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Leah Z. Rand, DPhil

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Leah Z. Rand, DPhil

Research Scientist

Leah Rand is a Research Scientist with PORTAL and a Lecturer at the Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics. Her research focuses on issues at the intersection of bioethics and health policy, specifically public involvement in health policy decision-making at US regulatory agencies and how to economically value health care in ways that align with normative and social values. She has published on value assessment, health technology assessment, federal regulators, and public involvement in Health Affairs, JAMA, and Bioethics.

Rand teaches a core course in the Master of Science in Bioethics program and co-convenes a regular webinar series on health policy and bioethics. Prior to joining PORTAL, she staffed a consensus study at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on public health emergency preparedness and response, and contributed to a framework of ethical considerations for innovative biomedical technologies.

Rand graduated from the University of Chicago, received an MA in philosophy from University College London as a Marshall Scholar, and earned her doctorate in population health and bioethics from the University of Oxford.

Featured Work

Simple graphic of magnifying glass examining papers to signify reviewing research publications.

Characteristics of Speakers at US FDA Advisory Committee Meetings on Drug Approval

Rand LZG, Mooney H, Hong D, Eisenkraft Klein D, Kesselheim AS, Rome BN - JAMA Internal Medicine

Research Publications

| January 2026

Regulation and Clinical Evidence

During the 161 FDA advisory committee meetings held from 2015 to 2023, patients and family members made up nearly half of all speakers during public comment periods. 82% of speakers supported drug approval, and speakers reporting conflicts of interest (COI) were 11% more likely to favor approval. These findings highlight the need for COI disclosure and broader stakeholder input at these committee meetings.

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Securing the Trustworthiness of the FDA to Build Public Trust in Vaccines

Rand LZG, Carpenter D, Kesselheim AS, Bhaskar A, Darrow JJ, Feldman WB - Hastings Center Report

Research Publications

| September 2023

Regulation and Clinical Evidence

In the context of the FDA’s approval of the COVID-19 vaccine in 2020, the authors discuss outline five conditions the FDA should meet to minimize political influence and build public trust and acceptance of public health interventions.

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Controversy Over Using Quality-Adjusted Life-Years in Cost-Effectiveness Analyses: A Systematic Literature Review

Rand LZG, Kesselheim AS - Health Affairs

Research Publications

| September 2021

Price, Value, and Access

This systematic literature review identifies and categorizes criticisms of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), distinguishing between methods-based criticisms that require technical refinement and ethical criticisms that reflect broader societal value judgments. Understanding and overcoming criticisms of the QALY to enable its use as part of health technology assessment and value-based pricing will be crucial as US policy makers seek to address high drug costs and health care spending.

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