Jessica Kopew, PhD

Jessica S. Kopew, PhD, is a medical research specialist with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, where she advocates for the advancement of human-based medical research methods, including at the National Institutes of Health. Through engagement with federal agencies, NIH leadership and staff, researchers, lawmakers, and the public, she works to shift research away from animal experimentation and toward human-based research methods. Dr. Kopew has authored public comments, peer-reviewed publications, and conference presentations highlighting the scientific promise of human-based research.

Dr. Kopew also leads the Physicians Committee's efforts to expand the availability and use of human tissues in medical research. Her work includes advocating for increased tissue donation, greater investment in biorepositories, and broader adoption of human tissues in research. As a member of the Coalition to Illuminate and Address Animal Methods Bias (COLAAB), she also works to characterize and address the bias that favors animal-based methods in biomedical research.

Before joining the Physicians Committee in 2024, Dr. Kopew earned her PhD in biological sciences, with a concentration in molecular and cellular biology, from the University of Maryland and her BS in biology from The College of New Jersey. Her doctoral research used in vitro and in silico approaches for microbiology investigations. Her work at the Physicians Committee earned her recognition through an alumni spotlight at her alma mater, where she shared her efforts to advance human-based medical research with a broader audience.

Read more about Dr. Kopew’s latest work:

Addressing Animal Methods Bias Amid Global Calls to Reduce Animal Experimentation

Policies for Addressing Global Organ Shortages

Physicians Committee Scientist Speaks About Need for Human-Based Women’s Health Research at NIH Meeting