 He has been an advocate for innovative research funding including being called to give testimony to the committee on appropriations for the United States Senate in 2009.In January 2019, Pestell was named vice chairman of CytoDyn, Inc., who acquired his prior company, ProstaGene, in November 2018.He exited CytoDyn in July 2019 and is currently member of the Wistar Institute Cancer Center Philadelphia and Blumberg Distinguished Professor.