President, Ouchida and Associates

Dan Perry
Board Member
Founder, Alliance for Aging Research

Jay Reinstein
Board Member
Alzheimer’s Advocate

James G. Scott
Board Member
President and CEO, Applied Policy, LLC

John L. Steffens
Distinguished Emeritus Board Member
Founder and Senior Managing Partner, Spring Mountain Capital, LP

Edwin Walker
Board Member
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging at the Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of HHS

John Whyte, MD, MPH
Board Member
CEO and Executive VP, American Medical Association

Janet Woodcock, MD
Board Member
Former Principal and Deputy Commissioneru003cbru003eU.S. Food u0026amp; Drug Administration
2024 Alliance Staff

Sue Peschin, MHS
President and CEO

Lauren Belsky
Development Coordinator

Lindsay Clarke, JD
Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice PResident of Health Education and Advocacy

Sarah Delgado
Vice PResident of Development

Adina Lasser
Director of Public Policy and Government Relations

Beth Mathews-Bradshaw
Vice PResident of Patient Engagement and Research

Katie Riley
Vice PResident of Communications

Rachel Stevenson
Vice PResident of Finance and Administration

Tiffany Stewart, SHRM-CP
Vice PResident of Human Resources and Administration

Matthew Thompson
Digital Communications Manager

Katrin Werner-Perez
Director of Health Programs
Award-Winning Work
The Alliance for Aging Research received a Silver Telly Award for its educational video Flu and You: Getting the Right Vaccine for Your Age. In today’s landscape of misinformation and disinformation, the need for trusted, science-based educational resources has never been greater. Our award-winning film addresses the critical topic of flu vaccination in older adults, helping viewers navigate the difference options available and understand which ones are best suited for their needs.

This is the 9th year of the Alliance receiving a Telly Award for our impactful films, reinforcing our commitment to creating clear and accessible health education content for older adults.
Research Advisory Council
The Research Advisory Council (RAC), a diverse network of leading experts in research, clinical care, health economics, patient and family caregiver advocacy, health education, and other fields; and who specialize in health conditions, diseases, and issues that disproportionately impact older adults. This group of 22 experts helps to inform and review our resources by area of expertise, to ensure that they are accurate, objective, and effective; provide strategic guidance and recommendations for the direction of our programs; and share insights on innovations, trends, and opportunity gaps in their fields.
- Olusean Alli, MD
Director, Structural Heart Program
Novant Health - Henry Buchwald, MD, PhD, FACS, HonFRCS
Emeritus Professor of Surgery & Biomedical Engineering
University of Minnesota - Neil Bressler, MD
Professor of Opthalmology
Johns Hopkins University, Wilmer Eye Institute - Peggy Cawthon, PhD, MPH
Scientific Director
California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute - Carolyn Clevenger, NP, DNP
Dean, University of Georgia, School of Nursing - Elissa Epel, PhD
Professor & Vice-Chair, Department of Psychiatry
University of California, San Francisco - William Evans, PhD
Adjunct Professor, Department of Medicine
University of California, Berkeley - Roger Fielding, PhD
Professor of Nutrition & Medicine
Tufts University School of Medicine - Jack Guralnik, MD, PhD, MPH
Professor
University of Maryland School of Medicine - Dilip V. Jeste, MD
Director, Global Research Network on Social Determinants of Mental Health - James Kirkland, MD, PhD
Endocrinologist, Geriatrician, Internist
Mayo Clinic - Shon Lowe
Family Caregiver & Advocate - Jacobo Mintzer, MD, MBA
Professor, College of Health Professions
Medical University of South Carolina - Theresa Montgomery
Patient Advocate - Suzy Szasz Palmer
Talk NERDY Patient Advocate - George Perry, PhD
Distinguished University Chair in Neurobiology
University of Texas, San Antonio - Cary Reid, PhD, MD
Professor in Geriatrics
Weill Cornell Medicine - Anne Richard
Patient Advocate - William Schaffner, MD
Professor of Medicine
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Division of Infectious Diseases - Kawsar Talaat, MD
Associate Professor
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health - Kenneth E. Thorpe, PhD
Chair of Health Policy & Management
Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health - Vinod Thourani, MD
Marcus Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery
Piedmont Healthcare
2025 Heroes in Health Celebration
The Alliance celebrated “Trust, Empowerment, and Healthy Aging” at our annual Heroes in Health event on September 30, 2025. Nearly 300 policymakers, patient advocates, industry partners, researchers, health education experts, and more filled the iconic Waldorf Astoria, Washington, D.C. to hear important insights and honor four individuals who have made it their life’s purpose to improve the lives of older adults.

