Agenda
Bristol Myers Squibb - 250 Water St, East Cambridge, MA 02141
Attendees and Speakers
Keynote Speaker
Russell Andrews
Actor, Director, Producer & Author
Founder, StageWalkers
RUSSELL ANDREWS is an accomplished author, award winning actor, director, producer and the founder of the multi-award winning, LA stage company, StageWalkers. For the stage, Russell includes being chosen by Pulitzer Prize© winning author, August Wilson, to originate the roles of ‘Mister’ in KING HEDLEY II and ‘Youngblood’ in JITNEY. With StageWalkers, he garnered actor/producer honors from the NAACP© and LA Ovation© Awards for Wilson’s PIANO LESSON, JITNEY and MA’ RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM, receiving his first NAACP© Theatre Award for Best Actor. In JITNEY’s London cast, Russell, along with Wilson and the American ensemble, received the UK’s Olivier Award© for Best New Play, performed at London’s Royal National Theatre. Mr. Andrews’ Film and TV credits include BETTER CALL SAUL, NCIS: New Orleans, HBO’s INSECURE, and TVOne’s RUNAWAY ISLAND, where his role as Rev. Clinton Hines earned him Emmy© Award consideration. As a newly diagnosed person living with ALS, Russell, a native of Houston, TX has become an advocate and ambassador with the ALS Network. He’s an avid volunteer with multiple local and national charitable organizations, and lives with family in Los Angeles, CA.
Scientific Director - Digital Biomarkers
Joel Schwartz, Ph.D
Bristol Myers Squibb
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Joel Schwartz serves as Scientific Director of Digital Biomarkers in the Neuroscience Translational Research Center (TRC) within Research & Early Development (R&ED). He leads the strategy for identifying, developing, and validating digital biomarkers to support neuroscience drug discovery and clinical trials. With a strong foundation in neuroscience and biotech innovation, Joel collaborates across multidisciplinary teams—including data science, clinical operations, and regulatory—to translate digital measures into reliable endpoints. Prior to his current role, Joel held various positions at Biogen and Pfizer, where he drove the adoption of novel digital tools to advance precision medicine in neurodegenerative diseases.
Jason Osik, Ph.D
Associate Director, Digital Health
Bristol Myers Squibb
Jason Osik is Associate Director of Digital Health at Bristol Myers Squibb, where he leads the development of digital biomarkers and advanced data analytics to support clinical trials and therapeutic innovation. He holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Brandeis University and brings over eight years of experience spanning neuroscience research, machine learning, and biopharma. Prior to BMS, he held data science roles at Biogen and Boston Scientific, focusing on predictive models in neurology. Jason’s work integrates real-world digital health data and AI to improve patient outcomes and enable smarter, more precise drug development in complex diseases.
James Palmer, Ph.D.
Senior Director, Neuroscience Compound Development
Johnson & Johnson
James Palmer, PhD, is Senior Director and Compound Development Team Leader for Neuroscience at Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, based in San Diego, California. With more than 14 years in neuroscience drug development, he has led teams through the discovery, preclinical, and clinical stages of novel therapeutics. His background spans clinical program management, drug discovery, molecular biology, cell culture, protein expression, and GLP compliance, with particular expertise in translating basic neuroscience research into viable candidates for neurodegenerative and neurologic disorders.
Fiona Elwood, Ph.D
Vice-President, Disease Area Lead, Neurodegeneration
Johnson & Johnson
Fiona Elwood is vice president and neurodegeneration disease area leader at Janssen Research & Development, LLC. With her experience in neuroscience and neurodegenerative R&D, she brings deep expertise in molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, including in tau biology, and the use of human cell models and advanced screening approaches to support novel target identification and validation. Prior to working at Janssen, Elwood was interim global head of neuroscience and head of neurodegeneration at Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research. She received her doctorate in neuroscience from the University of London and completed her postdoctoral work in neuroscience at Stanford University.
Jennifer Payne Parrish , PhD
Director, Clinical Science Group Leader, Neuroscience
Johnson and Johnson Innovative Medicine
Jennifer Payne Parrish, PhD, is a scientific strategist with expertise spanning medical affairs and commercial planning and new product development. Among her career accomplishments is the launch and Phase IV development of Aricept (Donepezil), and she has influenced the clinical development of new CNS assets to optimize commercial success and patient value. She is known for engaging teams across all functions of the pharma organization, assessing data to deliver innovative, effective product plans that maximize the value of both pipeline and branded agents. Expertise: Phase IIIB–IV Drug Development, Medical Strategy & Affairs, Global Marketing, Pipeline Planning, Market Assessment, Publication Strategy, Life Cycle Planning, Asset Differentiation.
Fernando Vieira, MD
Chief Executive Officer & CSO
ALS Therapy Development Institute
Fernando Vieira is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer of the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), a nonprofit biotech committed to discovering and advancing effective treatments for ALS. A physician-scientist trained at Harvard Medical School with a background in Biological Engineering from the University of Florida, Dr. Vieira has dedicated his career to ALS research since 2001. He has led efforts in preclinical drug discovery, biomarker development, and the optimization of ALS disease models. Under his leadership, ALS TDI has moved multiple therapies into clinical trials and pioneered innovative approaches to ALS drug development.
Yawar Shah Akhtar , MBA
Brand Lead, Rare Disease
ALS Qalsody
Biogen
Yawar Shah Akhtar, MBA, is a marketing professional with 15 years of cross-industry experience across top pharma, FMCG/CPG, and strategy consulting firms. In recent years, he has focused on oncology, with particular expertise in radiopharmaceuticals (RLT), spanning clinical trial program and drug lifecycle management, commercial opportunity evaluation, and strategic launch planning from Phase 3 through launch. He has collaborated closely with KOLs, physician groups, and cross-functional teams across biostatistics, medical, value and access, and regulatory on numerous clinical trial programs, with experience spanning country, regional, and global roles in both developed and growth markets. Focus areas: Oncology & Radiopharmaceuticals (RLT), Clinical Trial & Lifecycle Management, Commercial Strategy & Launch Planning, Global Market Access.
