Mark Stewart serves as a Vice President, Science Policy at Friends of Cancer Research (Friends). Friends is an advocacy organization based in Washington, DC that drives collaboration among partners from every healthcare sector to power advances in science, policy, and regulation that speed life-saving treatments to patients. For more than two decades, Friends has been instrumental in the creation and implementation of policies ensuring patients receive the best treatments in the fastest and safest way possible.
At Friends, Mark leads the development and implementation of the organization’s research and policy agenda as well as overseeing the conduct of research projects to inform ongoing policy discussions. Mark establishes unique partnerships to help develop innovative policy proposals and consensus-driven solutions to address challenges and accelerate cancer drug development. He regularly participates in policy discussions and meetings throughout the year to help catalyze meaningful change for oncology healthcare.
Prior to joining Friends, Mark worked at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. At the Academies, he assisted with a congressionally mandated study that resulted in the report titled Ovarian Cancers: Evolving Paradigms in Research and Care. This report identified gaps in ovarian cancer knowledge and care, and established science and policy recommendations to overcome these gaps. Mark also assisted the National Cancer Policy Forum.
Mark has had the honor to serve on several membership and working group committees, including serving as chairperson for the Associate Member Council of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and member of the Drug Information Association Program Planning Committee.
Mark Stewart received his PhD in cancer biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and was a recipient of two Federal grants including the NCI’s Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Predoctoral Award.