The festivities kicked off with the 2025 Conversation with CMS: “How is the Shift to Transparency, Health Outcomes, and Chronic Disease Prevention Going for Older Adults in the Medicare Program?” which was moderated by Alliance Board Member Jim Scott, and featured panelists:
- Alec Aramanda, Principal Deputy Director of the Center for Medicare
- Molly Burich, M.S., Senior Director of Public Policy, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
- Christie Bloomquist, JD, MHA, Vice President of U.S. Strategy and Government Affairs at Astellas Pharma
- Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of the National Consumers League
- Katie Jones, Head of Federal Affairs for AstraZeneca

Our Conversation with the FDA: “Aligning Policy with and Aging Population,” was moderated by Alliance Board Chair Michele Markus, and featured panelists:
- Grace Graham, MPP, Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation, and International Affairs at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- John Dwyer, President of the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation
- Steve Hersch, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President of Clinical Research within Clinical Evidence Generation, Deep Human Biology Learning (CEG, DHBL) at Eisai Inc.
- Alexis Reisin Miller, J.D., Executive Director of Global Regulatory Policy at Merck.

Following the Conversations with the FDA and CMS, long-time master of ceremonies, Kevin Rigby, kicked off the Annual Awards Dinner where four individuals were honored for their contributions to advancing the science of human aging and advocacy for older Americans:
- Congressman Neal Dunn, M.D. (R-FL) was recognized with the Distinguished Public Service Award.
- Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) was recognized with the Claude Pepper Award for Advancing Healthy Aging.
- Foluso A. Fakorede, M.D., Chief Executive Officer at Cardiovascular Solutions of Central Mississippi, was recognized with the Silver Innovator Award.
- Georges Benjamin, M.D., Executive Director of the American Public Health Association, was recognized with the Daniel Perry Founder’s Award.
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) accepts the Claude Pepper Award for Advancing Healthy Aging from Tom Spulak, Chairman and President of The Claude Pepper Foundation.


Congressman Neal Dunn, M.D. (R-FL) was recognized with the Distinguished Public Service Award. This year’s award was presented by Shannon Stehouwer, Vice President of Federal Affairs for Eli Lilly and Company. Dr. Dunn’s Chief of Staff, Sarah Gilbert, accepted the award for him.
Foluso A. Fakorede, M.D., Chief Executive Officer at Cardiovascular Solutions of Central Mississippi, accepted the Silver Innovator Award from Bobby Patrick, VI, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for AdvaMed.


