Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | 10:00 AM EDT
Clinical trials are an essential part of developing new medicines and treatments. In recent years, China has become an increasingly important center for clinical research and drug development.
On September 22, 2026, Dr. Amy Abernethy, cofounder of Highlander Health and former principal deputy commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and Dr. Ruby Wang of LINTRIS discussed the differences between U.S. and Chinese approaches to clinical trials, including the tradeoffs between speed, safety, and research quality. How is China’s growing role in drug development changing the global pharmaceutical landscape? Might the United States and China work together on clinical research?
This conversation builds on discussions at the National Committee’s 2026 U.S.-China Track II Dialogue on Healthcare, held in Hangzhou, during which American and Chinese experts shared thoughts on the accelerating pace of biomedical innovation in China and opportunities to maintain cooperation in healthcare despite tensions in the bilateral relationship.
Speaker
Amy Abernethy
Amy Abernethy is an oncologist, entrepreneur, and leader in clinical research and health data science. She is cofounder of Highlander Health, an investment firm focused on advancing evidence generation and personalized healthcare. Previously, Dr. Abernethy served as principal deputy commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, where she led initiatives to modernize clinical evidence generation and advance personalized healthcare, while also serving as the agency’s acting chief information officer. She later served as chief medical officer and president of product development at Verily, Alphabet’s precision health business, and was the first chief medical officer and chief scientific officer at Flatiron Health.
Dr. Abernethy previously held academic leadership positions at Duke University. Trained in hematology/oncology and palliative medicine, she has written more than 500 publications and has focused her career on integrating clinical research, real-world evidence, health data, and emerging technologies to improve patient care.
Moderator
Ruby Wang
Ruby Wang is a practicing physician, health strategist, and writer specializing in global health, technology, and policy. She is director at the LINTRIS Health consultancy, a member of the Digital Health Council of the UK Royal Society of Medicine, Alistair Horne Fellow at St Antony’s, Oxford, and a non-resident fellow in global public health at the Asia Society’s Center for China Analysis. She previously served at the British embassy in Beijing, as health adviser to the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in China, director of strategy and partnerships at Holmusk, and medical adviser at AliHealth, part of Alibaba Group.
Dr. Wang received her medical degree from the University of Cambridge and University College London, and master’s degrees from the University of Cambridge and Tsinghua University as a Schwarzman Scholar. She founded the ChinaHealthPulse newsletter and podcast, and her book, China Cure: The Rise of a Biotech, AI Medicine and Global Health Superpower, is forthcoming in October 2026.