Ron Cohen
Biotech Entrepreneur and CEO.
Ron Cohen, M.D. is the Founder, President and CEO of Acorda Therapeutics, a public biotechnology company developing therapies for disorders of the nervous system, including approved therapies for Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Previously he was a principal in the startup, and an officer of, Advanced Tissue Sciences, a company growing human organ tissues for medical use. Dr. Cohen is past Chair of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), where he continues to serve as a Director, and was Director and Chair of the New York Biotechnology Association. He has served on several corporate Boards, including VBL Therapeutics and Dyax Corp.
He received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the New York Metropolitan Region, and the NY CEO Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Cohen has been recognized by Scientific American as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Biotech, by PR Week/MM&M as one of the Health Influencers 50, and by PharmaVOICE Magazine as one of the 100 Most Inspirational People in the Biopharmaceutical Industry. He received the Burke Award from Burke Rehabilitation Hospital for his contributions to helping people with disabilities gain independence, was named Neuroinvestment’s CEO of the Year, and was awarded Columbia University's Alumni Medal for Distinguished Service.
Dr. Cohen received his B.A. degree in Psychology from Princeton University, and his M.D. from the Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons. He completed his medical residency at the University of Virginia and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine.
