Ralph Kern, MD, MHSc, was the President and Chief Medical Officer at BrainStorm from March 2017-January 2023. He brought significant industry and neurodegenerative disease experience to the organization. His biotech experience includes senior medical roles at Genzyme, Novartis, and Biogen. At Novartis he was Vice President and Head of the Neuroscience Medical Team, leading the global launch of Gilenya® in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (rrMS). At Biogen he was Senior Vice President and Head of the Worldwide Medical Organization. His team launched Zinbryta® in rrMS and Spinraza® in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and developed the medical and scientific strategy for MS, SMA, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Kern completed his neurology training at McGill University, practiced neuromuscular neurology at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, and was head of the Postgraduate Academic Neurology Program at the University of Toronto. He completed further postgraduate training in Health Administration at the Institute for Health Policy Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. Dr. Kern received his MD degree from Queen’s University, is board-certified in neurology and neuromuscular disease, and is a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.