Kate Imhoff, MS
Head of Regulatory Affairs
Celosia Therapeutics
Kate Imhoff has over 20 years of experience across the pharmaceutical industry, including 15+ years in Regulatory Affairs spanning global markets, quality systems, manufacturing, and R&D. She currently serves as VP of Regulatory Affairs at Abeona Therapeutics, where she leads U.S. regulatory strategy for two AAV gene therapy products and co-leads the gene-corrected cell therapy program that achieved FDA approval for ZEVASKYN in April 2025 — the treatment for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. In prior Global Regulatory Lead roles at gene therapy and rare disease companies, she directed regulatory strategy across the US, EMEA, Japan, Canada, LATAM, and APAC from development through post-market, presenting to regulatory authorities worldwide and serving as Clinical Trial Regulatory Lead across multiple international trials. Focus areas: Gene Therapy Regulatory Strategy, Global Regulatory Affairs, FDA/EMEA/APAC Submissions, Rare Disease Product Development.
Richie Kahn, MPH
Co-Founder & COO
Canary Advisors
Health Policy Advisory
Richie Kahn is a health policy professional by training, clinical researcher by trade, and patient advocate by necessity, having spent the last 15 years working across the industry to reduce the time it takes to bring promising new treatments to the patients who need them most. As Co-Founder and COO of Canary Advisors, he partners with biopharma, nonprofit, and regulatory stakeholders to better align clinical development programs with patient wants and needs. Focus areas: Health Policy, Clinical Research, Patient Advocacy, Clinical Development Strategy.
Brian Winger, Ph.D
Associate Vice-President, Digital Health
Eli Lilly & Company
Brian Winger is currently a Sr. Advisor of Translational Technology & Innovation (TT&I) in Eli Lilly & Company’s Digital Health Office. He has a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry with more than 7 years of experience developing high resolution mass spectrometric instrumentation for life science applications as well as 20+ years of experience supporting the discovery and development of novel pharmaceutics while at Lilly. In the TT&I group, Brian has responsibility for identifying, developing and validating digital biomarkers to enable the establishment of relevant digital-based novel endpoints in support of Lilly’s medicine development portfolio.
Guofa Shou, Ph.D
Digital Health R&D Leader
Eli Lilly & Company
Guofa Shou is a digital health R&D leader with over 15 years of experience in physiological signal research. At Eli Lilly, he leads efforts to develop, validate, and implement novel digital health technologies (DHTs) that enhance traditional clinical outcome assessments across multiple therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic, neurodegenerative disorders, oncology, immunology, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). His work focuses on integrating DHTs with specific digital biomarkers into clinical trials to enable precise, objective, and scalable health measurements, with a particular interest in advancing digital biomarkers that yield meaningful insights into patient experiences for drug development.
Ann Marie Hake, MD
Executive Director, Medical - Digital Health
Eli Lilly & Company
Ann Marie Hake is a board-certified Neurologist with fellowship training in neurodegenerative diseases and postgraduate training in medical informatics. In her current role at Lilly, she is a clinical research physician in the Digital Health R&D group, as well as the Vice Chair of the Lilly Bioethics Advisory Committee. Previously at Lilly she led late and early-phase clinical trials and provided medical leadership in Medical Affairs in neurodegeneration and in migraine. Prior to joining Lilly, she was an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology at the Indiana University School of Medicine, where she continues on the adjunct faculty, serves on the Institutional Review Board, and sees neurology outpatients twice monthly.
Oeystein Roed Brekk, Ph.D
Senior Advisor
Eli Lily
Oeystein Roed Brekk is a senior neuroscientist and Senior Advisor at Eli Lilly and Company in Boston, Massachusetts, with over a decade of experience in neuroscience research, particularly in vitro and in vivo disease modeling, gene therapy vector development, and characterization of novel disease mechanisms in central nervous system disorders. His career spans roles at Takeda, Harvard Medical School, and McLean Hospital's Neuroregeneration Research Labs, with research focused on Parkinson's disease, lysosomal storage disorders, and related synucleinopathies — including alpha-synuclein biology, chaperone-mediated autophagy, and lipid metabolism's role in neurodegeneration. He holds a PhD in Neurobiology and Neurosciences from the University of Crete and an MSc in Neuroscience from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Focus areas: Parkinson's Disease, Synucleinopathies, Gene Therapy Vector Development, Disease Modeling, Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy, CNS Disorder.
Or Eisenberg
Chief Financial Officer at NeuroSense Therapeutics
Neurosense Therapeutics
Or Eisenberg is Chief Financial Officer at NeuroSense Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease. A registered CPA, Eisenberg brings broad experience across public companies in both Israel and the U.S. Before joining NeuroSense, he held several financial leadership roles in the biotech sector, including CFO and acting CEO of Wize Pharma. Earlier in his career, he served as controller of the Katzir Fund Group and worked as an external CFO for a number of Tel Aviv Stock Exchange–listed companies. He began his career as an accountant at Ernst & Young and holds a B.A. in Economics and Accounting from the University of Haifa.
Randy Hand,Ph.D
Director of Neuroscience
Preclinical & Translational Research | CNS · Rare Disease
Prilenia Therapeutics
Randal Hand is a cellular and molecular neuroscientist with over 15 years of experience spanning academia and the biopharmaceutical industry, including roles at Apic Bio (whose lead program was acquired by uniQure) and Prilenia Therapeutics, developing pipelines for CNS disorders including Huntington's disease, ALS, and neurodevelopmental disorders. He has led the scientific, operational, and strategic build-out of preclinical functions for startup therapeutic companies, directing nonclinical research teams and managing academic partners and external vendors on programs that advanced through IND approval and into clinical trials. Focus areas: Preclinical & Nonclinical Research, Biomarker Identification, CNS Disorders, Huntington's Disease, ALS, Regulatory & Medical Affairs Support, Business Development & IP Strategy.
Nil Confer, Ph.D
Executive Medical Director
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Prilenia Therapeutics
Nil Confer is a Medical Affairs professional with 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, including five years at the VP level. He has a proven track record of aligning Medical and Patient Affairs functions with regulatory, clinical, marketing, and commercial teams, bringing strong organizational and communication skills to building, leading, and cultivating high-performing, collaborative teams. His achievements include tripling referral and diagnosis volumes in just three months for an ultra-rare disease program, and building and leading a global team from pre-launch through market approval across the US, EU, and Ex-US regions. He has also proposed and helped design two FDA-approved novel comparative studies.
