Doug Oliver, MSW
Patient Advocate and Founder of Regenerative Outcomes Foundation
Doug Oliver, MSW, is an incredible patient advocate and change maker. He is the 2019 recipient of the WSCS Action Award for Inspiration. Formerly legally blind from inherited macular degeneration, he regained much of his lost vision after undergoing an autologous bone-marrow stem cell therapy. Wanting to advance the amazing potential of the regenerative medicine field, he used his extensive experience in medical social work, healthcare policy and compliance, and therapeutic case advocacy to help lawmakers in Washington D.C. craft key patient provisions in the 21st Century Cures Act. As a result of the Cures Act passing with record bipartisan support in December of 2016, millions of patients will soon have cellular therapies, like the one that he received, available to them.
In 2018, his advocacy turned from legislative action to “privileging the patient position” by becoming directly involved in the drug development sector. Using a collaboration model, he is committed to demonstrating patients can themselves spearhead clinical trials. His efforts have proven fruitful, leading to research, IND submission and approval, and now management of a FDA Clinical Trial targeting symptoms of Parkinson Disease. His latest testament to patient-led drug development began earlier this year, when he assembled a group of scientists, companies, regulatory experts, and clinicians to launch the “Ukraine Traumatology and Orthopedic Partnership”, a new project to treat wounds suffered by victims of military trauma.
Preliminary arrangements are in place to begin FDA Compliant Phase I trials in late Summer 2023.