Episode 9 - Prof Charles Cooney, the History and Future of Biotech and Boston Ballet

The Future of Pharma

My guest today is Prof Charles Cooney. Prof Cooney received his B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1966, and the S.M. (1967) and Ph.D. (1970) in biochemical engineering from MIT. He joined the MIT faculty as an assistant professor in 1970, becoming full professor in 1982.

Prof Cooney’s honors include the 1989 Gold Medal of the Institute of Biotechnological Studies (London); the Food, Pharmaceutical, and Bioengineering Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers; the James Van Lanen Distinguished Service Award from the American Chemical Society’s Division of Microbial and Biochemical Technology; and election to the American Institute of Medical and Biochemical Engineers and the Fellows of the American Chemical Society.

A consultant to multiple biotech and pharmaceutical companies, Prof Cooney has served on the boards of Genzyme, Polypore International, and Biocon, Ltd. (India), among others. His research and teaching span many aspects of biochemical engineering and pharmaceutical manufacturing. He holds more than 30 patents, has published over 250 research papers, and has co-authored or edited five books, including Development of Sustainable Bioprocesses: Modeling and Assessment.

In addition to his professional interests, Prof Cooney is a trustee of the Boston Ballet, an overseer of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and a board member of MIT’s Community Service Fund. Other interests include rock climbing, skiing, high altitude mountaineering, scuba diving, and antique map collecting.

He's a man of many talents and interests. In this interview, we're talking about all of this and much more. Here's Prof Cooney.