Alexander Reilly-Jones
Co-Founder & Chief Operations Officer
The Process Play
Alex Reilly-Jones is a passionate and versatile leader with over ten years of consultancy experience, helping organizations realize the full transformational potential of implementing ServiceNow. As Chief Operations Officer at The Process Play, she oversees the delivery of high-quality, innovative solutions that enable clients to achieve their strategic and operational goals. She also serves as ServiceNow Legal Service Delivery Product Manager at Booking.com, managing the platform's development and implementation for the legal department. Focus areas: ServiceNow Implementation, Consultancy Leadership, Legal Service Delivery, Operations Management.
Kyle Gillan
Lead Business Consultant, Service Now
The Process Play
Kyle Gillan is a Business Operations and Technology professional specializing in strategy and project management and delivery. Their experience spans cybersecurity, including vulnerability response and security incident response, having overseen more than 200 individuals in remediation efforts as a Process and Product Manager. Kyle brings strong analytical and problem-solving skills built from years of corporate consulting and professional services, including supporting the 500% growth of a Canadian veterinary consolidator (140+ hospitals). They are ITIL v4 certified and a Certified ServiceNow System Administrator, with six years of project delivery experience and one year of technical development. Focus areas: ServiceNow, Cybersecurity (Vulnerability & Incident Response), Project Delivery, Business Operations Strategy.
David Hopkins
Senior Director Community Investments
Hop On A Cure, Foundation
David Hopkins, MFA, is Vice President of Community Investments at Hop On A Cure, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting research to prevent, reverse, and cure ALS while raising awareness and building a compassionate community. He is the brother of John Driskell "Hop" Hopkins — a founding member of Zac Brown Band and founder of Hop On A Cure — who was diagnosed with ALS in 2021.Focus areas: ALS Research & Advocacy, Community Investment, Nonprofit Leadership.
Kasper Roet, Ph.D
Founder, Chief Executive Officer
QurAlis Corporation
Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Kasper Roet, PhD, is CEO and co-founder of QurAlis Corporation. He is also co-founder and serves on the board of directors of EnClear Therapies. Kasper is a passionate neuroscientist and therapy developer who specializes in gene therapies and stem cell technology-based precision medicine solutions for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Kasper’s work at the Netherlands Brain Bank emphasized the need for effective treatments for patients and their families. Upon seeing the incredible achievements in stem cell modeling and gene discoveries in ALS, Kasper realized that this is the time to make a real difference for patients. He decided to move to Boston from the Netherlands with his wife, and work with two visionary leaders in ALS stem cell disease modeling, Harvard professors Clifford Woolf and Kevin Eggan with whom he co-founded QurAlis to bring breakthrough precision therapies for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. Kasper was trained by industry thought leaders at Johnson & Johnson along with forward-thinking scientific and business thought leaders at Harvard University. Kasper obtained his PhD degree at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience and the Free University of Amsterdam and obtained a master’s degree with honors from the University of Amsterdam. Kasper was awarded the Milton Safenowitz postdoctoral fellowship from the ALS Association. With QurAlis, Kasper won two Golden Tickets (Amgen 2017 and Pfizer 2018), became a JLabs member in 2018, won the Fierce15 Biotech award in 2020, and was awarded the 2022 Henri Termeer Transatlantic Connections Award.
Brian Radecki
Co‑Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Rapa Therapeutics
Brian Radecki is the Founder and CEO of Rapa Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company developing T Stem Cell therapies for cancer, ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. Motivated by personal losses to these diseases, Brian co-founded Rapa with Dr. Daniel Fowler, spinning the company out of the National Cancer Institute in 2017 and starting it from his kitchen table, eventually building it into a full-scale R&D and GMP manufacturing operation. Prior to Rapa, Brian spent nearly two decades at CoStar Group, playing a pivotal role in its transformation from a pre-IPO start-up to a multi-billion-dollar public company. With 30 years of experience across industries, Brian is also an active angel investor, board member, and advisor to private and public companies.
Daniel Fowler, MD
Co-Founder, Chief Medical Officer
Rapa Therapeutics
Dan Fowler is the founding Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Officer of Rapa Therapeutics, where he leads the development of next‑generation RAPA‑T cell therapies for refractory cancers and ALS. At the National Cancer Institute (NIH), Dr. Fowler pioneered seminal research on regulatory T cells (Tregs) and Th2 cells, demonstrating their potential to modulate harmful immune responses in autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. His team developed RAPA‑501 hybrid T Stem TREG/Th2 cells, showing feasibility, safety, and biological activity in ALS patients. Building on Phase 1 trial success, Rapa Therapeutics is advancing Phase 2/3 and expanded access studies. Dr. Fowler is an NCI award‑winning immunotherapy leader.
Oren Levy, MD, Ph.D
Medical Director, Early Clinical Development
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Oren Levy, MD, Ph.D is Medical Director of Early Clinical Development at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, focusing on neurodegenerative disease programs. He integrates digital biomarkers, physiological signal-based assessments, and innovative trial design into early-phase studies. Dr. Levy has published research on remote respiratory monitoring in ALS and mobile gait analysis in Parkinson’s disease. He is dedicated to developing objective, scalable clinical endpoints to enhance trial precision and efficiency.
Nader Naghavi
Digital Measurements Strategy Lead | Digital Health | Digital Endpoints
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Nader Naghavi specializes in the development, validation, and implementation of sensor-based Digital Health Technologies (sDHTs) for use in clinical development programs, with [X years] of experience in the field. His work focuses on fit-for-purpose digital outcome measure strategies, including analytical and clinical validation, usability assessment, and operational feasibility of wearable and remote monitoring technologies across both clinical and free-living environments. He has designed and executed studies supporting the development of clinically meaningful digital measures aligned with disease pathophysiology and patient function. Previously, his work included the development of closed-loop and real-time digital intervention systems, integrating multimodal physiological sensing, predictive analytics, and mobile health technologies to support symptom monitoring and personalized interventions.