Daniel Perry with Dr. Susan Polan who accepted the Daniel Perry Founder’s Award on behalf of honoree Georges Benjamin, M.D., Executive Director of the American Public Health Association. Benjamn was unable to attend in-person.
2025 Program Highlights
‘Trust in Science’ Event Sets Stage for New Challenges
The Alliance sponsored four live events in 2025 hosted by The Hill highlighting trust in science, unintended consequences of the IRA, Trump Administration staffing cuts and consolidations, the threat to Medicaid and SNAP from HR 1, the OBBBA, and Medicare open enrollment.
The first event was held on January 16, just prior to the Presidential Inauguration. Sponsored by the Alliance and produced in partnership with The Hill, the program, “Trust in Science: The High-Stakes Game for U.S. Public Health” gathered leaders in government, healthcare, science, and patient advocacy to answer these fundamental questions:
- What damage has already been done and what challenges lie ahead?
- Who decides what true information is versus misinformation?
- And what can public health leaders do to restore trust in medical science and U.S. health agencies?
More than 38,000 tuned in online on January 16, and approximately 75 joined in-person at Top of the Hill in Washington, D.C., just steps from the U.S. Capitol. Sue Peschin led the Sponsor Segment Speakers included:
- Dr. Paul Offit, Director, Vaccine Education Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
- Sue Peschin, President and CEO, Alliance for Aging Research
- Imran Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer, Center for Countering Digital Hate
- Lynn Hano Albizo, Chief Policy Officer, Immune Deficiency Foundation
- Dr. Georges Benjamin, Executive Director, American Public Health Association
- Dr. Larry Bucshon, Former Member of Congress (R-IN)
Defending Public Health Programs, Supports, and Services for Older Adults
The first several months of the new Administration and the establishment of the so-named Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) brought sweeping, unprecedented, and ill-conceived career staff cuts, proposed program consolidations, and ideologically driven policy litmus tests through executive orders.
These changes were rapid, overwhelming, and devastating to vital programs across the Department of Health and Human Services resulting in the immeasurable loss of institutional knowledge and expertise across agencies and creating chaos, confusion, and a crisis in morale among remaining career public health professionals and staff support.
The Alliance joined in coalition with scores of allies and coalition partners in efforts to push back on these changes through coalition letters to Congress and the Administration, public statements, and social media urging reversal of these damaging changes and the inevitable danger they pose to public health and safety and the progress of health care research and innovation.
For example, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) was slated for consolidation in these early efforts and the Alliance led a sign on letter supported by 50 organizations to Secretary Kennedy urging him to reverse a nearly 17 percent reduction in force at NIA which included the dismissal or unexpected retirement of some of the world’s foremost experts in Alzheimer’s research.
The Alliance joined coalition partners in opposition to similar disruptions to NIH more broadly as well as FDA, CDC, ACL, and ARHQ among others. We are pleased that owing in part to our collaborative work FY 2026 Congressional appropriations largely reversed many budget cuts and proposed consolidations, as well as proposals to limit NIH grants, through caps on indirect costs and expansion of multi-year funding. Unfortunately, lasting damage has been done to the viability of these agencies, and we will continue our efforts to make them whole.
Defending Medicaid and SNAP
In February, Congress began the process of considering HR 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included deep budget cuts of nearly $1 trillion over 10 years for Medicaid and $350 million over the same period for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill also imposed onerous new cost sharing restrictions on states and harsh new barriers to enrollment and eligibility. The Alliance led a sign-on letter to Congress urging opposition outlining the devastating impact these sharp reductions would have on older adults, especially those struggling with Alzheimer’s Disease and related Neurological Disorders. The letter was joined by nearly 150 organizations and allies. Although the legislation was ultimately enacted, we continue to monitor the negative impacts and will work closely with allies to reverse them.
Lowering Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs
Early in the first year of implementation of the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (MP3), the Alliance’s Project LOOP team worked closely with allies and leaders in Congress to urge CMS transparency and broad public outreach to ensure those who qualify and choose to enroll could do so during implementation of the $2,000 annual limit on Medicare beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses for Part D prescription drugs, and the ability to pay OOP costs over time in zero-interest payment installments. In 2025, the Alliance secured new report language in the FY26 enacted LHHS Appropriations bill to urge quarterly reporting to Congress on enrollment and outreach to assist in program evaluation and improvement. In June 2025, the Alliance met with the CMS team managing MP3 rollout to gauge progress. A follow up meeting is pending.
