Gregory Downing, D.O., Ph.D. is the Founder of Innovation Horizons, LLC, a consulting practice with an emphasis on innovation and technology adaptation in health care, and is an Adjunct Professor of Practice at Georgetown University.

Previously, he was the Founding Executive Director for Innovation in the Immediate Office of the Secretary at the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In this position, his primary responsibilities were focused on the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship as valued attributes of workforce engagement across HHS.

Prior to his arrival at HHS in 2006, Dr. Downing served at the National Institutes of Health since 1993 in research, policy, and program management roles. Dr. Downing earned his medical degree from Michigan State University and his Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Kansas.

He has published more than 75 peer-reviewed articles in science, technology and health policy.  He is widely known for his entrepreneurial applications of data to provide innovative solutions to complex health care management issues. Dr. Downing has an active medical practice in pediatrics and maternal-newborn critical care.

Dr. Downing is a 2017 AcademyHealth senior scholar in residence.

Involvement with AcademyHealth:

  • Committee Member - 2018 Health Datapalooza
  • Committee Member - 2017 Health Datapalooza

Authored by Gregory Downing, D.O., Ph.D.

Blog Post

AcademyHealth Presents a Literature Review Summarizing the Research Findings of the Use of Internet Search Data in the Diagnosis of Diseases and Conditions

Sponsored by a grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and in partnership with Innovation Horizons, AcademyHealth conducted a literature review on the use of patient-generated data to assess the capability of the internet as a tool to inform clinical diagnosis practices.
Posted By Gregory Downing, D.O., Ph.D.
Topics Using Health Data Public & Population Health Delivering Better Care
Blog Post

Despite Progress, We Still Need Innovation in Health Data and Policy

This year’s Health Datapalooza, taking place in February 2023, builds on a nearly 15-year legacy of data policy and innovation. Greg Downing traces this forum’s unique history, highlighting its beginning as a catalyst for data liberation to the current focus on inspiring innovative data application to transform health and health care.
Posted By Gregory Downing, D.O., Ph.D.
Topics Using Health Data Data Sharing Health Datapalooza
Blog Post

The Next Frontier in Research Data Sharing: NIH Policy Changes Are Coming

Stakeholders in NIH funded research should be informed about upcoming policy changes in data sharing and management strategies. Greg Downing spoke with leaders from NIH and research institutions who spearhead the policy implementation and in this blog post highlights implications for the academic research community and beyond.
Posted By Gregory Downing, D.O., Ph.D.
Topics HSR Resources & Methods Translation, Dissemination & Implementation Health Equity