Jeffrey Leiden
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
MIT Presidential CEO Advisory Board
Boston, US
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
THE MARQUE
In Their Own Right
Biography
Jeffrey Leiden, M.D., Ph.D. is an award-winning physician-scientist, entrepreneur, advisor and academic, who serves as Executive Chairman at Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
He spent eight years as Chairman, President and CEO of Vertex and helped pioneer the first medicines in history to treat the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis. Dr. Leiden has been involved with Vertex for over a decade, having first served as a board member. His leadership has been defined by innovation and a commitment to developing transformative medicines. He is passionate about giving back to the community and making STEM education accessible to underrepresented students and has initiated many programs, through Vertex and public-private partnerships, to support this.
Previously, Dr. Leiden was a Managing Director of Clarus Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on life sciences investments. He also served as President, COO and CSO at Abbott Laboratories, where he oversaw the company’s pharmaceutical business globally. Consistently committed to achieving life-changing strides in medicine, Dr. Leiden led the development of numerous medicines at Abbott.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Leiden was appointed as Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Elkin R. Blout Professor of Biological Sciences at the Harvard School of Public Health. In addition to his academic appointments, he worked as a physician, having been appointed as Chief of Cardiology at The University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was also the Rawson Professor of Medicine and Pathology and an Attending Physician. During this time, he co-founded several biotechnology companies including Vical and Cardiogene.
Dr. Leiden has held many board positions throughout his career and currently serves as Chairman at Casana, a health monitoring platform, as well as Tmunity Therapeutics, a biotherapeutics company.
Dr. Leiden has been presented with numerous awards, including the Forbes Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Record
Background
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2012 — Present
Executive Chairman
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Vertex is a leading biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines. Jeffrey Leiden has served as the Chairman since 2012.
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Present
Chairman, President and CEO
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Before his appointment as Executive Chairman, Dr. Leiden led as Chairman, President and CEO.
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2022 — Present
MIT Presidential CEO Advisory Board
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Founded in 1861, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of the most prestigious and highly ranked academic institutions in the world. MIT has been at the forefront of the development of modern technology and science and has spurred innovation and advancement on a global scale.
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2006 — 2011
Managing Director
Clarus Funds
Clarus Funds is a venture capital and private equity firm dedicated to making investments into life sciences, including biotechnology, medical device and diagnostic spaces.
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2000 — 2006
President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Scientific Officer
Abbott Laboratories
Abbott is an international healthcare company committed to helping people all around the world enjoy life at every stage through innovative, ground-breaking technologies. Dr. Leiden pioneered the development of HUMIRA and KALETRA during his time at the company.
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1999 — 2000
Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
During his time as Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School, Dr. Leiden was also appointed the Elkin R. Blout Professor of Biological Sciences at the Harvard School of Public Health.
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1992 — 1999
Chief of Cardiology
The University of Chicago Medical Center
Jeffrey Leiden led as Chief of Cardiology and served as Rawson Professor of Medicine and Pathology. He was also an Attending Physician at the University of Chicago Medical Center where over 40 cardiologists and 50 scientists reported to him as Director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute.
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1987 — 1992
Assistant/Associate Investigator and Attending Physician
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
While working as Assistant/Associate Investigator and Attending Physician at Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the University of Michigan, Dr. Leiden was responsible for overseeing a research lab that focused on exploring the molecular genetics of heart and blood development as well as investigating gene therapy.
In The News
Newsfeed
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2 April 2026 · Inc.
The Opioid Crisis Was an Innovation Failure. Vertex Just Showed a Way to Fix It
Read more -
11 March 2024 · Accesswire
Whittier Street Health Center to Honor Vertex Pharmaceuticals Executive Chairman Jeffrey Leiden
Read more -
17 May 2022
Vertex Announces Further Expansion in the Boston Seaport at Dedication of the Jeffrey Leiden Center
Read more
Formative Years
Education
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The University of Chicago
M.D. in Medicine
1979 — 1981
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The University of Chicago
Ph.D. in Virology
1975 — 1979
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The University of Chicago
BA in Biological Sciences
1973 — 1975
Areas Of Focus