Leading Researchers Join Biogen Idec To Advance Drug Discovery For Neurodegenerative Diseases

Biogen Idec

today announced that two leading neuroscientists have joined the company to advance its research in neurodegenerative diseases. Christopher Henderson, Ph.D., joins as vice president, Neurology. Richard Ransohoff, M.D., joins as senior research fellow, Neuroimmunology. The addition of these top researchers bolsters Biogen Idec's discovery engine. Biogen Idec has extensive discovery efforts focused on neurodegenerative and neuroimmune diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Drs. Henderson and Ransohoff will work collaboratively within Biogen Idec's research and development organization to identify and accelerate the development of new product candidates. Both will report directly to Spyros Artavanis-Tsakonas, Ph.D., senior vice president, chief scientific officer, Biogen Idec. “Transformative medicines result from transformative science,” said Dr. Artavanis-Tsakonas. “We are bringing together some of the brightest minds in research to create new ways of looking at devastating neurological diseases where there are few, if any, effective therapies. Chris and Richard will help accelerate our efforts to bring innovative new medicines to patients who desperately need them.”