Laura Berkson, J.D.

Laura Berkson, J.D., is the director of NICHD’s Office of Legislation, Public Policy, and Ethics. In this role, she supports the institute’s functions related to legislative analysis, liaises with stakeholder organizations and societies, oversees institute partnerships, and directs controlled correspondence. She also manages NICHD’s ethics and committee management branches.

Prior to joining NICHD, Ms. Berkson was a senior legislative analyst in the NIH Office of Legislative Policy and Analysis. In that capacity, she served as a liaison to Congress, providing contextual information about NIH research and programs, analyzing pending legislative language, and preparing the NIH Director for hearings and meetings with members of Congress.

She began her NIH career in 2012 as a Presidential Management Fellow and completed rotations at NICHD and with the House Committee on Energy and Commerce as part of her fellowship.

Ms. Berkson received her bachelor of arts degree in health science, society, and policy from Brandeis University. She went on to earn her juris doctor degree from Hofstra University School of Law, where she was a health law and policy fellow.