At a 30,000-foot view, I am a strategic and data-driven Neuroscientist with 15+ years of neurodegenerative translational research experience, spanning several disease indications and numerous therapeutic modalities (oligonucleotides, biologics, ADCs, gene therapy) with >6,000 citations, >10 patents, and 16+ invited talks.
But much more importantly, down in the weeds, I am a data-obsessed, not afraid to get their hands dirty, neuroscience and oligonucleotide drug hunter and drug maker who wants nothing more than to help take ideas and turn them with a high sense of urgency into meaningful therapeutics for patients.
I received my PhD in Dr. Tim Miller’s lab at Washington University in St. Louis, followed by my postdoctoral training in Dr. Brad Hyman’s lab at MGH/Harvard Medical School. While both labs are academic, I had the privilege of working with over 10 companies, including Ionis, Sangamo, BMS, Novartis, Biogen, and others. As one example, I worked closely with Ionis on their MAPT (Tau) antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) program for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), generating a preclinical data package that supported both the safety and efficacy of lowering total Tau levels in the brain. In 2023, this MAPT ASO (BIIB080) demonstrated for the first time ever in a Ph1b clinical trial the reversal of pre-existing Tau pathology in mild AD patients, paving the way to test the hypothesis that lowering total Tau levels can effectively treat AD.
Having this and other positive experiences collaborating with biotech under my belt, I made the jump over to Denali Therapeutics where, for over 5 years, I led the optimization and therapeutic application of their Oligonucleotide Transport Vehicle (OTV) platform. This new platform enables ASOs to be transported uniformly across the blood brain barrier with a simple intravenous injection – a major advantage over the current intrathecal lumbar puncture route of administration for all Brain/Spinal Cord targeting ASOs. With the two lead assets – OTV:MAPT for AD & OTV:SNCA for Parkinson’s Disease – now in IND-Enabling stages at Denali, I felt the call to go back to my “building” roots – enter Curie.Bio!
I joined Curie.Bio to surround myself with incredibly talented scientists and founders who all want the same thing as I do – to help push the boundaries of science in a positive way for patients, taking risks where necessary, and rolling up sleeves to get the job done. As a Curie.Bio Drug Maker, I work directly with founders to help not only plan their Neuroscience and/or Oligonucleotide therapeutic programs but, importantly, serve as a “boots on ground” executor to ensure the drug-making process goes as smoothly as possible in rapid fashion. That’s enough about me – time to get back to work to help founders achieve their glorious Series A!