John Renger
John Renger
John Renger is the Chief Scientific Officer of Cerevel Therapeutics. He holds a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences/Neurogenetics and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Iowa.
Renger was a postdoctoral fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brain Science Institute, RIKEN in Japan. He is now on the External Advisory Board for Aging Mind & Brain initiative at University of Iowa.
Early Life and Education
John Renger began his college education with aspirations of becoming a physician. He attended the University of Iowa and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1991.
He then pursued a Ph.D. in biological sciences with an emphasis on neurogenetics. Following that, he completed postdoctoral work at both Japan and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
After graduating, Renger joined Merck and is now leading their drug discovery programs in neuroscience. His work has resulted in the approval of Belsomra, an innovative treatment for insomnia. Furthermore, he serves on the Aging Mind and Brain initiative External Advisory Board at the University of Iowa.
John Renger credits his biology degrees as the “keystone” to an amazing life and career. Both he and his wife Dr. Xin Mu-Renger hold degrees from the University of Iowa (UI).
Professional Career
John Renger has more than 18 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and currently serves as Chief Scientific Officer at Cerevel Therapeutics.
He previously worked for Merck & Co, where he led a research team that discovered Belsomra – an orexin receptor antagonist used to treat insomnia.
Renger has a professional career as well as being a novelist. His Ranger’s Apprentice series is a children’s fantasy book about a boy who becomes a ranger and travels the world.
Renger holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and a doctorate from that same institution. He has also worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and RIKEN in Japan.
Personal Life
Renger’s personal life revolves around family, friends and pets. He resides with his wife in Sydney, Australia.
He also enjoys writing children’s books, with the Ranger’s Apprentice series being inspired by his own son.
His research is grounded in the neuroscience of memory and learning, with over 142 peer-reviewed articles published and featured in the popular press. At Merck he leads drug discovery programs for neuroscience while serving on their External Advisory Board for Aging Mind & Brain initiative at University of Iowa.
He earned his undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Iowa and went on to receive his doctorate in biological sciences and neurogenetics from MIT. Additionally, he is a Merck-MIT fellow and previously served on the RIKEN Brain Science Institute in Japan.
Net Worth
John Renger is an American author with an estimated net worth of $72,170. He serves as Chief Scientific Officer of Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings Inc and owns approximately 2,704 shares of the company’s stock.
He was born on May 22, 1944 in Sydney, Australia and is renowned for his fantasy series and other fiction novels.
He is a self-made billionaire who co-founded Cross Timbers oil company in 1985 and later launched Energy Transfer in 1995, growing it into an enormous success. According to Celebrity Net Worth magazine, his family owns 4.5 percent of each company’s shares.