Stephen Ruhmel
Director Clinical Strategy Lead For Digital Endpoints
Sanofi
Stephen Ruhmel works at the intersection of digital health, clinical innovation, and technology at Sanofi, focusing on the identification, creation, validation, and operationalization of both fit-for-purpose and novel digital endpoints in clinical studies. His scope spans Dermatology, Neurological Movement Disorders, Diabetes, and Organ Transplant, across both early- and late-phase trials.
Irina Antonijevic, MD, Ph.D
Chief Medical Officer,
Trace Neuroscience
Dr. Irina Antonijevic serves as Chief Medical Officer at Trace Neuroscience, bringing over 30 years of experience in psychiatry, neurology, academia, and drug development. She previously served as CMO at EveryONE Medicines, leading a platform for individualized therapies targeting rare neurogenetic mutations, and at Triplet Therapeutics, advancing treatments for DNA repeat expansion disorders. Earlier, she held senior clinical and scientific roles at Wave Life Sciences, vasopharm GmbH, Sanofi Genzyme, Lundbeck, and Schering AG. A board-certified physician, she trained at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry and earned her M.D. and a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh.
Jim Scibetta, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
VectorY Therapeutics
Jim Scibetta has over 20 years of executive leadership experience building early-stage biotech companies into mature organizations. He served as CEO of Maverick Therapeutics through its 2021 acquisition by Takeda, President of Pacira BioSciences during its growth into a $2B+ public company, and CFO of BioEnvision through its sale to Genzyme, prior to his current role as CEO of VectorY Therapeutics. He previously spent 13 years in healthcare investment banking and holds an MBA from the University of Michigan. Focus areas: Executive Leadership, Company Building, M&A & Public Offerings, Board Governance.
Ilan McNamara, Ph.D
Vice-President, Regulatory Affairs
VectorY Therapeutics
Ilan McNamara is Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs at VectorY, where he leads regulatory strategy for the company’s programs. With a strong background in neuroscience, molecular biology, and regulatory science, Ilan has extensive experience guiding early and late-stage therapies through clinical development. Prior to joining Vectory, he held senior regulatory roles at Prevail Therapeutics and contributed to AAV-based therapeutic development targeting neurodegenerative diseases. Ilan is known for his expertise in regulatory submissions, global agency engagement, and platform manufacturing transitions. He is passionate about advancing safe, effective therapies for patients through science-driven regulatory innovation.
Suma Babu, MD
Physician Scientist, Neurologist
Associate Professor of Neurology
Harvard Medical School- Massachusetts General Hospital
Dr. Suma Babu is an Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Co-Director of the Neurological Research Institute at Massachusetts General Brigham. Her research centers on improving outcomes for people with ALS, with a special interest in early-phase clinical trials and gene-targeted trials, funded by the NIH, PCORI, industry, and foundations. She serves as PI of the Healey ALS MyMatch Program, launched in 2025 — a series of patient-centric, multi-site Phase 1b/2a biomarker-driven clinical trials — and leads the neuroimaging research program for ALS at Mass General Hospital, co-chairing the NEALS neuroimaging subcommittee. Focus areas: ALS & Neuromuscular Disease, Early-Phase Clinical Trials, Gene-Targeted Therapies, Neuroimaging Research.
James Berry, MD, MPH
Chief, Division of ALS and MND
Massachusetts General Hospital
James Berry is the Winthrop Family Scholar in ALS Sciences, Chief of the Division of ALS and Motor Neuron Diseases, and Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) ALS clinic. He has expanded care beyond the clinic through programs like ALS House Call and video tele-visits. As Director of the MGH Neurological Clinical Research Institute, he leads national and global trials focused on biomarkers of inflammation, mobile health, and digital phenotyping to advance ALS therapies while easing patient burden. He also directs the Mass General Brigham Neurodegenerative Clinical Research Fellowship and serves on leadership panels for NEALS and the CDC.
Ernest Fraenkel, Ph.D
Department of Biological Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ernest Fraenkel is the Grover M. Hermann Professor in Health Sciences and Technology at MIT’s Department of Biological Engineering and Associate Member of the Broad Institute. He directs the Fraenkel Lab, which integrates computational and experimental systems‐biology to discover new therapeutic strategies for diseases such as ALS, Huntington’s, glioblastoma, cancer, and diabetes. Dr. Fraenkel earned his A.B. in Chemistry and Physics summa cum laude from Harvard and his Ph.D. in Biology at MIT. His work focuses on reconstructing molecular signaling pathways from multi-omics datasets to identify regulatory mechanisms and potential drug targets.
Lyle W. Ostrow, MD, Ph.D
Associate Professor, Neurology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Temple University
Lyle Ostrow is a neurologist, ALS and muscle disorder researcher, and Director of the Temple Neuromuscular Pathology Lab and the Temple ALS Postmortem Core & Guamanian ALS-PDC Resources. He serves on the Scientific Advisory Boards for Everything ALS and the ALS Network, and the Board of Directors of the ALS Hope Foundation. Dr. Ostrow is the longstanding Chair of the Programmatic Panel for the Department of Defense ALS Research Program (ALSRP), the largest dedicated annual funder ($40M/year) of ALS therapeutic discovery and validation. He led ALSRP efforts to develop and refine funding mechanisms to support the development of new innovative therapeutic ideas, emphasize biomarker development, and encourage open data and resource sharing. He has ALS research grant funding from NIH, serves on several ALS steering committees and review panels, and is widely recognized for his clinical leadership, translational research, and commitment to improving care and accelerating therapies for ALS.
Merit Cudkowicz, MD, MSc
Executive Director, Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute
Massachusetts General Hospital
Merit Cudkowicz is Executive Director of the Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute, Director of the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, and Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. A leader in ALS research and clinical trials, she co-founded the Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS) and leads the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial to accelerate therapy development. Dr. Cudkowicz has pioneered innovations like antisense oligonucleotide treatments and adaptive trial designs. She holds degrees from MIT and Harvard Medical School, and has received numerous awards including the American Academy of Neurology’s Sheila Essay ALS Award and the Forbes Norris Award.
