Forging Our Future Regulatory Science Leaders

Published December 17, 2025

Bill Barrier built a career around food innovation long before “foodies” popularized the notion of adventurous eating trends and locales.

“My graduate work was in food microbiology, and I started out as a bench scientist,” said Barrier, director of the MS in Regulatory Science program who spent decades delving into the science of food. Using his education – a BA in biology from Fisk University then MS and PhD degrees in food science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – Barrier emerged as a leader in the field. Through positions in food safety quality, product innovation, and business unit management, he amassed extensive domestic and international experience with major consumer packaged good companies, quick service restaurants, and ingredient companies, including General Mills, The Pillsbury Company, KFC, Burger King, Dairy Queen, Firmenich, and Pecan Deluxe Candy Company.

“Yes, I was always interested in food product development, but I was also very interested in, and paid attention to, the medical side as well – pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biologics, etc. – because all of this involves interfacing with regulations, regulatory agencies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure the safety and efficacy of these products,” he said.

“I have told many of my friends over the years that I would like to take all that good, old industry knowledge and worldly experience and apply it in an academic setting. That is what I have been able to do at Johns Hopkins.”

Since June 2023, Barrier has also led the Master of Biotechnology Enterprise and Entrepreneurship program and serves as an investigator with the Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation with JHU’s Bloomberg School of Public Health. CERSI works to improve clinical studies and evaluation; strengthen the social and behavioral sciences to support informed decisions; and develop a new prevention-focused food safety system.

The Big Picture Under the Big Umbrella

Barrier’s broad view and understanding provides the innovative vision for JHU’s Regulatory Science program, one that he hopes will translate into student success, whether their career paths takes them to biologics, diagnostics, drugs, or, yes, food.

“All of these areas fall under the big umbrella of regulatory science/regulatory affairs,” he said. “What we are trying to do for students is to ensure that they have an understanding of regulatory science, an understanding of clinical trials, medical devices, and everything else that is housed in this very large, diverse, and ever-evolving field. I tell students all the time that they can be the greatest, most brilliant scientists in the world who are creating all kind of potentially impactful drugs, but guess what, eventually you are going to have to talk to your regulatory team. And if you can’t show that your products are delivering what you say they are delivering, that they are safe and comply with the law, you will definitely have problems.”

Trust the Process

For this reason, Barrier works to ensure that the curriculum provides students with a sound and practical understanding of the steps needed to get a product “from A to B,” and a grasp of the intense level of scrutiny that is involved in taking a product or device from development all the way through to FDA approval.

“It is essential that anyone in regulatory science, or for that matter quality assurance and food safety, has the skills and abilities to work with scientists, with upper management in companies, and with other key personnel they will need to interact with,” he said.

Communication is Key

The importance of coherent communication is a key emphasis that is woven into the coursework.

“People often refer to communication as a ‘non-technical skill,’ a ‘soft skill’,” Barrier said. “But in my estimation, and having worked in the field as long as I have, I can assure you that there is nothing ‘soft’ about being able to effectively communicate. Regulatory scientists need to be able to communicate clearly and concisely in a way that gains the trust of various constituents, which allows them to collaborate, take accountability, manage processes, and bring projects to completion.”

Fingers on the Pulse

Barrier also tracks emerging trends so that JHU students remain at the forefront of industry changes. In fact, he recently co-authored a White Paper which outlines 2025’s top four transformational trends at the FDA. Barrier also was instrumental in crafting a series of professional microcredentials that are designed to upskill regulatory affairs personnel with the knowledge and tools to better navigate the FDA approval process.

“Regulatory scientists need to bring a degree of flexibility to their roles,” Barrier said. “This is a field of constant change. And artificial intelligence is certainly going to play a big role in how, and the speed at which, things are changing. We need to do our best to stay current, relevant, and on top of the trends so that we can share the national and international complexities of these changes with our students. The number of changes and advances can blur your brain.”

Incredible Faculty Who Up the Credibility Factor

Perhaps Barrier’s most important role in leading the program is assembling a faculty of scholar-practitioners. He seeks those who have walked the walk and are able to expertly deliver both an academic viewpoint and a business perspective.

“Some of our faculty members are veterans, some are currently working for the FDA, some are working in big pharma, or have this really good experience from work in excellent companies,” Barrier said of his colleagues. “I think it is critically important to have this caliber of faculty because you are teaching students, many of whom are working in the field, who know what you are talking about and are seeking your expertise. Our faculty are able to provide examples of what they have experienced or are experiencing in the field. I really believe that a degree from Johns Hopkins, that you have earned under this leadership, validates a level of rigor and gives our graduates credibility in the industry.

“I like to think that the JHU Regulatory Science faculty are like me and share my drive,” he continued. “I want to be the best and offer the best program, one that is accessible, flexible, respected, and as comprehensive as possible. We want to prepare our students to be sought-after solutions-seekers and ultimately industry leaders.”