Washington Research Foundation (WRF) has appointed Dr. Orin S. Levine as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Levine will begin his role on October 6, following the retirement of Dr. Tom Daniel, who has led WRF since 2022. With over 20 years of experience combining science, policy, and philanthropy, Dr. Levine is well-known for his expertise in public health and innovation. WRF supports research and innovation in life sciences, particularly in Washington state and beyond. Last year, the foundation awarded nearly $16 million in grants to nonprofit research organizations, and since its founding in 1981, it has provided over $182 million in funding.
Health Technology Insights: knownwell Expands with Second Clinic in Greater Boston
Dr. Levine’s career spans philanthropy, academia, and government. Most recently, he held senior positions at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, including Director of Vaccine Delivery and Senior Director of the Global Delivery Program, managing large global initiatives in immunization and primary healthcare. He served for nearly a decade on the boards of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and COVAX, a program focused on vaccine access during the pandemic. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and the Board of Trustees for the Sabin Vaccine Institute.
Dr. Levine began his career in 1994 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer and later became a staff epidemiologist in the Respiratory Diseases Branch after earning his Ph.D. in epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University. After five years at the CDC, he joined the National Institutes of Health, focusing on pneumococcal vaccine research. In 2002, he co-founded the International Vaccine Access Center at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with Professor Katherine O’Brien, M.D. The center secured more than $100 million from the Gates Foundation and Gavi to improve vaccine access for children in low-income countries. Dr. Levine was a full tenured professor until 2012.
Health Technology Insights: ChiroTouch Launches Rheo: The First AI Assistant Purpose-Built for Chiropractors
Throughout his career, Dr. Levine has held many leadership roles, including chairing the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene’s Committee on Global Health and serving on key committees during the Decade of Vaccines Collaboration. Under Dr. Daniel’s leadership, WRF developed and implemented a strategic plan and awarded approximately $44 million in grants. Brooks Simpson, Chair of WRF’s Board, said, “Under Tom’s leadership, WRF has become a respected organization in the life sciences field. We now look forward to Orin’s leadership as we face challenges with state and federal funding. Orin’s global healthcare experience will be a great asset to WRF and the region. We thank Tom for his dedication and welcome Orin to this role.” Dr. Levine shared his enthusiasm, saying, “I love innovation and WRF has a remarkable history of turning bold research ideas into innovations that improve lives. I am excited about the organization’s vision and look forward to working with the team and partners to help Washington’s life sciences ecosystem reach new milestones.”
Health Technology Insights: Aptarro and aiHealth Partner for AI-Powered Coding Automation
To participate in our interviews, please write to our HealthTech Media Room at sudipto@intentamplify.com