In December, Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) introduced the Increasing Medications for Seniors Act, HR 6401 to require CMS to report quarterly to Congress on enrollment data and outreach efforts.
The Alliance continued to lead efforts to mitigate the potential unintended consequences that can stem from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), most concernedly toward older adults on the Medicare program facing reduced access to needed medications and therapeutics.
The Alliance updated our educational film on the new changes to Medicare Part D, to include information for 2026. How Medicare Drug Coverage Changes Will Impact You in 2026 details changes to Medicare Part D plans and what beneficiaries need to do to take advantage of these cost-saving options. The film explains how to decrease out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions and tries to demystify the process of signing up. The film was shortened into a 30-second and 60-second PSA, and the full film and PSAs were translated into Spanish. In addition to a marketing campaign, the films, PSAs, and a one-pager were shared widely and have received close to one million views.
Live Event Shines a Light on Medicare Benefits
In October, during the prolonged government shutdown, “Bang for Your Buck: Get the Most from Your 2026 Medicare Drug Benefits” detailed changes in store for the Medicare Part D drug plans, resources available to help beneficiaries to get the most out of their plans, and timely conversations about the urgent need to reopen the federal government so programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can help older adults.
Following a showing of the Alliance’s latest educational film, What to Know About Managing Your Medicare Prescription Drug Costs in 2026, panel discussions focused on how the Congressional gridlock is causing a dire public health crisis because SNAP benefits would be frozen.
Inflation Reduction Act & Utilization Management
In April, Alliance staff participated in the 2027 Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (MDPNP) roundtable and town hall discussions for the next round of selected drugs. We discussed the clinical importance of these medications to older adults, their specific benefits, affordability, and contraindications. But with each presentation we also stressed that CMS must ensure that efforts to reduce price barriers do not unintentionally reduce future patient access in other ways.
As highlighted in a June 2024 report by Manatt Health, plans are incentivized to cut these losses by excluding negotiated drugs from formularies and tightening utilization management (UM) strategies through prior authorization and step therapy that will delay or limit access. Thus, we urged the following for each selected drug:
- CMS must use its authority to crack down on abuse of UM and require that drugs selected for negotiation—for which CMS has established a maximum fair price—be given preferred formulary status, without utilization management.
- CMS must improve plan transparency so beneficiaries can more easily see when drugs have utilization management restrictions.
- CMS must enforce minimum payment rates to pharmacies, to prevent sponsors from diverting patients away from community pharmacies, consider prefunding program costs and requiring Part D plans and PBMs to reimburse pharmacies no less than the maximum fair price.
- CMS must improve its appeals and grievance processes, to reduce the burden of challenging a plan’s coverage decision so that price negotiation for negotiated drugs truly does improve access for patients who rely on a medication.
On June 19, expanded use of UM tools in the Medicare Part D program fueled 64 organizations to sign a letter led by the Alliance to CMS. The letter urged CMS to take steps to better protect beneficiaries by improving transparency around the impact of changes now in effect for Part D benefit redesign enacted under the Inflation Reduction Act.
The letter also called for CMS to institute additional guardrails to ensure that beneficiaries have appropriate and timely access to treatment. Also, this year, the Alliance won inclusion of strong report language in the enacted FY 26 Appropriations Bill which calls upon CMS to exercise its authority to crack down on abuses of UM in Medicare Part D and promote plan coverage transparency during the open enrollment process.
In conversations with congressional offices, public statements and panel events, the Alliance has taken every opportunity to highlight the unintended consequences of the IRA and urge policymakers to address them. In September, the Alliance for Aging Research joined the Global Coalition on Aging and nearly 75 patient and provider organizations, on a letter that urges congressional leaders to support the Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures (EPIC) Act (HR 1492/S 832).
The letter raises concerns about the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) “pill penalty,” which allows small-molecule drugs to face Medicare price negotiations earlier than large-molecule drugs. The letter calls for swift passage of the EPIC Act, which would align negotiation timelines for all drugs at 11 years post-FDA approval, to safeguard biomedical innovation and protect patient access to life-saving therapies.