Terry D. Heiman‑Patterson, MD
Professor of Neurology
Temple University
Terry Heiman-Patterson is Professor of Neurology at Temple University and Director of its Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the MDA/ALS Center of Hope. She has led over 30 ALS clinical trials, focusing on extending survival, improving quality of life, and advancing respiratory and assistive technologies. Her lab research explores genetic modifiers in murine ALS models for human translation. Co-founder and president of the ALS Hope Foundation, she has co-chaired the Northeast ALS Consortium and served on multiple grant review panels. Committed to patient care and education, she trains ALS patients as research advocates and is a member of major neurology associations.
Eduardo R. Locatelli, MD, MPH
Physician Executive Director & Neurologist
Director, Cathy J. Husman ALS Center
NSU Neuroscience Institute
Eduardo R. Locatelli leads the NSU Neuroscience Institute as Physician Executive Director and directs the Cathy J. Husman ALS Center of Excellence at NSU Health in Florida. With over three decades as a U.S.licensed physician and researcher, holding an MD, MPH, Neurology Board Certification, and Neuroimaging Diplomate, Dr. Locatelli focuses on transforming patient care through leadership, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. Key accomplishments include establishing a multidisciplinary ALS clinic with Mass General Hospital and securing over $10 million in philanthropy to develop the Cathy J. Husman ALS Center. Dr. Locatelli has also led initiatives in medical informatics, quality improvement, and ethics to advance ALS care.
Jinsy Andrews, MD, MSc, FAAN, FANA
Professor of Neurology, Director, ALS Center, Director of Clinical Trials
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Dr. Jinsy Andrews is a neurologist in New York, New York, affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia and Cornell and NYU Langone Hospitals. She received her medical degree from Albany Medical College and has been in practice for more than 20 years. She is an experienced Clinical Research Director with expertise in neurology and neuromuscular diseases, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well as Alzheimer's disease. She currently serves as co-chair of the Northeastern ALS Consortium (NEALS), and is skilled in clinical trial design, outcomes development, biotechnology, and good clinical practice.
Sabrina Paganoni, M.D, Ph.D
Physician-Scientist & Assistant Professor
Healey Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital & Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Dr. Sabrina Paganoni is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and a physician-scientist at the Healey Center for ALS at Massachusetts General Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.
Her research focuses on developing new ALS treatments through innovative trial designs, digital technologies, and novel clinical endpoints. She is co-PI of the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial, the world’s first platform trial for ALS, and has led major studies including CENTAUR and the global PHOENIX trial.
Dr. Paganoni also advances research in Primary Lateral Sclerosis, Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, and assistive technologies for people with motor neuron diseases. She has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and has received numerous national awards for her contributions to clinical research.
James Gorman, M.D., Ph.D
Senior Director of Translational R&D
Principal Investigator, Brain Targeting Program
James Gorman, M.D., Ph.D., is Senior Director of Translational R&D and Principal Investigator of the Brain Targeting Program at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. He leads the development of innovative technologies to deliver therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier, advancing treatments for neurological diseases through broad collaborations with academia, industry, and nonprofit partners.
Before joining the Wyss Institute, Jim held leadership roles at Abbott Laboratories, where he helped shape antibody discovery and translational R&D, and later co-founded two biotechnology companies. He earned his M.D. and Ph.D. from Harvard Medical School and graduated summa cum laude from Yale University.
Sayan Bhandari
High School Student & ALS Research Advocate
Founder, PRISM (Personalized Research Into Sporadic Mechanisms)
Sayan Bhandari is a high school student passionate about artificial intelligence, computational biology, and precision medicine. Inspired by his mother’s diagnosis of ALS, he is focused on advancing understanding and treatment of sporadic ALS.
His primary project, PRISM (Personalized Research Into Sporadic Mechanisms), explores the idea that sporadic ALS consists of biologically distinct subtypes. By integrating longitudinal multi-omic data with AI models, PRISM aims to identify these subtypes, map disease progression, and enable more personalized therapeutic approaches. In parallel, Sayan is developing a customizable longitudinal data platform to help patients track health metrics over time, supporting both individual care and future research.
Outside of science, Sayan enjoys traveling with his family and exploring different cultures. These experiences inspired his book A World of Festivals, with a portion of proceeds supporting ALS research.
Shalini Gupta, MD
Dermatologist & ALS Patient Advocate
Harvard-Trained Dermatologist, Cosmetic Dermatology
Dr. Shalini Gupta is a Harvard-trained dermatologist specializing in cosmetic dermatology. She completed surgical training at Brown University, a photomedicine fellowship at NYU Medical Center, and her dermatology residency at the University of Washington before establishing her practice in Cincinnati. Her work also draws on her study of anti-aging and Ayurvedic medicine.
Dr. Gupta spent much of her childhood in Brazil and Germany and is fluent in German and speaks Hindi. Outside medicine, she enjoys traveling, painting, dancing, and spending time with her family.
In September 2024, she was diagnosed with limb-onset ALS. As the disease has increasingly affected her mobility and independence, she has dedicated herself to learning about emerging ALS research, exploring potential therapies, and advocating for greater innovation. As both a physician and a person living with ALS, she hopes to advance understanding of the disease and improve the lives of those affected.
Jennifer Morganroth, MD, MBA
Attending Neurologist, ALS & Neuromuscular Disorders
Massachusetts General Hospital
Jennifer Morganroth, MD, MBA, is a clinical investigator at the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Instructor at Harvard Medical School. Her work focuses on clinical trial innovation and using artificial intelligence to improve trial screening, access, and integration into clinical care. She also devolved the Clinic for Motor Neuron Health, a program for individuals at genetic risk for ALS focused on early detection, monitoring, and research.
Yentli Soto Albrecht , PhD
MD-PhD Candidate
Genetics ALS & FTD
Co-founder CureC9
UPenn School of Medicine
Yentli Soto Albrecht is an MD-PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania who brings a unique perspective to the ALS community as a scientist, physician-in-training, and C9orf72 expansion carrier. After losing her father to rapidly progressive familial ALS in 2024, she redirected her work toward neurodegeneration research, driven to help accelerate progress toward prevention and meaningful treatments for individuals and families facing ALS and FTD. She is committed to pursuing this goal across academia and industry, combining science, medicine, and advocacy, and is equally passionate about supporting others entering the physician-scientist pathway through mentorship and community-building. Focus areas: ALS & FTD Neurodegeneration, Physician-Scientist Training, Genetic Risk (C9orf72), Advocacy, Mentorship & Community Building.
