FBR announces new Board Chair

WASHINGTON – The Foundation for Biomedical Research is pleased to announce the election of James S. Allan, MD, MBA, as Board Chair. Dr. Allan is an Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and is a practicing thoracic surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and at several of its community affiliates. Dr. Allan has been an NIH-funded investigator for over two decades in the field of transplant immunology and currently co-directs the Cardiothoracic Transplantation Laboratory of MGH’s Center for Transplantation Sciences. He also has an MBA in Finance and was chosen to be the first Health Policy Scholar by the American College of Surgeons and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Dr. Allan graduated from Harvard College and HMS with high honors in Chemistry and Medicine, respectively. He completed residencies in Surgery and Thoracic Surgery at MGH and Boston Children’s Hospital. He also completed a post-doctoral research fellowship in Transplant Immunology at MGH and HMS.

“It is an honor to pass the gavel on to Jim, with whom I have had the pleasure to serve on FBR’s board since 2016,” said Henry S. Friedman, MD, immediate past chair of the Foundation’s board of directors. He continued: “Jim successfully steered the Foundation’s financial assets through highly uncertain times during the pandemic years as Treasurer. He is also deeply connected to the Foundation’s mission of raising public awareness about the many benefits of animal research. I am certain he will contribute immensely to the Foundation’s vision, strategy, and goals as Chair.”

Dr. Friedman is turning over the Foundation Chair position to Dr. Allan but plans to continue his tenure as a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. “I remain dedicated to and enthusiastic about the Foundation’s mission. I look forward to continuing to serve the Foundation as a member of its Board of Directors,” he said.

Matthew R. Bailey, FBR President, said: “I am proud to welcome Jim as chair of the Foundation’s board. I look forward to drawing on his expertise and vision when it comes to organizational management and connecting science with society to advance the Foundation’s mission.”

“I am truly honored to serve as chair of the Foundation for Biomedical Research Board of Directors,” said Dr. Allan. “I look forward to continuing my work with the Foundation to increase awareness about how humane animal research benefits the lives of both human beings and animals alike.”

As a thoracic surgeon and investigator, Dr. Allan’s clinical interests include the surgical management of benign and malignant diseases of the lungs and esophagus, including lung transplantation and trauma. His current research focuses on developing strategies to promote the long-term acceptance of transplanted organs without the need for immunosuppression. He has special expertise in the experimental use of large-animal models of cardiothoracic transplantation.

Dr. Allan has won numerous grants from the National Institutes of Health and other organizations. He has held leadership positions in the areas of transplantation and health policy and is a Past-President of the American Society for Transplantation. He also chairs MGH’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. He is extensively published in the areas of thoracic surgery and transplant immunology.

About FBR:

The Foundation for Biomedical Research (FBR) is America’s most experienced, trusted and effective nonprofit dedicated to improving human and animal health by promoting public understanding and support for biomedical research. Together with the National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR), FBR illuminates the essential role animal testing and research plays in changing health outcomes and defeating illnesses affecting both people and animals. FBR was established in 1981 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. Learn more by visiting www.fbresearch.org.

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