James Barry

James Barry is Vice President, Corporate Research and Advanced Technology Development at Boston Scientific and leads the company’s efforts in the identification and early development of drug, device and biological systems for potential application in implantable and catheter-based delivery systems. This corporate group is the company’s center of excellence in biological approaches to the understanding and treatment of relevant cardiovascular diseases. These range from traditional therapeutic strategies to stem cell/biological matrices and other novel cutting edge approaches.

Barry joined Boston Scientific in 1992 and was the initiator and champion of the company’s drug eluting stent program. This effort resulted in the TAXUS™ coronary stent, which was developed under Barry’s leadership; a paclitaxel-eluting polymeric stent that became the most successful medical device launched with annual sales exceeding $3 billion.

Prior to joining Boston Scientific, Barry held positions at the Howmedica Division of Pfizer where he initiated their bio-resorbable fracture fixation program and at Kontron Instruments, Inc. where he played a pivotal part in resolving the FDA consent decree (a role for which he had been hired).

Barry is the author of multiple articles in peer reviewed publications, including the journals of Controlled Release, Biomaterials and several clinical journals in the cardiovascular field and holds in excess of 35 national and international patents. Barry also represents Boston Scientific’s interests on the boards of a number of emerging technology companies. Barry holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and a B.A. degree in Chemistry from Saint Anselm College.