Web http://www.draccon.comIndependent consultant providing orphan product strategy, development and operation services with a focus on epilepsy and neurodevelopmental syndromes. Experience with programs that have progressed from preclinical to Phase 3 trials and through marketing authorisation. Specific experience with clients:• Pipeline development / Disease strategy: support company strategy in rare epilepsies; identification of potential indications for client programs; competitive intelligence• Pipeline development: identification and evaluation of assets to in license; evaluation of academic programs for NewCo creation• Preclinical programs: set up preclinical model and characterization; in vitro and in vivo model design and interpretation; internal communication about best disease fit and program value• Clinical programs: advice on trial design, clinical outcome measures, clinical operations; source KOL feedback, identify SoC limitations, source patient data• Regulatory strategy: support with EMA orphan drug development• Market Access: planning for commercialization program and positioning; competitor scenario analysis and strategy for competitor response• Commercial product support: explore indication expansion• Communications: clinical education and communication strategy around commercial product• Patient engagement: advice on industry-patient partnerships and patient communications

Chief Development Officer Feb 2018 - October 2021Scientific Advisor October 2021 - August 2023Chief Development Officer September 2023-presentIdentified and managed regulatory and clinical efforts to de-risk the field and accelerate the development of treatments for CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder. Secured disease registration in medical classifications (MedDra, ICD-10), regulatory interactions (PFDD meeting), studies on clinical outcome measures, and set up a pre-competitive consortium with 7 bio-pharma partners around an endpoint-enabling study including FDA review (CANDID study).Web http://www.louloufoundation.org/

Accelerating the development of treatments for Phelan-McDermid syndrome (SHANK3).https://www.cureshank.org/

Helping develop treatments for an ultra-rare neurodevelopmental disorder (less than 10 patients described) caused by recessive mutations in the DHPS gene. Supporting therapeutic program development by the DHPS Foundation: https://www.dhpsfoundation.org/

Rethinking medicine at a cellular level. Drugging cell behavior to make common diseases treatable.

Development of drugs for drug-refractory epilepsy.

Expert evaluator for European Commission-funded programs:IMI, Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, IHI, Eurostars

Head of Technology and Innovation 2012-2013 as part-time volunteer while employed by UCB Pharma* Long-term research strategy and R&D project management around Dravet syndrome. * Hosted three international conferences on orphan epilepsies and Dravet syndrome (2014, 2015, 2019)* Published two of the largest epidemiological studies in Dravet syndrome collecting data directly from the patient community (Aras et al., 2015 and Lagae et al., 2018). * Removed barriers to preclinical research in Dravet syndrome by generating the first open-access mouse model for Dravet syndrome (Jax#26133; Ricobaraza et al., 2019, also mouse Jax#34129). My work led to the inclusion of the first genetic epilepsy model in the NINDS Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program, supporting multiple pharmaceutical programs. * First sponsor to ever obtain qualification advice from the EMA on an eHealth patient data platform for the capture of Patient-Reported Outcomes (EMA/327846/2016).

* Head of the cellular neurobiology lab. * Project Leader for three first-in-class discovery programs targeting epilepsy and neuropathic pain. * Managed internal multi-disciplinary project teams, including leading a cross-functional project team based in three countries under the UCB-Evotec drug discovery collaboration.

* Dept of Cellular & Physiological Sciences: molecular and cellular basis of brain plasticity.* Recipient of two postdoctoral fellowships from Europe (EMBO) and Canada (MSFHR) to investigate new therapies for the treatment of neurological diseases. * Received four national and international research awards including the prestigious Canadian CIHR Brain Star Award. * Inventor in two US provisional patent applications to promote neuronal plasticity and repair. * UBC Postdoctoral Association President and Career Development Chair.

* Faculty of Biology / Parc Cientific de Barcelona. Advisor: Prof. Jose Antonio (Toni) del Rio* Researched the contribution of myelin-associated proteins to preventing neuronal regeneration and their role in brain development. * 8 peer-reviewed publications (4 as first author).* Extraordinary Award to the best PhD thesis defended at the Faculty of Biology during the 2005-2006 academic year (Premio Extraordinario de Doctorado).