Dr. C. Warren Olanow was a preeminent clinical neurologist and internationally recognized expert in neurodegenerative diseases whose career spanned over five decades of groundbreaking contributions to medical science. He served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Clintrex Research Corporation, which he co-founded in 2008 to operationalize clinical and regulatory development pathways for new treatments targeting neurodegenerative and central nervous system disorders. Prior to establishing Clintrex, Dr. Olanow held the distinguished position of Henry P. and Georgette Goldschmidt Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, where he remained until his retirement and subsequent appointment as Professor Emeritus in both Neurology and Neuroscience. His academic journey included significant faculty appointments at McGill University, Duke University, and the University of South Florida, establishing him as a leader in neurological research and patient care across multiple prestigious institutions.
Dr. Olanow's seminal contributions centered on advancing therapeutic approaches for Parkinson's disease and related movement disorders, where he pioneered innovative clinical trial methodologies that minimized variability, facilitated recruitment, required smaller sample sizes, and increased the likelihood of detecting accurate results. As a founding member of the Parkinson Study Group, he played a pivotal role in establishing collaborative research frameworks that have led to the development and approval of numerous treatments for neurological conditions worldwide. His internationally recognized expertise in clinical trial design and regulatory strategy significantly influenced the development pathways for neurodegenerative disease therapeutics, with Clintrex experts under his leadership contributing to more than 100 pivotal clinical trials resulting in drug approvals across the United States, Europe, and Japan. His work bridged the critical gap between preclinical research and clinical application, transforming how pharmaceutical companies approach drug development for complex neurological disorders.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Olanow held numerous leadership positions that shaped the global neurological community, including serving as President of the Movement Disorder Society and the International Society of Motor Disturbances, as well as Treasurer of the American Neurological Association. He was instrumental in forming and operating major multi-center clinical research groups such as the Parkinson Study Group, the Huntington Study Group, and the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study, creating enduring infrastructure for collaborative neurological research. His editorial contributions as associate editor of major neurological journals including Movement Disorders and Neurology further cemented his influence on scientific discourse in the field. Dr. Olanow passed away in 2024, leaving behind a profound legacy as a visionary leader whose work continues to guide researchers and clinicians in the pursuit of effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases worldwide.
