(Press-News.org) Rochester, NY – March 10, 2025 – Empire Discovery Institute (EDI), a leading non-profit drug discovery and development accelerator, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ronald Newbold as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Dr. Newbold, who joined EDI in 2021 as Chief Business Officer, has served as interim CEO since August 2022 and has been instrumental in driving the organization’s growth and success. Under his leadership, EDI has achieved significant milestones, including the growth of the Medicines Discovery Award Program (MDAP™) and the LeapRx™ initiative, EDI’s multi-year partnership with Novo Nordisk. These initiatives have expanded EDI’s network beyond its founding members and positioned the organization as a leader in collaborative drug development.
With 13 active programs in its pipeline and plans to add 4-6 new programs in 2025, EDI is poised for continued growth under Dr. Newbold’s leadership. His strategic vision and leadership were also instrumental in securing the fourth tranche of funding from Empire State Development, bringing an additional $11.1 million to support EDI’s mission of accelerating breakthrough scientific discoveries into viable therapeutics. This achievement underscores EDI’s growing impact on the life sciences ecosystem in Western New York as first envisioned by Empire State Development’s seed investment.
Dr. Newbold brings over 30 years of business development and alliance management experience to EDI, having led business teams in negotiating over $1.5 billion in announced pharma and biotech deals. Prior to joining EDI, he served as Senior Vice President and Head of U.S. Business Development & Alliance Management at Otsuka America Pharmaceuticals in Princeton, NJ. His extensive career includes leadership roles at Merck, Sentigen Biosciences, Celldex Therapeutics, Auspex Pharmaceuticals, and Pfizer, where he managed global scientific teams and led Pfizer’s Seed Fund to drive early-stage innovation.
Dr. Newbold holds a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester and completed his postdoctoral fellowship in Medicinal Chemistry at Harvard University.
“I am honored to take on the role of CEO at EDI and to continue working with our talented team and partners to advance innovative drug discovery programs,” said Dr. Newbold. “EDI’s unique model of collaboration and acceleration is transforming the way we approach early-stage drug development, and I am excited to lead the organization into its next phase of growth and impact.”
Peter Robinson, Vice President for Government and Community Relations at the University of Rochester, praised the appointment, stating: "Ron’s leadership has been instrumental in advancing EDI’s mission and expanding its reach. His ability to forge strategic partnerships and secure critical funding has positioned EDI as a powerhouse in early-stage drug discovery and development. His vast experience in pharma partnerships makes him uniquely suited to lead EDI into its next phase of growth. We are confident that, under his continued leadership, EDI will make a lasting impact in transforming scientific breakthroughs into life-saving therapies."
The President and CEO at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Candace Johnson, also expressed her support: “We are all excited for Ron’s CEO leadership for EDI where he has impressed everyone with his accomplishments in such a short period of time. We congratulate him and know that we have great things ahead!”
“Dr. Ron Newbold's appointment as CEO of EDI is a testament to his leadership and dedication to transforming lives through medicine," said Venu Govindaraju, vice president of research and economic development at the University at Buffalo and EDI board member. "I wish him success as he ushers EDI into a new chapter, building on a strong foundation of partnership and collaboration.”
Steve Dewhurst, Vice President for Research at the University of Rochester, shared his enthusiasm: “I’m very excited that Ron has been named as the permanent CEO of EDI, having served very successfully as interim CEO for the past two years. It’s been my pleasure to have worked with him for over a decade, in a variety of roles - including, for example, his past position as the lead for Pfizer’s Academic Relationships in North America. He brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and creativity to his role, and I look forward to working closely with him over the coming years.”
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Ron Newbold as he officially steps into his role as CEO of Empire Discovery Institute.
About Empire Discovery Institute
Empire Discovery Institute (EDI) is a New York State Life Sciences Initiative and non-profit drug discovery and development accelerator. EDI partners with top research institutions, including the University of Rochester, University at Buffalo, and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, to advance groundbreaking scientific discoveries into novel therapeutics.
For more information, visit www.discoveredi.org.
END
Empire Discovery Institute appoints Dr. Ronald Newbold as Chief Executive Officer
2025-03-11
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