Dr. Kathleen Rousche
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
2025 fellow
Dr. Kathleen Rousche is a public servant with over 14 years of experience at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she provides leadership in the development, implementation, and coordination of extramural research and related training programs. Dr. Rousche is currently the Director of the Innovation and Commercialization Office at the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
In her role as a White House Leadership Development Program Fellow, Dr. Rousche joins the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs within the Office of Management and Budget to lead national priority-focused interagency coordination and develop federal regulation and policy guidance.
At NIH, Dr. Rousche oversees programs and activities designed to help a diverse pool of extramural academic and small business innovators accelerate the transition of new and promising discoveries into innovative biomedical products. The office coordinates and serves as a central point of contact for the NHLBI Small Business Programs (SBIR/STTR) and supports translational research initiatives directed at advancing innovative technologies to the marketplace. Services offered to innovators include pre-application advice, entrepreneurial education, product and business development resources during funding periods, and access to potential federal and private sector partners that may support further technology development to more efficiently and effectively move discoveries to benefit public health.
Dr. Rousche is experienced in large cooperative grants, interpreting scientific policy, implementing new ideas and processes, and executing fiduciary responsibility to ensure good stewardship of federal funds.
Dr. Rousche formerly served as the Acting Deputy Director for the Division of Extramural Research Activities at the NHLBI. She has a diverse background in translational biomedical research, program administration, teaching, and alliance and project management, and has held positions in industry, academia, and medical communications.
Dr. Rousche holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Ursinus College, a master’s degree in biology from Villanova University and a doctoral degree in physiology from Pennsylvania State University.
In her spare time, Dr. Rousche enjoys traveling, playing soccer and spending time with family and friends.
