CASPR is a pharma-independent nonprofit working at the intersection of drug development and health policy in the US. We're hiring for three senior roles.
What we do and why it matters
Our current focus is the proposed NIH High-Leverage Trials (HILT) Program — a federal mechanism to fund Phase III clinical trials for off-patent medications, dietary supplements, and peptides where market failure prevents anyone from running them. When a drug loses exclusivity, trial investment for new indications drops to near zero — the "repurposing cliff." A recent NBER paper estimated this has left 200–800 viable drug repurposing opportunities unstudied, at a social cost in the trillions. Meanwhile, Americans spend ~$70 billion a year on supplements based on thin evidence.
The closest existing model is the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, under which NIH sponsors trials of off-patent drugs and submits findings to the FDA for label changes — but only for pediatric populations. HILT extends that model to adults, adds supplements and peptides, and pursues larger trials for novel indications. A single NIH-funded comparison of two macular degeneration treatments (a $2,000/dose drug vs. a $50/dose alternative) resulted in an estimated $40 billion in total savings. No commercial player had any incentive to run that trial. HILT is designed to replicate that logic systematically, benefiting patients, physicians, insurers, and the taxpayer alike.
CASPR's other current policy focus is online gambling addiction. The rapid spread of 24/7 sports betting apps has created a significant and largely unaddressed public health problem. CASPR recently published the first-ever 50-state scorecard ranking states on online gambling safety. This is a relatively neglected area of policy, with potential for society-scale impact.
On EA-relevant dimensions: the scale is large (the repurposing gap cuts across every disease area), the problem is genuinely neglected (no standing federal program does this), and there are real legislative pathways without major partisan incentives. The honest downsides: legislative progress is uncertain, CASPR is an early-stage organization, and policy and research timelines are measured in years. These roles carry real autonomy but also the realities of small nonprofit operations.
The roles
Director of Research — Identifies trial candidates, builds research partnerships, keeps our policy work grounded in evidence. Best suited to someone with a clinical research or translational science background who wants to work at the policy level. Idealist · Google Doc
Director of Policy — Owns CASPR's legislative strategy on Capitol Hill, including HILT and our gambling addiction work. Ideally bringing substantial Hill experience. Idealist · Google Doc
Policy Lead — Supports legislative and coalition-building work; a good fit for someone earlier in their policy career with health or science policy experience. Idealist · Google Doc
Salary ranges are included in both the Idealist listings and the Google Doc postings. More background is on our Substack. If you know someone who might be a fit, we'd be glad if you passed it along.