Our Best Shot
The Alliance’s Our Best Shot campaign promotes the importance of CDC-recommended vaccines, tackles misinformation and disinformation, and arms older adults with factual information.
This year, the Alliance produced a new educational film that helps navigate the often-confusing landscape of common respiratory illnesses. Respiratory Viruses: Often More Than Just a Sniffle covers the common cold, RSV, influenza, and COVID-19, recognizing their different symptoms, risk factors, severity, and treatment options – despite their similarities – while emphasizing the importance of vaccination.
By providing clear, evidence-based information about these overlapping conditions, the film empowers older adults and their caregivers to better understand when to seek care and how vaccines can provide critical protection. The educational film was advertised on YouTube and garnered more than 1.7 million views.
The Alliance continued to market the shingles and RSV public service announcements (PSAs) throughout 2025. The shingles PSAs, shortened into 30- and 60-second versions from last year’s educational film Shingles: What You Need to Know to Avoid a World of Pain, were shared across LinkedIn and YouTube, leading to over a combined 1.5 million impressions.
Similarly, the RSV PSAs, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): Not Just a Little Kids’ Virus, Explained in 30 Seconds and 60 Seconds, continued to target healthcare practitioners including geriatricians and general/family medicine practitioners through LinkedIn and YouTube, and received over 4.2 million impressions combined.
Responding to the administration’s changes to the CDC’s ACIP, their vaccine schedule recommendations, and the general assault on vaccine access and trust, the Alliance and McUlsky Health Force (MHF) created the Our Best Shot Network, a consortium of stakeholders in the vaccine space. Stakeholders include think tank experts, patient, aging, consumer and diversity advocacy organizations, medical societies, vaccine manufacturers, and other interested parties.
The Alliance and MHF held weekly online convenings, responded collectively to threats to vaccine access through comments and letter campaigns, and hosted a salon dinner with leading health policy experts. The off-the-record discussion delved deep into how to support vaccine access, how recent changes to vaccine policy threaten access, and approaches and messaging that resonates with the current Administration and agency leadership.
Champions for Vaccine Education, Equity, and Progress (CVEEP)
The Champions for Vaccine Education, Equity, and Progress Campaign (CVEEP) was founded by the Alliance, HealthyWomen, and the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging. Joined by more than 250 organizations that represent patient advocates, caregivers and families, diverse communities, healthcare workers, older adults, children, veterans, and scientists, CVEEP aims to promote infectious disease prevention and mitigation by staying up-to-date with recommended vaccines, keep our communities safe, and ensure equitable access to vaccines and treatments.
With our co-conveners, CVEEP created evidence-based educational webinars, spearheaded critical marketing campaigns on COVID and respiratory diseases—including the Life Doesn’t PAWS campaign, created a vaccine locator, and received important honors from the National Consumers League for our work to educate and raise awareness with our members, the press, and public on vaccine-related policy issues at the FDA, CDC, and CMS.
Long-term Care Roundtable
In September, the Alliance and the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) hosted a roundtable called Protecting Long-Term Care Residents from Respiratory and Other Infectious Diseases. The roundtable brought together leaders from policy, pharmacy, nursing, public health, payors, and advocacy to address challenges for the 2025–26 respiratory illness season.
Discussions covered current adult vaccine recommendations, barriers to access in long-term care, and payor strategies to improve uptake. Participants also engaged in a town hall to brainstorm solutions and update prior policy recommendations.
Rx to OTC Switch
A roundtable discussion co-hosted by the Alliance and the Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention (AWHP) brought together 16 diverse patient groups to discuss the prescription (Rx) to over-the-counter (OTC) switch process—how it can be a powerful strategy in efforts to expand access to safe and effective treatments, key barriers to effective switches, and strategies to create a more patient-centric process at the FDA.
Key themes from the discussion included:
- Increasing transparency and predictability in FDA’s switch process and decision-making;
- Integrating patient perspectives into the development, review, and evaluation of switch candidates;
- Leveraging appropriate use of modern tools as encouraged by the Additional Condition for Nonprescription Use (ACNU) framework to support safe self-selection and use; and
- Improving education for consumers, caregivers, and healthcare providers to promote safe and effective use.
A whitepaper on the convening will be released in early 2026.
Pathways to Parity
Pathways to Parity is a partnership between the Alliance for Aging Research and the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) that aims to empower self-advocates, family caregivers, researchers, and health care providers to collaborate on Patient-Centered Outcomes Research/Comparative Effectiveness Research (PCOR/CER) as it relates to Alzheimer’s disease in the Down syndrome population.
Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of death for people with Down syndrome, with a 90% risk by the age of 65. With this program we hope to increase the number of individuals who understand CER in this population, an increase in the number of Alzheimer’s trials including this population in trials, and partnering with self-advocates and family caregivers to develop research questions that are meaningful to this population.
The first training held in May 2025 included teacher/presenters from FDA’s Patient Focused Drug Development Program, five highly acclaimed researchers in Alzheimer’s disease, 30 family caregivers and one self-advocate. The training was highly regarded by all attendees.
Defending Intellectual Property’s Role in Innovation
In March 2025, the Alliance hosted a day-long convening on intellectual property (IP) issues in Washington, DC. The multi-panel conference and open discussion convened experts from government, industry, and patient advocacy organizations. Panels included topics such as, “From the University Lab to the Medicine Cabinet: Technology Transfer and the Battle Over Government ‘March In’”; “Patent Myths – Why Should Patient Groups Care? Clarifying Post-Development Criticisms of Intellectual Property”; and “America’s Biopharma Edge: Leading Globally. How Global Policies Shape U.S. Innovation and Competitiveness in Life Sciences.” Together, these panels framed a comprehensive conversation about the role of IP in fostering scientific discovery and, ultimately, bringing new treatments to patients.
Following that convening, the Alliance published a white paper on the same topic, sounding the alarm that misguided policy proposals aimed at weakening IP protections could jeopardize future medical breakthroughs. A Fair Trade: How Intellectual Property Policies Unlock Better Access to Care urges policymakers, patient advocates, and industry stakeholders to protect the integrity of IP laws in order to sustain the innovation pipeline and ensure continued progress in patient care.
The Alliance promoted the convening recordings, materials, and white paper with a dedicated website presence and a podcast episode on This Is Growing Old titled “Demystifying Intellectual Property with David Kappos.”
The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA)
n 2025, the Alliance strongly supported the bipartisan Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA). PERA is the essential next step to restoring clarity and predictability to U.S. patent law so that medical discoveries, specifically diagnostics, can continue to be developed and reach patients.
Sue Peschin testified at a Senate hearing in support of PERA in October 2025, emphasizing the impact of these lost treatments and diagnostics for patient outcomes. Passing PERA would benefit patients through earlier detection, more effective treatments, and better health outcomes.
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
The Alliance launched a new web page dedicated to agitation in Alzheimer’s—AlzhiemersAgitation.org. Agitation in Alzheimer’s dementia refers to a range of behavioral disturbances characterized by restlessness, verbal aggression, or physical aggression. Many people don’t know that agitation in Alzheimer’s is a separate but related condition to Alzheimer’s disease and is a neuropsychiatric symptom of the disease. A video message from Barbara Corcoran, a renowned entrepreneur, author, and investor, shared her story of balancing a highly successful career with caring for her mother. This and other resources can be found on the new web page.
The Alliance and National Alliance for Caregiving hosted a virtual summit Caring Together: Empowering Families and Health Professionals with Tools for Better Neuropsychiatric Care. The summit brought together experts, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to share real-world stories, practical tools, and evidence-based strategies for improving care and communication around neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The speakers focused on how families and clinicians can work together to recognize symptoms early, respond with compassion, and access resources that support better outcomes and quality of life for everyone involved.
A report to be released in early 2026 will highlight the resources and strategies shared during the summit and resources to better equip caregivers and care teams with the tools they need to support caregivers supporting individuals with NPS and patients.
Agitation Survey Reveals Challenges for Caregivers
A survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adults and 1,000 U.S. unpaid family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of the Alliance, highlighted the overall misconceptions about agitation in Alzheimer’s disease, as well as the emotional strain and practical challenges facing caregivers of people living with symptoms such as agitation.
The survey found that:
- 40% of adults in the U.S. do not link agitation symptoms to Alzheimer’s disease
- 73% of caregivers believe agitation in Alzheimer’s requires the same care approach as memory loss alone
- 93% of caregivers of people experiencing symptoms of agitation in Alzheimer’s report feeling overwhelmed or emotionally drained—nearly half say agitation symptoms are harder to manage than memory loss