Angela Genge, MD
Chief Medical Officer
ALS- Pharma
Dr. Angela Genge is a renowned neurologist and global leader in clinical research for rare neurological diseases. Since 1998, she has directed the ALS Clinic at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital), and in 2014 became Executive Director of the ALS Global Center of Excellence in Patient Care. She led The Neuro's Clinical Research Unit from 2004 to 2023, building it into one of Canada's largest neurological research hubs, including a Phase 1 Unit dedicated exclusively to neurological diseases. She now serves as Director of the Center for Innovative Medicine and Director of Clinical Research at the MUHC Research Institute, continues to lead the McGill ALS Center of Excellence, and launched ACCESS ALS, a Canadian Phase 1 ALS clinical trial network. Her trial leadership spans ALS, dementias, myopathies, neuropathies, myasthenia gravis, and pain, with expertise in trial design, drug development, regulatory affairs, and real-world evidence programs. Focus areas: Rare Neurological Diseases, ALS Clinical Trials, Clinical Trial Design & Drug Development, Regulatory & Medical Affairs.
Charmaine DeManuele, Ph.D
Vice President and Head of R&D Data, Data Science &
AI - Neuroscience
Johnson & Johnson
Charmaine Demanuele, PhD, is Vice President and Head of R&D Data, Data Science & AI for Neuroscience at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine.
She leads efforts to transform neuroscience drug discovery and development by integrating multi-omics, digital endpoints and real-world evidence, applying AI and advanced statistical methods to deepen our understanding of disease biology and improve patient outcomes. Previously, Charmaine was Executive Director and Head of Quantitative Sciences for Digital Medicine & Translational Imaging at Pfizer, where she advanced patient-centric clinical trials and novel digital endpoints across therapeutic areas. She holds a PhD in Neuroscience and completed postdoctoral training in psychiatric neuroimaging at Harvard Medical School and the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Heidelberg-Mannheim.
A recognized thought leader, she actively drives cross-industry adoption of AI and digital health through global consortia, academic collaborations and regulatory initiatives.
Dawn Barnes
Commercial Head for Neurology Rare Disease
Otsuka Pharmaceuticals
Dawn Barnes is the Commercial Head for Neurology Rare Disease at Otsuka Pharmaceuticals. She has led the launch of innovative therapies across multiple therapeutic areas, helping bring new treatment options to people living with rare and serious diseases. Dawn is passionate about advancing patient-centered solutions and partnering with the rare disease community to improve outcomes for patients and their families.
Lida Zeinali, MD
Medical Director, Global Strategy Lead for ALS
Otsuka Pharmaceutical
Lida Zeinali, MD is Medical Director, Global Strategy Lead for ALS at Otsuka Pharmaceutical. A physician by training, she has extensive experience spanning clinical medicine, global medical strategy, and rare diseases.
Lida is passionate about partnering with people living with ALS, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, and advocates to help translate scientific innovation into therapies that meaningfully improve patients’ lives.
She believes that the best advances happen when science is guided by the voices and experiences of the ALS community
Karen King
SVP of Program Management and Clinical Operations
Coya Therapeutics
Karen has over 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, specializing in clinical trials for rare and neurodegenerative diseases. As SVP of Program Management and Clinical Operations at Coya Therapeutics , Karen plays a significant role in driving the clinical development of potentially transformative therapies in ALS, FTD, and other neurodegenerative diseases. She is passionate about finding cures for rare diseases and improving clinical outcomes for patients and their families. Her dedication extends to her volunteer work with the nonprofit Genetic ALS and FTD: End the Legacy, further demonstrating her commitment to advancing treatments and cures for these challenging conditions.
Ed Lein, Ph.D
Executive Vice President & Director Brain Health
Allen Institute for Brain Science
Dr. Ed Lein leads the Brain Health accelerator's research and global collaboration efforts to advance foundational insights into the human brain and neurodegenerative disease, having previously led the Human Cell Types Department in the Brain Science accelerator. His research has focused on creating comprehensive cell atlases of the human and non-human primate brain and developing tools for precision genetic targeting of brain cell types, work now expanding across Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and ALS through large-scale discovery science, AI, disease modeling, and cell- and circuit-based genetic therapies. He is a member of the BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN) and the Human Cell Atlas organizing committee, a CIFAR fellow, and an affiliate professor at the University of Washington. He holds a BS in Biochemistry from Purdue University and a PhD in Neurobiology from UC Berkeley, and completed postdoctoral work at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Focus areas: Developmental Neurobiology, Cellular & Structural Neuroanatomy, Transcriptomics & Epigenomics, Comparative Neurobiology, Alzheimer's Disease.
Walter Koroshetz, MD
Immediate Past Director
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Dr. Koroshetz served as Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 2015-2026. He joined NINDS in 2007 as Deputy Director and has held leadership roles in multiple programs including co-leading the NIH’s BRAIN Initiative, the NIH RECOVER Initiative on Post Acute Sequelae of COVID-19, Common fund somatic cell gene editing program, pain research in the Helping to End Addiction Long Term (HEAL) Initiative, the Accelerated Medicine Partnerships for Parkinson's and the Public Private Partnership in ALS. Before joining NINDS, Dr. Koroshetz served as Vice Chair of Neurology, Director of stroke and neurointensive care services at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and neurologist in the MGH Huntington’s Disease Clinic. He was a professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and led neurology resident training at MGH between 1990 and 2007.
Brendan O’Leary
Digital Health & Medical Technology Former Deputy Director & Acting Director, FDA Digital Health Center of Excellence
Regulation and policy advisor
Brendan O’Leary advises technology developers, healthcare organizations, and professional associations on digital health and medical technology development, evaluation, and regulation. He spent 14 years at the FDA in various roles focused on medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health, most recently as the founding Deputy Director of the FDA's Digital Health Center of Excellence. Brendan contributed to hundreds of precedent-setting decisions and co-authored key policies that form the foundation of the FDA’s digital health strategy. He frequently represented the agency in public forums, congressional discussions, and media interviews, and played a significant role in the federal response to SARS-CoV-2.
