Dr. Richard M. Ransohoff is a distinguished physician-scientist whose career spans clinical neurology, academic research, and biotechnology venture capital. He currently serves as a Venture Partner at Third Rock Ventures where he focuses on neuroinflammation research and development opportunities, leveraging his extensive expertise in neurological disorders to identify promising therapeutic innovations. Prior to joining Third Rock in 2018, Dr. Ransohoff spent thirty years at the Cleveland Clinic where he founded and directed the Neuroinflammation Research Center within the Lerner Research Institute, and previously held significant roles at Biogen leading neuroinflammatory target discovery initiatives. A graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, he began his career as a practicing neurologist where he developed an early appreciation for the profound connection between clinicians and patients, as evidenced by his clinic remaining fully attended despite severe weather conditions.
Dr. Ransohoff's groundbreaking research has fundamentally advanced our understanding of neuroinflammatory mechanisms in multiple sclerosis, particularly through his work on meningeal lymphoid aggregates and their role in disease progression. His conceptual framework recasting multiple sclerosis disease states into mechanistic phenotypic terminology of 'relapsing-pathology-dominant' and 'progressive-pathology-dominant' has provided critical insights into Progression Independent of Relapse Activity. His investigations into chronic-active demyelinating lesions and subpial cortical demyelination have identified key pathological processes that drive neurological decline in MS patients, challenging conventional approaches to MS therapeutics and highlighting the importance of specialized MRI techniques like paramagnetic rim lesions for detection. This significant body of work has been recognized with the prestigious John J. Dystel Award for MS Research, underscoring its transformative impact on the field.
Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Ransohoff has been instrumental in translating scientific discoveries into therapeutic applications through his leadership roles at Biogen and as co-founder of Abata Therapeutics where he served as interim chief medical officer. At Third Rock Ventures he spearheads the creation of neurological and immunological companies, bringing together scientific innovation with commercial expertise to address unmet medical needs in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory conditions. His unique perspective bridges patient care, academic research, and biotechnology development, allowing him to identify and advance promising therapeutic approaches with genuine potential for clinical impact. Dr. Ransohoff remains deeply committed to improving patient lives on a global scale, believing that the biotechnology industry offers unparalleled opportunities to transform scientific insights into meaningful therapies that address the complex challenges of neurological disorders.
