What Duke-Margolis does

Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy is a university-wide, interdisciplinary research and policy institute at Duke University, founded in January 2016 with a $16.5 million gift from Robert J. Margolis, MD and Lisa Margolis. The Institute produces evidence-based health policy research, education programs, and stakeholder convenings across four focus areas: Health Care Transformation, Advancing Biomedical Innovation, 21st Century Public Health, and Education and Workforce Development. Its product surface is a portfolio of policy initiatives rather than commercial software, including the Real-World Evidence (RWE) Collaborative (200+ individuals from 40+ organizations), the North Carolina State Transformation Collaborative (a public-private partnership with NCDHHS and CMS covering 30+ endorsing organizations), drug repurposing research, health equity policy work, an AI in Health Care policy portfolio, and clinical trial modernization initiatives such as Advancing Clinical Trials at the Point of Care (ACT@POC). The Institute also operates educational programs including the Margolis Scholars Program, a Postdoctoral Associates and Affiliated Fellows Program, and a Health Policy Undergraduate Certificate.

The Institute serves four primary customer segments: federal government agencies (FDA under a formal cooperative agreement, CMS, HHS), state health departments and Medicaid programs (led by NCDHHS), life sciences and biomedical industry, and graduate/professional students. It also engages health systems, providers, payers, and patient advocates. Distribution is primarily through direct stakeholder engagement, peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, white papers, a monthly newsletter, conferences, and convenings. The business model is a nonprofit operating structure: Duke-Margolis does not sell commercial products or services and is funded by a mix of philanthropic gifts (notably from the Margolis Family Foundation), federal and state grants, cooperative agreements with agencies such as the FDA, and university support. The Institute is governed by an advisory board representing academia, patients, policy research, payers, and providers, and is led by Director Mark McClellan, MD, PhD.

Name

Duke-Margolis

Legal name

Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy

Website

https://healthpolicy.duke.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy is a university-wide research and policy institute at Duke University that develops evidence-based health policy solutions through collaborative research, stakeholder convening, and education, serving federal and state agencies, life sciences companies, and students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Policy Research and Consulting

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Health Financing, Budgeting & Grants Management (HLAJAMAC), Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) for Global Health (HLAJAOAD), Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI), Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

Keywords

• Health policy research
• Regulatory science
• Health care transformation
• Evidence-based policy
• Biomedical innovation policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy conducts interdisciplinary, evidence-based health policy research and develops practical policy solutions to pressing health care delivery and payment challenges. It operates multi-stakeholder convenings, regulatory science collaborations with the FDA, and educational programs for students and early-career researchers. Revenue is generated through grants, donations, and cooperative agreements rather than commercial product sales.

