Patchwork privacy legislation across the states, federal regulations, and varying privacy rules around the world create confusion and operational burdens that hinder coordination and collaboration amongst research partners. The U.S. based biopharmaceutical sector stands ready to deliver breakthrough innovations globally and we believe that harnessing health data for biomedical R&D is and can continue to be done without impinging on the legitimate protections of patients’ privacy rights. This panel of experts from government and industry will explore how overly burdensome restrictions on data collection, use, and sharing for healthcare and research purposes have the potential to significantly disrupt ongoing research and development activities, frustrate global collaborations, and compromise U.S. leadership in the life sciences.