Biosketch
Jim Barry met his wife, Valerie, when they were graduate students at UMass Lowell. Jim received a Ph.D. in biochemistry.
He leveraged his UMass Lowell research on controlled drug delivery into a career of more than 30 years in the medical device industry, where he held a range of positions of increasing responsibility, from research and development to chief executive officer at both privately held and public companies. He led the team at Boston Scientific that developed the TAXUS drug-eluting stent, which became the most successful medical device launched, with annual revenue exceeding $3 billion.
Jim is now semi-retired and continues to advise life science companies, and he is a member of several boards of directors.
Recognizing the value that their UMass Lowell education provided in their careers, the Barrys continue to support the university in many ways. Jim sat on the Kennedy College of Sciences advisory board for several years, including three years as chair. He also served as an advisor to the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center. In recognition of his accomplishments in his career and his commitment to the university, Jim received the 2014 Alumni Award from the College of Sciences.
In 2017, the couple established the Richard K. Barry and C. Edward Giovino Memorial Scholarship for students pursuing a degree in the sciences.
The couple has three children who have followed in their footsteps, as each have recently obtained graduate degrees from UMass Lowell.
The Barrys are residents of Marlborough, Massachusetts.