Product overview

Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy is a university-wide policy institute (not a technology product company) that develops evidence-based health policy solutions. The organization operates through collaborative research initiatives and educational programs rather than software products. Key offerings include the Real-World Evidence (RWE) Collaborative (engaging 200+ individuals across 40+ organizations), the North Carolina State Transformation Collaborative (NC STC) public-private partnership, drug repurposing research programs, and health equity policy initiatives. Educational offerings include the Margolis Scholars Program and Postdoctoral Fellows Program. The institute also conducts AI in health care policy research and clinical trial modernization work. Duke-Margolis publishes various policy resources including white papers, case studies, journal articles, and policy briefs through its research team.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Real-World Evidence (RWE) Collaborative A multi-stakeholder initiative engaging over 200 individuals from more than 40 organizations to advance real-world evidence policy, guide regulatory decision-making, and improve the development and use of RWE for federal agencies and life sciences companies.
• North Carolina State Transformation Collaborative (NC STC) A statewide initiative launched in February 2023 to align public and private stakeholders on strategies for value-based, whole-person care, with focus on quality measurement alignment, data infrastructure, and health equity across North Carolina.
• Drug Repurposing Research Program Portfolio of work addressing barriers to drug repurposing, including regulatory opportunities, funding mechanisms, and policy solutions to improve patient access to affordable treatments, serving life sciences companies and patient advocates.
• Clinical Trial Modernization Initiative Initiative expanding clinical trials focus to address access barriers and integrate clinical care with research, including the Advancing Clinical Trials at the Point of Care (ACT@POC) work for life sciences and regulatory stakeholders.
• Margolis Scholars Program Interdisciplinary program providing Duke University students with perspective on health policy and management issues, along with practical and research opportunities for careers in government, academia, and nonprofit organizations.
• Duke-Margolis Postdoctoral Associates & Affiliated Fellows Program Program offering opportunities for early-career researchers and clinicians including the two-year Postdoctoral Program in Health Policy, Health Equity Policy & Primary Care Fellowship, and National Clinician Scholars Program.
• Undergraduate Health Policy Certificate Undergraduate certificate program at Duke University providing interdisciplinary health policy education and training to students across Duke schools.
• Artificial Intelligence in Health Care Portfolio Duke-Margolis AI research portfolio focused on harnessing safe, trustworthy, and responsible AI to transform health care through regulatory science and policy development for federal agencies and health system stakeholders.
• International Harmonization of Real World Evidence Standards Dashboard A dashboard project convening stakeholders representing medical product developers, data companies, payers, research groups, providers, patient networks, and regulatory experts to advance RWE policy harmonization since 2018.
• Health Equity Policy Research Research addressing drivers of health, supporting health care safety nets, population and community health, and evidence generation for health equity across diverse populations for government agencies and community partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 health care, community, and state organizations have endorsed the NC State Transformation Collaborative Alignment Proposal
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2023NCDHHS is a lead partner in the North Carolina State Transformation Collaborative (NC STC), a public-private partnership designed to promote high-value, whole-person care. Duke-Margolis serves as the neutral convener for this initiative, which aims to transform North Carolina's health care delivery system and improve health outcomes.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2023CMS is a lead partner in the NC State Transformation Collaborative, supporting the initiative as part of the federal-state collaboration to advance health care reform. The partnership enables greater federal engagement in state-based efforts to accelerate value-based, person-centered approaches to health.
• Health Care Payment Learning & Action Network (HCP-LAN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2023HCP-LAN operates the State Transformation Collaborative initiative, with NC STC being one of four state initiatives. Duke-Margolis collaborates with HCP-LAN to align public and private stakeholders across North Carolina on strategies for rewarding better health outcomes.
• National Governors Association Center for Best PracticesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Collaboration on the COVID-19 Health Equity Learning Network, convening governor-appointed health equity COVID-19 task force leaders throughout the nation to share best and promising practices for improving health equity.
• National Academy for State Health PolicyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership in convening the COVID-19 Health Equity Learning Network alongside the National Governors Association, providing a platform for sharing health equity practices across states.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuke-Margolis operates under a cooperative agreement with the FDA to co-convene initiatives including the Rare Disease Innovation, Science, and Exploration (RISE) Workshop series, advancing therapeutic development for ALS, and other regulatory science projects. The partnership focuses on improving regulatory decision-making through stakeholder engagement and evidence-based policy development.
• Leavitt PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Leavitt Partners on research including the 'Spread of ACOs And Value-Based Payment Models' annual report, leveraging Leavitt Partners' Torch Insight data platform for market-centric analytics on accountable care organizations.
• Every CureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on drug repurposing research, including the white paper 'Barriers and Solutions Across Drug Repurposing Archetypes,' working to identify new uses for existing drugs to bring treatments to patients worldwide.
• NC STC Stakeholder OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 30 health care, community, and state organizations including Advocate Health, Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, DukeHealth, UNC Health, Novant Health, and various provider associations have endorsed the NC STC Alignment Proposal.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• RAND Corporation (Health Division): Independent research institution with a longstanding Health Division producing empirical analysis on health care delivery, financing, and public health policy. Comparable in evidence-based research, federal client base, and breadth of health policy work.
• Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF): Independent nonprofit focused on health policy analysis, polling, and journalism, with major programs on Medicaid, Medicare, marketplace coverage, and global health policy. Directly comparable as a major health policy research organization.
• The Commonwealth Fund: Private foundation focused exclusively on health policy research and promoting a high-performing, equitable US health system. Comparable funder model (philanthropy-supported research), policy focus areas, and convening activities.
• Brookings Institution (Economic Studies / Center for Health Policy): Major DC-based think tank with an active health policy program producing research, convening stakeholders, and engaging CMS/Congress on coverage and payment reform. Closely comparable in policy research, convening, and DC-based engagement model.
• University of Pennsylvania Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (Penn LDI): University-based health policy and economics research center that convenes scholars across disciplines to inform health system policy and payment reform. Comparable to Duke-Margolis in mission (evidence-based health policy research), convening model, and engagement with federal/state agencies and providers.
• Stanford Health Policy (Stanford-SFUSD): University-based interdisciplinary health policy center affiliated with Stanford, conducting research on health economics, biomedical innovation, and global health. Comparable as an academic health policy research hub with industry engagement.
• Urban Institute (Health Policy Center): DC-based nonprofit research organization with a Health Policy Center producing evidence on health coverage, Medicaid, and equity. Comparable in policy research, federal/grant funding mix, and DC-based engagement with CMS and Congress.

Emerging players

• NORC at the University of Chicago: University-affiliated independent research organization conducting health policy survey research, evaluation, and analysis for federal and private clients. Comparable in policy research, federal/grant funding model, and applied evaluation work.
• RTI International: Independent nonprofit research institute with substantial health policy, health economics, and real-world evidence work for federal agencies and life sciences clients. Comparable as a contract research organization working on RWE and health policy evaluation.

Broad incumbents

• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Leading university-based public health research and education institution producing policy-relevant research across health care delivery, public health, and population health. Comparable as an academic health policy center with similar funding mix of grants and philanthropy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=nCnPEqlSL2w
• Xx.com/dukemargolis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Duke-Margolis