Michael Cohen-Wolkowiez

Executive Director | Clinical Research Innovator | Founder & CEO | Strategic Leader in Drug Development

Durham, North Carolina, United States

About

I am a physician-scientist and clinical research leader with deep experience operating at the intersection of academia, industry, and health innovation. I currently serve as Executive Director of i-Cubed at the Duke Clinical Research Institute, where I lead initiatives focused on advancing how clinical research is designed, executed, and scaled in real-world settings. Alongside this work, I founded ExecRx to provide embedded, practical medical and scientific leadership to healthcare and research organizations. My focus is helping teams navigate complex clinical and regulatory decisions with clarity; particularly when speed, uncertainty, and real-world constraints are present. Having spent much of my career in academia as a Professor at Duke University, and later working closely with industry teams, I bring a grounded perspective on how medical judgment is applied. I am comfortable making decisions in imperfect conditions, calibrating benefit–risk over time, and supporting teams as they move innovation forward responsibly. I care deeply about thoughtful execution, accessible leadership, and helping teams focus on the work they do best without carrying medical or scientific risk alone.

Experience

  • Founder and Chief Executive Officer at ExecRx
    Jul 2024 - Present · 2 yrs

  • Duke Clinical Research Institute (17 yrs)
    • Executive
      Jan 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 6 mos

    • Member - Pediatrics Therapeutic Area
      Jul 2009 - Present · 17 yrs

    • Head of Pediatrics
      Jul 2020 - Jan 2023 · 2 yrs 7 mos

      Leader of 200+ faculty and staff advancing child health through clinical research.

  • Executive Director at i-Cubed
    Feb 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 5 mos

  • Duke University (17 yrs)
    • Distinguished Professor
      Jul 2020 - Present · 6 yrs

    • Professor of Pediatrics
      Jul 2017 - Jun 2020 · 3 yrs

    • Associate Professor of Pediatrics
      Sep 2013 - Jul 2017 · 3 yrs 11 mos

  • Lightship (3 yrs 7 mos)
    • Chief Medical Officer
      May 2024 - Nov 2025 · 1 yr 7 mos

    • Chief Medical Advisor
      May 2022 - May 2024 · 2 yrs 1 mo