Deborah Collyar is a dedicated connector who founded the Patient Advocates in Research (PAIR) international communication network. Her mission, "where research meets reality," unites ideas and people to drive medical advancements that yield tangible benefits for diverse patients and families.
With a rich background spanning tech, communication, strategy, management, policy, and equity, Deborah bridges gaps across patients, scientists, medical providers, payers, governments, and nonprofits. She integrates patient engagement into projects, gathering crucial patient insights across various diseases, programs, and policies at grassroots, national, and international levels within academia, companies, and governments.
Deborah's expertise spans translational and clinical research, epidemiology, health outcomes, and health delivery research, collaborating extensively with academia, federal agencies, companies, and patient communities. She is renowned for infusing patient realities into medical and health research, offering invaluable perspectives throughout discovery, clinical trials, data-sharing, genomics, and implementation.
Internationally recognized for her advocacy, Deborah ensures diseases are understood from patient viewpoints. She serves on numerous committees and boards, speaks widely to professional and public groups, and champions plain language writing to empower diverse patients in finding their voices.
Deborah Collyar's collaborative efforts include impactful partnerships with organizations like AACR, ASCO, FDA, NIH, and many others. Her work enhances clinical outcomes, promotes plain language communication, and elevates patient engagement and advocacy. Deborah and her husband, both cancer survivors and caregivers, bring a deeply personal commitment to their endeavors.