Lori Abrams

Lori Abrams is a prominent figure in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in clinical trials and drug development. She is currently the Owner of Health Equity LLC and serves as an advisor to WiTT and NEV.12

Professional Background

Lori's career spans several decades in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. She began her journey at the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, working in Dr. Anthony Fauci's Laboratory of Immunoregulation on early HIV and AIDS drug trials.1 This experience sparked her passion for advocating for underrepresented populations in clinical research.

Military Service and Advocacy

Abrams served six years in the military's HIV drug program, where she:

• Ran clinical trials
• Successfully lobbied Congress for a $32 million annual funding increase
• Was nominated as a delegate to the White House Conference on HIV/AIDS1

Pharmaceutical Industry Experience

After her military service, Lori transitioned to the pharmaceutical industry:

• Worked at Bristol Myers Squibb as a senior protocol manager in the HIV clinical group
• Rose through the ranks to become Director
• Established one of the first R&D diversity and patient engagement groups in the industry1

Recent Roles

Prior to her current position, Lori served as:

• VP of Patient Advocacy and Clinical Research Diversity at WCG Clinical
• Senior Director of Advocacy at WCG Clinical3

In these roles, she focused on ensuring that sponsors understood how to diversify clinical trials and facilitated culturally appropriate dialogue between patients, care providers, community members, and trial stakeholders.1

Expertise and Influence

Lori Abrams is recognized for her expertise in:

• Clinical trials
• Drug development
• Pharmaceutical industry practices4

She is a frequent speaker and writer on DE&I in clinical drug development, sharing her knowledge and experiences to promote more inclusive practices in the field.1