Robert McBurney

Background

About Robert McBurney

Robert McBurney is Chief Research Officer, and former Chief Executive Officer, of the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis, a national non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating research in multiple sclerosis (MS). He was founding co-leader (Research Lead) for the iConquerMS People-Powered Research Network which has registered members who contribute their ideas, data and enthusiasm to accelerating research and innovation to improve the health, healthcare and quality of life of people affected by MS. Robert has more than 40 years experience in biomedical research and management. Prior to joining the Accelerated Cure Project for MS, Robert co-founded Optimal Medicine Ltd, a UK company developing clinical decision support tools for optimizing the treatments of mental illness and neurological disorders. Optimal Medicine was acquired by IXICO plc in 2015. His former company positions include: Executive Vice President of TheraGenetics Ltd; Chief Scientific Officer at BG Medicine, Inc; co-founder of Differential Proteomics, Inc; and, Chief Scientific Officer and then Chief Executive Officer at Cambridge Neuroscience, Inc. Before joining the biotech industry, Robert held a senior faculty position at the Medical School of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne (UK) and was Assistant Director of the Medical Research Council's Neuroendocrinology Unit. He held prior research positions at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda (USA), the Physiological Laboratory of Cambridge University (UK) and the Medical School of the University of New South Wales (Australia). He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, the Society for Neuroscience, the International Society for Quality of Life and the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, contributing to its Patient-Centered Special Interest Group. Robert is or has been: Co-Leader of the Clinical Management Workgroup of the Global Patient-Reported Outcomes in MS Initiative; past Chair of the Patient Forum of the European MULTI-ACT Project on patient engagement in neurological disease research; a participant in the Critical Path Institute’s PRO Consortium MS Working Group; a member of the PhRMA Foundation Informatics Advisory Committee; and, a Trustee Emeritus of the FW Olin College of Engineering.