Karl A. Sillay, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery; Director of Adult Functional
Stereotactic Neurosurgery
Karl Sillay is an Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery and Director of Adult Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia, completed his neurosurgery residency at Vanderbilt University, and pursued a fellowship in functional neurosurgery at the University of California San Francisco. With a career that spans positions in Colorado, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, Dr. Sillay specializes in treating movement disorders and complex spinal and cranial conditions. He is board-certified in neurological surgery and is committed to advancing precision surgical techniques and mentoring the next generation of neurosurgeons.
Philip Reilly, MD, JD
Co‑Founder & Director, Luna Genetics Venture Partner, Third Rock Ventures
Third Rock Ventures
EverythingALS Boardmember
Philip Reilly is a biotech entrepreneur, physician, and attorney who serves as Co‑Founder and Director of Luna Genetics, a company developing next-generation prenatal diagnostic technologies. He is also a Venture Partner at Third Rock Ventures, where he helps launch and guide innovative life science companies. Trained in internal medicine and clinical genetics, Dr. Reilly has held leadership roles including interim Chief Medical Officer at bluebird bio and CEO of Interleukin Genetics. He is the author of seven books and over 100 scientific and policy articles, and has long been active at the intersection of genetics, medicine, ethics, and law.
Susan Catalano, Ph.D
Chief Scientific Officer, Biotechnology Industry Leader
EverythingALS Boardmember
Susan Catalano is a highly experienced biotechnology executive, serving as Chief Scientific Officer and strategic advisor to early-stage biotech ventures. She co‑founded Cognition Therapeutics in 2007 and guided its discovery, preclinical, and clinical science efforts, culminating in the development of CT1812, now in clinical trials. With more than two decades of leadership in neurobiology and oncology drug discovery, she has held executive roles at CodA Biotherapeutics, Acumen Pharmaceuticals, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, and Roche. Dr. Catalano has authored numerous publications and patents, contributed as principal investigator on NIH funded projects, and serves on scientific advisory boards in neurodegenerative drug development.
John Hudacek
Retired U.S. Army veteran
Person living with ALS
EverythingALS Pathfinder
John Hudacek is a retired U.S. Army veteran from Melbourne, Florida, with a 20-year career as an Infantryman, Aerial Photographer, and Special Forces Medic. After active duty, he coordinated training programs at a private military boarding school and later served as an educational advisor and officer recruiter for the Army until retiring in 2020. That same year, following a COVID-19 infection, John was diagnosed with ALS—having first noticed symptoms in 2019. He began FDA-approved treatments promptly and continues to maintain an ALSFRS-R score of 44. Committed to wellness, he follows a healthy lifestyle with daily exercise, therapy, and VA care.
Steve Kowalski
Retired Apple Computers
Person Living with ALS
Steve Kowalski from Boston, MA, holds a B.S. in Business Administration and an A.S. in Computer Science. After 34 years with Apple, he retired in 2020 following a long-term disability. Diagnosed with ALS in 2017, Steven quickly embraced advocacy, inspired by Pete Frates Day in Boston. He has since raised over $250K for research, participated in clinical trials, and serves on multiple ALS boards and committees. Steven is active in advocacy, research advisory roles, and technology consulting for ALS mobility. His ALS progresses slowly; he uses a cane and AFOs while staying physically active daily with the help of technology.
Shawn Penno
25 years as Care Aid
Person Living with ALS
Shawn lives in BC, Canada, and have been a care aide for 25 years, 2 in long-term care and the rest in the Community. I was diagnosed in September '23 with limb onset ALS after 16 months of 'investigating,' with a diagnosis of carpal tunnel, thoracic outlet syndrome, and such.
I WANT to do what I can while I still can! I even built my own wheelchair ramp right after my Dx while still having the arm strength to do it!
Peggy Merrill
Yoga teacher and studio owner
Person Living with ALS
My journey with Motor Neuron Disease began with difficulties speaking, and a hypersensitivity in my throat. As a yoga teacher and studio owner this was particularly challenging since I relied on my voice to share my love of all things yoga and meditation. I use AI ElevenLabs to voice clone for me, which I am using to create new yoga practices to share within the ALS/PLS/MND community.
Anthony Martin Varela
Firefighter & ALS Advocate
City of Los Angeles Fire Department (35 years of service)
My name is Anthony (Tony) Martin Varela. My better half is named Cheri and we live in Huntington Beach, California. I have two children and two grandchildren with one on the way!!
I am a retired Firefighter who worked for the City of Los Angeles. I worked 35 years before Retirement. I love outdoor activities and try to get out and enjoy the fresh air as often as I can. I was diagnosed with ALS in April of 2023. After two years of wondering why I was losing weight and strength, a paramedic friend told me to see a neurologist. After doing so, I received the bad news. I keep a positive outlook as much as I can, but staying busy seems to keep my mind off of it and works the best.
McFinn Lovere
ALS Reversal #42
Community Lead and Spiritual Guide
Head of Pathfinder Program EverythingALS
McFinn Lovere is a spiritual guide and ALS Reversal #42 confirmed Dr. Richard Bedlack. Diagnosed with ALS in 2006 and initially paralyzed - able to move only his head and two fingers - he defied all expectations by reversing his progression through a deep spiritual practice, resilience, and dedicated care. Today, McFinn serves as Community Lead and Head of the Pathfinder Program at EverythingALS, offering mentorship and hope to others on their ALS journey. He actively participates in research programs at institutions including Duke University and other Institutes, sharing his experience to help advance the science and understanding of ALS recovery.
Indu Navar, MSCS
CEO and Founder
and Ph.D Researcher, King’s College London
EverythingALS
Indu Navar is a silicon valley tech entrepreneur. She is founder and CEO of the Peter Cohen Foundation operating as EverythingALS.org, and EverythingAD.org a nonprofit focused on technology-driven solutions and biomarker discovery for neurological diseases. After losing her husband to ALS in 2019, she dedicated her career to accelerating patient-driven research and digital health innovation. She serves on the board of Global Genes and the advisory board of Answer ALS. Indu was previously MD at Woodside Capital Partners and Founder/CEO of Serus Corporation (acquired by E2Open), with earlier roles at WebMD, Silicon Graphics, and NASA. She holds degrees in engineering and computer science and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at King’s College London.
