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UCB Creates Emmanuel Janssen Endowed Chair

UCB, a leading global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to treating severe diseases, recently launched the Emmanuel Janssen Endowed Chair for the Evaluation of Medicines at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), a key member of the Mass General Brigham system. This initiative honors Emmanuel Janssen's significant contributions to the company and the healthcare community.

The chair will be occupied by Sebastian Schneeweiss, MD, ScD, a highly esteemed pharmacoepidemiologist known for his work on medication safety and effectiveness through real-world evidence. This position marks a pivotal step forward in enhancing the research surrounding how medicines are evaluated and their subsequent use in clinical practices.

The establishment of this endowed chair underscores UCB’s commitment to advancing science and improving patient care. By selecting Brigham and Women's Hospital for this honor, UCB acknowledges the institution's expertise in pharmacoepidemiology and the generation of real-world evidence (RWE).

Celebrating the Establishment of the Chair

A celebratory event took place on October 22, 2026, at the Stewart and Susan Satter Atrium within BWH, where numerous esteemed speakers shared their insights. Notable figures at the event included Robert Califf, MD, former Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and Jerry Avorn, MD, the Founding Chief Emeritus of the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics at BWH. They collectively emphasized the importance of pharmacoepidemiology in informing regulatory decisions, payer strategies, and patient healthcare choices.

Emmanuel Caeymaex, Head of Patient Evidence at UCB, expressed the organization’s rationale for choosing the BWH, highlighting its leadership in this critical area of research. He stated, “This endowed chair reflects our commitment to advancing rigorous evidence generation and supporting research that can improve how medicines are evaluated and used in clinical practice.”

A Bright Future in Research

Jose Florez, MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Medicine at Mass General Brigham, remarked, “An endowed chair is among the highest honors we can bestow upon a physician-scientist, recognizing both extraordinary achievement and the promise of continued discovery.” This sentiment echoes UCB's vision for fostering a culture of inquiry as well as improving patient outcomes through meticulous study.

Sebastian Schneeweiss, the chair's inaugural occupant, expressed his gratitude, stating, “Through our research, we strive to generate rigorous evidence, guide better decisions, and improve care for patients. This chair will help advance that important work for years to come.”

UCB’s Commitment to Patient Care

With nearly 2,000 employees dedicated to advancing health through research and commercial operations, UCB has established a robust presence in the United States. The company is on the path of significant expansion, including a new biomanufacturing campus in Georgia, which is expected to provide over 330 skilled jobs. UCB has made substantial investments in U.S. enterprises, yielding 15 FDA approvals over the last decade, which reflects their dedication to innovation in patient care.

In conclusion, the creation of the Emmanuel Janssen Endowed Chair for the Evaluation of Medicines not only reinforces UCB's commitment to improving patient care through rigorous research but also positions Brigham and Women's Hospital as a leading institution in pharmacoepidemiology. This collaboration is anticipated to yield valuable insights into medication evaluation that will benefit healthcare stakeholders, from regulators to patients.