A Conversation with 2026 Distinguished Alum Stacey Adam

Join a conversation with 2026 Centennial Distinguished Alum Stacey Adam (Ph.D. '07, Pharmacology), Vice President in Science Partnerships at the Foundation for the National Institute of Health. Dr. Adam played a pivotal role in the ACTIV Initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, which harmonized the many clinical trials underway in the race to find a vaccine. Dr. Adam received her PhD in Pharmacology with a Mammalian Toxicology certificate from Duke University in 2007.In this episode, Dr. Adam is joined by her former Ph.D. advisor and mentor Christopher Counter, Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Assistant Professor in Radiation Oncology, and Professor of Cell Biology. After two decades of following Dr. Adam’s career, Dr. Counter nominated her for the distinguished alum award. In their conversation, Drs. Adam and Counter share stories of their work together at Duke, discuss the importance of team science, consider the impact of public support on academic research, and suggest what to do when science doesn't have all the answers.