- One in four caregivers have reduced work hours or left jobs to accommodate caregiving duties—48% report that they have difficulty sleeping and nearly a quarter note a decline in their own physical health
Nearly a third of caregivers have been reluctant to discuss agitation in Alzheimer’s with a healthcare professional because they feel guilty or fear talking about the person they care for in this way.
Caring for a Loved One Film Series
At the Alliance, we know when a loved one is dealing with Alzheimer’s disease, symptoms are often more complicated than just the devastating memory loss. Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) such as hallucinations, anxiety, agitation, and other behaviors can be confusing and worrying for caregivers. However, while nearly all individuals living with Alzheimer’s will experience NPS at some point, few resources exist to help caregivers actually understand and navigate the care for a loved one experiencing them.
To address this critical gap, the Alliance released Caring for a Loved One with Neuropsychiatric Symptoms a film series focused on six of the most common NPS symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease—agitation, depression, apathy, psychosis, sleep disturbances, and wandering. Each film is guided by Carolyn Clevenger, a nationally recognized gerontological nurse practitioner, and dean of the University of Georgia School of Nursing. Dr. Clevenger draws on her extensive clinical experience and warm, accessible style, to break down each symptom, discuss treatment options, and empower caregivers. We hope that this film series will help caregivers to better understand NPS feel less isolated, and be empowered to face these challenges.
To-date, these films have been viewed more than 800,000 times.
Accelerate Cures and Treatments fo Alzheimer’s and All Neurodegenerative Diseases (ACT-AD)
The 18th Annual FDA/ACT-AD Allies Meeting convened experts from academia; biomedical companies; the FDA and the National Institutes of Health (NIH); as well as members of the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) community. The goal of the meeting was to foster connection and meaningful dialogue around emerging issues and effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The discussions highlighted research focusing on precision medicine approaches, early treatment of pre-clinical Alzheimer’s disease, the increasing use and reliability of blood-based biomarkers, and emerging therapeutics ready to go to Phase 2 clinical trials.
The meeting also featured an informative fireside chat with Dr. Teresa Buracchio, Director of the FDA’s Office of Neuroscience, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Dr. Buracchio addressed the challenges and opportunities in exploring pre-clinical Alzheimer’s disease, various aspects of clinical trials, and advances in neurology and psychiatry research on the use of antipsychotics.
Project PAUSE
The Project PAUSE coalition continued its legislative and regulatory efforts to ensure that residents in long-term care settings (e.g., skilled nursing facility, nursing home, assisted-living setting) who have Alzheimer’s or a related disease, and other neuropsychiatric conditions receive high-quality, patient-centered, appropriate care and treatment without facing stigma or coverage barriers.
The Alliance in partnership with the American Society for Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) responded to a request for comment on proposed minimum staffing standards for long-term care from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
In 2025, Project PAUSE once again facilitated a bi-partisan letter from influential members of the House of Representatives to CMS that asked the agency to revisit its nursing home quality measures on antipsychotics. We further secured report language through our testimony and advocacy on the enacted FY 2026 appropriations bill urging CMS to do the same.
Additionally, we secured report language in 2025 in the enacted Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriation, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations Bill that led the FDA to further review whether its antipsychotics boxed warning for people with dementia is scientifically supported for the entire class of therapeutics.
In July, the Alliance submitted comments urging CMS to modify the nursing home quality measure minimum data set to better distinguish appropriate from inappropriate use of antipsychotics (along with Coverage in Evidence Development policies) as part of its mandate to eliminate burdensome regulatory requirements.
Report Reveals CMS Quality Measure’s Unintended Consequences
n late August, Project PAUSE leadership met with CMS to appeal for the change. During the intervening government shutdown on November 18, Assessing the Impact of the Long-Stay Antipsychotic Medication Quality Measure on Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases: Unintended Consequences of Measure Design and Potential Strategies to Improve Access to Patient-Centered Care produced by Manatt Health with support from the Alliance for Aging Research was released and subsequently shared with CMS.
he report reveals that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Long-Stay Antipsychotic Medication quality measure, while originally intended to prevent inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes, has led to unintended consequences that restrict access to safe and effective treatments for more than 3 million residents with Alzheimer’s and related conditions. We are very encouraged by subsequent discussions with the agency. A follow up discussion with FDA on the boxed warning label is pending and we are encouraged by word that some change may be under consideration.
Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day
In its ninth year marking Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, the Alliance was joined on February 22, 2025, and throughout American Heart Month by 139 partners dedicated to improving earlier detection and intervention of heart valve disease.
This year’s campaign saw nearly 2 million high-impact engagements and a potential reach of over 383 million. Our efforts spanned across media, in-person and virtual events, social campaigns, and key partnerships, all aimed at educating the public on the risks, symptoms, and treatments for heart valve disease. From the halls of the Mall of America to radio waves across Spotify and Pandora, and from international events to PSAs on TV and streaming platforms, Valve Disease Day 2025 made a global mark.
The 2025 flagship event for Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day was hosted in partnership with Rock from the Heart in Saint Paul, Minnesota. This marked the first time the annual concert coincided with Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day on February 22. The two-day event featured an Aortic Educational Symposium with an expert presentation from Dr. John Whyte, Chief Medical Officer at WebMD and Alliance Board Member, a Survivor Recognition Dinner, and a benefit concert headlined by the Spin Doctors.
Partner events included educational sessions and heart screenings, Facebook lives, a community educational summit, cardiothoracic surgeon conference, awareness walk, and more.
Talk NERDY
Talk NERDY (Nurturing Engagement in Research and Development with You) held a training in September 2025 titled From Concept to Intervention: How cells, insects, worms, and rodents help shape translational science and precision medicine for 23 participants taught by Dr. Jessica Young from the University of Washington. Training focused on why we need different models to study human neurodegenerative disease, the pros and cons of the different models, how different cell types contribute to disease-specific research, the limitations of each cell type, and the use of organoids and human tissue to reduce the use of animal models in basic and translational research.
It’s Hump Day!
Our weekly Hump Day emails to the Alliance Board and partners continue to provide bite–sized tidbits of information on our recent work every Wednesday. From detailed wonky updates on Policy and “CMS Watch” news, to lighter news, staff updates, and obscure awareness days, our Hump Day messages (often with pop culture themes interwoven) are popular with our audiences and often mentioned when we “meet IRL” (in real life).
Podcasts: This Is Growing Old and The Check-Up
In 2025, the Alliance doubled its podcast offerings with the launch of The Check-Up, a supplemental series to the main podcast series, This Is Growing Old. Our podcasts featuring renowned experts have reached new audiences on topics including defending government-funded programs like Medicaid and SNAP that benefit older adults, to complex issues like how intellectual property laws affect scientific breakthroughs, and even practical tips to prevent sarcopenia.
The Alliance has begun monetizing the podcast as a featured benefit allowing for paid promo on social media and in the podcast streaming space, allowing episodes to have a wider reach. This Is Growing Old episodes are available on all major streaming platforms and totaled 9,154 listens in 2025. Episodes are also catalogued on YouTube, and the video component of the episodes has an additional 105,173 views.
In its inaugural year, the Alliance released 6 episodes of The Check-Up, featuring shorter interviews with Alliance staff who share their perspective on current issues, upcoming events, and behind the scenes insight to their work in advancing healthy aging.
Corporate Partnership Council (CPC)
The Alliance’s Corporate Partnership Council (CPC) provides a useful forum for companies to collaborate and advance activities related to the Alliance’s mission and vision.
CPC members participated in discussions with the Alliance leaders and expert advisors on current health policy, advocacy, and education trends, provide learning opportunities on how to create a corporate culture that respects aging as a greater good, and share current issues in scientific and regulatory development that advance independence, dignity, and equity for older adults:
- Spring Networking Reception with the Alliance staff and Board of Directors
- CPC Annual Meeting held on Wednesday, October 15 in Washington, DC.
Thank you to our CPC sponsors:
- Amgen USA Inc.
- Applied Policy, LLC
- Biogen Inc.
- Bristol Myers Squibb Company
- Eli Lilly and Company
- Genentech, Inc.
- GSK
- Johnson & Johnson
- Moderna, Inc.
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
- Novo Nordisk Inc.
- Omnicom Health Group
- Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
- Pfizer Inc.
- Sanofi
Thank you
All of us at the Alliance for Aging Research thank you for taking the time
to explore our impact in 2025. We are grateful to YOU and our entire community of partners, whose generous support allows us to do meaningful work for older adults and their loved ones.
Stay connected with us and support our work at www.AgingResearch.org.
