David Leyden rejoined the Simons Foundation in 2021 and serves as senior director of finance and administration for SFARI, neuroscience and informatics. In this role, Leyden is responsible for overseeing all aspects of finance, operations, program and research administration for SFARI and the foundation’s neuroscience programs. He previously worked for the Simons Foundation from 2013 to 2016 prior to accepting a position at Weill Cornell Medicine, where he most recently served as the administrative director for Telemedicine and director of planning and development in the Department of Emergency Medicine.

Leyden earned an undergraduate degree in international relations from Syracuse University and an M.P.A. from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He is also a certified research administrator and certified telehealth facilitator. He has expertise in finance, administrative and clinical operations, graduate program education, research administration and strategic planning. Previous appointments include serving as the department administrator for Healthcare Policy and Research at Weill Cornell Medicine and department administrator for Neuroscience at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.