Ruan R. Cox, Jr.
BS '08 | Miami, FL
Ruan Cox, BS ’08, is a scientist, strategic partnerships and strategy professional, community builder, as well diversity and inclusion advocate. He currently serves as an Associate Director for Strategic Partnerships at Regeneron Genetics Center, a subsidiary of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In this capacity, Ruan helps to push forward the mission of one of the world's largest human genomic research efforts, which is to improve patient care by using genomic approaches to speed drug discovery and development. He works with universities, academic health care centers, and private industry worldwide to help Regeneron execute a wide range of strategic partnerships to enable this mission. Before joining Regeneron, Ruan served as the Assistant Director for Business Development in the Technology Transfer Office at the University of South Florida’s Research and Innovation Division. In this capacity he was charged with commercializing university developed technology through diverse partnerships with private industry partners, primarily with Fortune Global 500 companies. With a focus on biomedical, digital and tech innovation, Ruan continuously found the right match that can lead to the creation of new and disruptive products on the market. Prior to his work at the University of South Florida, Ruan worked at the world-renowned Moffitt Cancer Center where he helped to create the industry alliances unit in the center’s Office of Innovation. As an Industry Alliances Development Manager, he was responsible for assisting in the conceptualization, development and negotiation of collaborations with industry partners interested in sponsoring research at Moffitt Cancer Center. Ruan’s relationship building prowess combined with his scientific training led to over $180 million in new funding generated for cancer research and clinical care. Prior to becoming a full-time staff member in the office, Ruan was an intern in the office gaining valuable experience in the areas of intellectual property disclosure and analysis, licensing and marketing of technologies, and developing academic-industry partnerships.
Ruan earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Florida and a Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine from the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine with a focus in Immunology. Through his research contributions to this field, Ruan has had numerous publications that have contributed to the advancement of treatment options for resolution of lung injury. While earning his Ph.D., Ruan received prestigious fellowships from the American Heart Association, Florida Education Fund and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Ruan currently serves on boards for the Tampa Bay Economic Development Corporation, American Thoracic Society, Scientists, Inc. and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. Of all his volunteer efforts, Ruan takes particular pride in his work for the UF Alumni Association where he served four years on the Tampa Bay Gator Club board including a term as president in the 2018-2019 fiscal year. His efforts as president of the Tampa Gator Club raised over $35,000 for the organization and earned numerous awards from the Alumni Association including Best Gator Club®. Ruan currently lives in Miami, Florida and is serving his second term on the UFAA Board of Directors; his term expires 6/30/2025.