About Me

Dr. Savannah Sims is the Senior Associate for Global Health R&D Advocacy at Research!America. In this role, she facilitates communication and knowledge transfer between researchers, government officials, and stakeholders, translating scientific advancements into impactful messages to enhance collaboration and informed decision-making. She also tracks legislation relevant to science policy and global health, leverages her scientific expertise to drive advocacy messaging, and leads cross-sector collaborations to increase private sector investment in global health research. Savannah initially joined Research!America as the Dr. Leroy Hood Science Policy Fellow.

Previously, she was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, studying the immune system in pediatric CNS tumors. Savannah holds a Ph.D. in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis from West Virginia University, focusing on inflammation in stroke and Multiple Sclerosis. She also earned a B.Sc. in Immunology and Medical Microbiology from WVU, with research centered on vaccinology.

Savannah is dedicated to improving transparency and communication between scientists, the public, and policymakers to advance scientific research and enhance clinical care globally. She has presented her research at numerous regional, national, and international meetings and has been funded by a T32 Fellowship and an F31 NRSA Fellowship. Her research interests lie in understanding inflammatory responses in the CNS to explore therapeutic options for neurological diseases with limited treatments.

During graduate school, Savannah served as President of WVU's Science Policy Organization. She is a strong advocate for STEM education and believes that effective scientific communication can improve healthcare outcomes and address real-world challenges.

Savannah calls West Virginia home. She loves WVU sports, West Virginia cuisine, and has a strong sense of community and family. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new places, playing board games, hiking, reading, cooking, baking, and taking weekend trips with her family.