Richard Abelson, PhD

Richard Abelson, PhD Chairman and CEO, SDC Dr. Richard Abelson founded SDC in 2005 with a simple but powerful mission: bring world-class biometrics and scientific rigor to sponsors who want clarity, quality, and trustworthy data. With a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and a career spanning applied statistics, quality, and reliability engineering, Richard has always believed that better design leads to better decisions. He built SDC to be the kind of CRO he wished existed—one where statisticians, data experts, and technologists collaborate seamlessly to guide trials with precision and purpose. Richard is passionate about elevating the role of biometrics in clinical development. He takes pride in seeing SDC teams help clients move faster, think smarter, and deliver outcomes that stand up to regulatory scrutiny.