Dr. David Ridley

Biography

David Ridley is a health economist at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. His research focuses on the incentives for innovation in health care, quality, and pricing mechanisms. Ridley is dedicated to creating and studying tools that improve health outcomes. He was the lead author on significant papers that contributed to the enactment of laws such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) priority review voucher program, which came into law in 2007. This program provides incentives for drug development targeting neglected and rare diseases, with the FDA awarding over 80 vouchers valued at more than $100 million. In 2022, Ridley's colleagues proposed an expedited review voucher program that was implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency. Ridley has served for more than a decade as the Faculty Director of the Center for Health Sector Management, where students represent 20 percent of Duke's MBA graduates each year. His primary appointment is in the business school, with honorary roles in the Department of Economics and the Sanford School of Public Policy. Additionally, Ridley serves on the executive faculty committee of the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy.

Research Interests