San Francisco, CA

PATIENTS ACADEMY FOR RESEARCH ADVOCACY

EIN 83-0678345

Health & Wellness Medical Research & Training Patients & families

Mission

To prepare patients and care partners to engage as informed, effective partners in medical research and drug development so that lived experience helps shape better medicines, regulatory decisions, and payer outcomes.

IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity Contributions are tax-deductible

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About PATIENTS ACADEMY FOR RESEARCH ADVOCACY

The Patients’ Academy for Research Advocacy is a San Francisco–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that educates patients and care partners to participate as full partners in research and drug development. Its core offering is an interactive, disease-agnostic training program and workshops that teach how drug development decisions are made and where patient expertise can improve outcomes. The organization was founded by Susan Schaeffer and is governed by a small board; it operates through partnerships with industry, regulators, and patient-advocacy groups to recruit faculty and host both in-person and online programs. In recent years the Academy has expanded online course offerings and developed a health-equity curriculum aimed at improving representation and inclusive engagement in research.

Notable achievements

Launched interactive patient training program

Built and operates a first-of-its-kind interactive training series that teaches patients and care partners the fundamentals of drug development and how to contribute throughout the research lifecycle.

Completed online course for spinal cord injury advocates

Developed and launched an online training course specifically for patient and research advocates in the spinal cord injury community to increase their readiness to engage with researchers and sponsors.

Developed health equity curriculum (in progress)

Began development of an online course on Health Equity and Representation in Research for patient advocates and advocacy organizations to improve diversity and inclusion in clinical research participation and design.

At a glance

Total assets: $45K
Annual revenue: $89K
Tax status: 501(c)(3)Public charity
EIN: 83-0678345
Location: San Francisco, CA
Website: www.patients-academy.org
On Mahalo since: April 2026

Financial figures from the IRS Business Master File, the IRS’s registry of tax-exempt organizations.

Recognition

Listed on nonprofit information platforms (Candid/GuideStar and Charity Navigator) with EIN 83-0678345 and identified as a 501(c)(3) organization.

Founder appointment and participation in national fora: the founder has been invited to and referenced in national-level drug development and research forums, reflecting recognition by peers in drug R&D and health-policy communities.

Collaborative partnerships and mentions in sector publications and reports: the organization’s programs and founder have been cited or included in industry and academy materials on patient engagement and drug development practice.

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