Christian Rubio, MBA
Executive Director & Head of Development
EverythingALS
Christian Rubio is the Executive Director and Head of Development at EverythingALS. He brings over 15 years of leadership experience in patient advocacy, strategic partnerships, and fundraising. Prior to this role, he served as Head of Patient Advocacy at Praxis Precision Medicines and as Vice President of Strategic Advancement at Global Genes. Christian holds an MBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from Babson College. At EverythingALS, he leads efforts to engage patient communities, research institutions, and industry partners to drive innovation in digital biomarkers, expand clinical trial participation, and strengthen collaboration across the ALS and broader neurodegenerative disease ecosystem.
Stephanie Henze
Head of Design, Clinical Research Innovation & Strategy
EverythingALS
Stephanie Henze leads Design, Clinical Study, Research, Innovation and Strategy at EverythingALS, bringing over 30 years of global experience in rapid innovation and end-to-end development of first-to-world physical and digital medical products, customer experiences, and regulated processes. With an integrated background in medicine and industrial design, she unites user-centered design with clinical research to accelerate digital biomarker discovery and patient engagement. Stephanie has held leadership roles at McKinsey & Company, LUNAR, and Hiemstra Product Development. A graduate of Art Center College of Design, she brings deep expertise in usability, systems thinking, and real-world impact for neurodegenerative disease solutions.
Natalia Luchkina, Ph.D
Research & Innovation Lead
EverythingALS
Natalia Luchkina brings over 15 years of experience in healthcare and life sciences spanning consulting, startups, and academic research. At EverythingALS, she leads digital health research and innovation strategy for ALS and related neurodegenerative diseases. Previously, she was a consultant at McKinsey, advising healthcare, social, and public sector clients on strategy and innovation. Her expertise includes corporate strategy, data-driven solutions, and organizational transformation. With a PhD in Physiology and Neuroscience from the University of Helsinki, Natalia has conducted research at Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital on brain networks underlying psychiatric disorders to advance drug development.
Silviya Bastola
Research and Operations
EverythingALS
Silviya Bastola holds a foundation in Neuroscience, complemented by postgraduate training in advanced sciences with expertise in project management, research methodologies, and clinical operations. With over four years of experience, she specializes in managing Phase II–IV clinical studies across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices, focusing on Infectious Disease, Vaccines, Rare Diseases, and Neurology (CNS). At EverythingALS, Silviya drives patient-centered innovation, advancing the care-to-cure mission for ALS through digital health tools, research and study design, and app development. Dedicated to transforming healthcare, she strives to enhance accessibility, improve patient outcomes, and accelerate progress through the fusion of biotechnology and clinical research.
Swapnil Harkanth
Head of Software Development
EverythingALS
Swapnil Harkanth is the Head of Software Development at EverythingALS, bringing extensive expertise in cloud computing, software engineering, data analytics, and cybersecurity. Passionate about innovation, Swapnil designs and implements scalable, high-performance solutions that support digital biomarker platforms and patient-centered technologies. With a strong focus on reliability, integration, and system optimization, Swapnil leads cross-functional teams through complex technical transformations. Known for delivering measurable impact, Swapnil enables organizations to harness technology to accelerate research, streamline operations, and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Sachin Tehare
Product Manager
EverythingALS
Sachin Tehare has over 17 years of experience in the IT sector, including a decade in IT-enabled industries, specializing as a Product Manager leading digital transformation initiatives across Banking, Finance, Insurance, Pharma, Healthcare, and other service industries. He combines strong analytical skills with a strategic approach to project execution, while prioritizing close collaboration with his team and fostering a culture of continuous learning. Focus areas: Digital Transformation, IT Product Management, Cross-Industry Strategy, Project Execution.
Anusha Rao
AI Research Engineer
Neuroscience & Digital Biomarkers
Student Ambassador
Anusha Rao is an AI Research Engineer at Arkifi and a neuroscience researcher with a focus on digital biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. Her previous research includes work at the NIH and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where she developed machine learning models to investigate therapies for traumatic brain injury and used AlphaFold to study protein structures linked to neurodegeneration, including ALS. Anusha also contributed to the ALS Generative AI initiative at EverythingALS. With a background in large language models, cognitive science, neuroscience, and computational modeling, she combines technical expertise with a deep commitment to advancing early detection and treatment strategies for neurological disease.
Julian Peller, MSc
Head of Data Science
Digital Biomarker Research Lead
Kaggle Code Grandmaster
EverythingALS
Julian Peller leads EverythingALS Data Science team of seven researchers focused on discovering digital biomarkers for early diagnosis and tracking progression of ALS. With over 15 years in the software industry, Julian brings a versatile, results-driven mindset shaped by diverse roles and projects. Holding an MSc in Computer Science, Julian is a Python expert and Kaggle Code Grandmaster specializing in Deep Learning and Foundational Models. Combining strong theoretical expertise with practical innovation, Julian applies advanced machine learning, deep learning, and statistical methods to multimodal data, aiming to drive transformative progress in digital health research.
Alan Taitz, Ph.D
Research Scientist, AI for Speech, Health & Biosensing
SRI International , EverythingALS Advisor
Alan Taitz is an advanced computer scientist at SRI International with over 10 years’ experience in statistical modeling and machine learning. His interdisciplinary expertise spans physics, neuroscience, speech and language research, and AI/ML. At SRI, he has contributed to government and commercial projects and holds three pending patents. At EverythingALS, Alan Taitz advises an analytics team developing digital biomarkers for clinical trials, collaborating with pharmaceutical partners and submitting an FDA COA Letter of Intent. His PhD focused on brain language processing and speech reconstruction. He is also passionate about education, teaching physics and machine learning.
Felipe Aguirre
Data Scientist, Specialist in Statistics for Health Sciences
EverythingALS
Felipe Aguirre is a Data Scientist at EverythingALS and a PhD candidate researching applications of artificial intelligence to neurodegenerative diseases, specializing in digital biomarkers for ALS. He develops machine learning models to measure disease progression using speech, gait, respiratory, and clinical data. His work includes predicting clinical outcomes, analyzing fall risk and survival, and validating remote assessment technologies. With a background in neuroscience, psychology, statistics, and artificial intelligence, Felipe combines clinical knowledge and computational methods to advance ALS research and digital health.
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