In the world of drug discovery, countless potential treatments languish in the “valley of death” that separates promising candidate compounds from clinical implementation. Investigators face high costs, limited technology access, lengthy timelines, and regulatory hurdles. But strategic NIH programs are bringing together government, industry, and academic resources to overcome these challenges and deliver new drugs to the patients who need them most. This white paper explores the benefits of these partnerships, with insights and examples from NIH and Curia experts who have been involved for years.