Evidence-Based Policymaking
Cheri Banks, MPH is a Manager of Policy Entrepreneurship at FAS, where she works on initiatives that bridge research, policy, and innovation. At FAS, she completed a comprehensive evaluation of the FDA’s advisory committee system, generated targeted recommendations to improve regulatory processes and evidence integration, developed a practical toolkit for agency use, and presented recommendation findings in Congressional briefings. Most recently, Cheri has worked on FAS’s Academic Networks initiative, which connects researchers with federal agencies to inform learning agendas and drive evidence-based decision-making. Her work supports efforts to strengthen federal capacity by addressing knowledge gaps and providing actionable insights for public policy development. In addition, she has also been working to incubate a food systems program rooted in community insight and climate-aligned infrastructure. Cheri is also advancing federal dialogue around the responsible integration of digital health and AI in patient-centered care, working with leading academic institutions to shape pre-policy conversations.
Previously, Cheri held positions with organizations including The Public Good Projects, the Forum for Collaborative Research, and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, where she worked on policy-relevant public health research and rare disease therapeutics. Her career spans public health communication, regulatory affairs, and strategic program management, with a consistent focus on translating science into actionable policy.
Cheri holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Public Health with a focus on Prevention Science.
Protecting the health and safety of the American public and ensuring that the public has the opportunity to participate in the federal decision-making process is crucial. As currently organized, FACs are not equipped to provide the best evidence-based advice.
These recommendations can catapult the Advisory Committee structure into one that continues providing the government with the best advice.
Improving public awareness of FDA Advisory Committees would improve public trust and deter misinformation related to the approval of medical products.
The absence of consistent voting privileges for patient representatives on Advisory Committees hinders representatives from providing an voice on behalf of the community they represent.
Internal disagreements present a growing concern about FDA leadership overruling the expert opinions of scientific staff and proceeding with official approvals, thus undermining staff expertise, decreasing agency morale, and potentially diminishing public trust.
AdComm members note a lack of transparency in recruitment methods, insufficient training, and limited understanding of regulatory procedures.
Public meetings led by FDA Advisory Committees are instrumental in facilitating transparent deliberation between the FDA, the advisory body, and the American public.