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Headquartered in Washington DC, our team includes a growing collective of scientists, physicians, and subject-matter experts spanning the domains of public policy, global health, sustainable development, and national security.

Our Staff

Member Image for Jason Rao, PhD

Jason Rao, PhD

Executive Director & Advisory Chair

Member Image for Jason Rao, PhD

Executive Director & Advisory Chair

Jason Rao, PhD

Jason is the Executive Director and Advisory Chair of HSP, as well as adjunct faculty at the Cornell University, teaching global health, national security and diplomacy. He is a recognized thought leader of global health security policy and programs. Jason previously served as Senior Policy Advisor to President Obama, in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy where he contributed to the President’s Global Science Engagement, Global Health Initiative, and Biological Threat Reduction policy and program efforts. He is the founder of the U.S. Department of State’s Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP), launched in 2006 during his tenure with the State Department, Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (2002-2009). Jason was a Brookings Legis Fellow, serving in the 111th Congress, working on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. In 2011, Jason left government to pursue work in the non-profit sector as the Senior Director for Innovation and International Affairs at the American Society for Microbiology. He holds a PhD in Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular biology from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and has 20 years’ experience in public health, foreign affairs, national security, biological threat reduction and science policy. Jason has worked extensively in, and maintains active collaboration with South and Southeast Asia, all regions of Africa, Middle East North Africa, Central Asia, and Latin America.