David Blaine Ridley

David Ridley, PhD, is a health economist at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. His research focuses on incentives for innovation and quality, as well as pricing. He is dedicated to creating and studying tools that improve health.

David was the lead author of two papers that became law. He and his colleagues proposed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) priority review voucher program which became law in 2007. The vouchers provide incentives for drug development for neglected and rare diseases. The FDA has awarded more than 80 vouchers valued at about $100 million each. David and his colleagues also proposed the Environmental Protection Agency vector expedited review voucher program which became law in 2022.

David has served for more than a decade as the Faculty Director of the Center for Health Sector Management (HSM). HSM students comprise about 20 percent of Duke MBA graduates each year.

David's primary appointment is at the business school with honorary appointments in the Department of Economics and Sanford School of Public Policy. He also serves on the executive faculty committee of the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy.