Ralph (Adam) Smith, PhD, MBA
About Ralph (Adam) Smith, PhD, MBA
Ralph (Adam) Smith, PhD, MBA, is the Scientific Senior Director of Imaging at Bristol Myers Squibb, specializing in clinical neuroscience, lung fibrosis, and molecular imaging.
Current Role at Bristol Myers Squibb
Ralph (Adam) Smith, PhD, MBA, is currently the Scientific Senior Director of Imaging at Bristol Myers Squibb, located in Princeton, NJ. His focus areas include clinical neuroscience, lung fibrosis, and molecular imaging. In this role, he oversees the development and integration of imaging endpoints in clinical trials, ensuring they align with translational sciences and asset development plans. He also establishes and maintains relationships with imaging core labs, contract research organizations (CROs), and key opinion leaders (KOLs) to support clinical trial imaging strategies.
Past Roles at Bristol Myers Squibb
Ralph Smith has held several positions at Bristol Myers Squibb. From 2018 to 2023, he served as Scientific Director, focusing on molecular imaging, clinical lung fibrosis, and early neuroscience initiatives. Prior to that role, he was the Associate Director, Molecular Imaging Lead, from 2015 to 2018. During his tenure, he led the development of novel imaging tracers for clinical trials and was instrumental in integrating imaging endpoints into clinical trial protocols.
Academic and Research Background
Ralph Smith has an extensive academic background, starting with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University (1995-1999). He then pursued a Ph.D. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Vanderbilt University (1999-2006). His postdoctoral work included a Research Fellowship in Radiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (2009-2011) and another Research Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School (2006-2009). During his academic career, he focused on innovations in biomedical imaging and research methodologies.
Business Education
Ralph Smith furthered his expertise by pursuing an MBA at Drexel University's LeBow College of Business, focusing on Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management. He completed this program from 2020 to 2022. This additional qualification has enabled him to integrate business acumen with his scientific expertise, particularly in driving translational science initiatives and regulatory processes within the pharmaceutical industry.
Awards and Recognitions
Throughout his career, Ralph Smith has received several prestigious awards. Notably, he was honored with the Ondetti & Cushman Award in 2017, which is the highest R&D award at Bristol Myers Squibb. He also received the Research Leveraging Technology Innovation Award in 2014. These accolades underscore his significant contributions to clinical imaging applications and the pharmaceutical industry at large.