PRIMR24 Opens With Commitment to Involve Communities in Research to Enhance Trustworthiness of Science

SEATTLE – Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) held its annual conference, PRIMR24, in Seattle in late November with a focus on increasing public involvement and activity in scientific research to enhance trustworthiness of science.

“By including more layers of the community in the conversation, we can build understanding and trust in the scientific process,” said PRIM&R Executive Director, Ivy Tillman, EdD, CIP. “In our efforts to build trustworthiness, we are focused on increasing our connections, particularly with advocacy organizations, community ethics boards, and the broader research enterprise.”

The three-day conference offered roughly 150 sessions, featuring nearly 350 speakers. The 2024 PRIM&R Annual Conference (PRIMR24) included a mix of sessions geared toward those working in human subjects research, animal care and use, and institutional leadership.

“With an uncertain political landscape ahead, there are questions about how science is pursued,” Tillman said. “We will work to track changes, keep our community informed, and advocate to keep science a nonpartisan research endeavor.”

Melissa Tribelhorn, MPA, CEO of the Northwest Association for Biomedical Research (NWABR), said, “In an era where misinformation and skepticism often dominate the public discourse, building trust in science is more critical than ever.”

“As Seattle hosts the PRIM&R conference … the Northwest Association for Biomedical Research is proud to partner and highlight the importance of community-driven efforts to bridge the gap between researchers and the public,” Tribelhorn said. “Right here in the Northwest, NWABR fosters collaboration, transparency, and dialogue, through initiatives like Camp BIOmed and Trusting the Science roundtables, ensuring science remains a trusted and unifying force in society.”

Keynote Remarks: Space Exploration Research

PRIMR24 featured a keynote address during the opening session, titled “The Next Frontier: Space Exploration Research,” which was delivered by Rachael Dempsey, MBA, chief operating and communications officer of Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH).

“The future of human health research includes spaceflight," Dempsey said. "Increased access to space, through commercial spaceflight, grows opportunities to study the body's response to microgravity and translate those lessons to Earth. Studying a more diverse set of humans leads to precision medicine and safer spaceflight. That's why TRISH has advanced rigorous, inclusive research programs, like EXPAND, that are leading the standards for ethical human research in commercial spaceflight."

Seattle Research

“Hosting PRIMR24 in Seattle highlights our region’s commitment to ethical research practices that respect both human and animal welfare, fostering an environment of accessibility and integrity,” said said Sally Thompson-Iritani, DVM, PhD, (LinkedIn: Sally T.), the assistant vice provost of the Animal Care, Outreach, and 3Rs Program (ACO3Rs) at the University of Washington.

“The collaborations and insights shared here not only reinforce the foundation of ethical oversight, but also contribute to building public trust in science—a trust grounded in our dedication to openness, responsibility, and compassionate care,” Thompson-Iritani said. “This gathering encourages an open dialogue, bringing diverse voices together to support research that is as conscientious as it is innovative.”

"PRIMR24 provides an invaluable platform for leaders dedicated to human and animal care oversight, advancing the ethical standards that are essential to responsible research,” Thompson-Iritani said.

PRIMR24 was held from November 17 to November 20 at the Seattle Convention Center.

To learn more about PRIMR24’s speakers and sessions, click here.

To learn more about Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), click here.

To learn more about NWABR’s community engagement programs, click here.