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Mariana
P.
Socal
,
MD

Associate Scientist

Mariana Socal, MD, PhD '17, studies ways to make the US pharmaceutical market more competitive, delivering drugs of greater value for lower costs to the American people.

Contact Info

624 N. Broadway, Hampton House 301
Baltimore
Maryland
21205
US        

Research Interests

Medicare; self-insured employers; drug formularies; PBMs; biosimilars; insulin; orphan drugs; gene therapies; FDA.

Experiences & Accomplishments
Education
PhD
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2017
MPP
Princeton University
2010
MSc
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
2008
MD
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
2000
Overview

Prof. Socal’s research focuses on improving pharmaceutical access and affordability. Specific topics include the global pharmaceutical supply chain, gene therapies, generics and biosimilar markets, and ways to control spending without restricting access to prescription drugs. Prof. Socal has testified before the U.S. Congress on the drug pricing provisions established in the Inflation Reduction Act. Prof. Socal also testified at the Food and Drug Administration on biopharmaceutical regulation, including insulins. Prof. Socal collaborates with state-level initiatives to increase access to prescription drugs, including the California Generic Drugs Initiative (CalRx).  Prof. Socal is a physician trained in adult Neurology. She holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Princeton University and a PhD in Public Health/Health Systems from Johns Hopkins University. Prof. Socal teaches courses on U.S. Pharmaceutical Policy and the U.S. Healthcare System.

Honors & Awards
  • 2024 Johns Hopkins NEXUS Research Award 
  • 2024 Excellence in Teaching (U.S. Pharmaceutical Policy) Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • 2023 Member of World Health Organization Technical Advisory Group on Pricing Policies for Medicines
  • 2022 Golden Apple Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • 2022 Excellence in U.S. Public Health Practice Faculty Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • 2023 Excellence in Teaching (U.S. Pharmaceutical Policy) Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • 2022 Excellence in Teaching (U.S. Pharmaceutical Policy) Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • 2021 Excellence in Teaching (U.S. Pharmaceutical Policy) Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • 2020 Excellence in Teaching (U.S. Pharmaceutical Policy) Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • 2019 Excellence in Teaching (U.S. Pharmaceutical Policy) Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • 2016 David and Elinor Bodian Scholarship Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • 2016 Henry K. and Lola Beye Scholarship in International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • 2015 Teaching-As-Research Fellowship, Johns Hopkins Center for Educational Resources
  • 2015 Gordis Teaching Fellowship, Johns Hopkins Krieger School of Arts and Sciences
  • 2013 Gordis Teaching Fellowship, Johns Hopkins Krieger School of Arts and Sciences
  • 2009 Research Fellowship, Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Brazil
  • 2008 Research Fellowship, Princeton University Grand Challenges Initiative and the Ford Foundation
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