Cenoxsys is a startup biotechnology and consulting company focused on small molecule discovery for central nervous system diseases with unmet medical need. We currently have programs in Alzheimer's and other aging-related disease, and in ALS. To advance this effort, Cenoxsys is developing a cutting edge computational system to support small molecule drug discovery. See www.cenoxsys.com.

AlsGen was a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development ofdrugs for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases.Under my direction, AlsGen discovered and successfully promoted the first treatment for superoxide dismutase (SOD1) familial ALS, pyrimethamine, which is now in clinical trials.• Responsible for the strategic scientific focus of the company. Primary responsibility for all activities focused on the discovery, and characterization of small molecules to reduce SOD1 protein levels in ALS and other diseases.- Establishment of the drug discovery effort via hiring, training, and management of personnel (direct responsibility for up to five Ph.D. managers)- Establishment of in silico evaluation of physicochemical characteristics of small-molecules and biologicals- Development of appropriate secondary assays (mechanistic, selectivity, and functional analyses)- Establishment of SOPs for profiling assays, data analysis and reporting- Establishment of all in-house pharmacokinetic capabilities• Established and managed key outside academic collaborations:- Collaboration 1: Proof of concept for phase 1 clinical trial of pyrimethamine in familial ALS - Weill Cornell - Collaboration 2: Proof of concept for phase 1 international clinical trial and biomarker analyses in Sweden and Iceland • Periodic data presentation and updates to the Board of Directors• Frequent presentations at domestic and international scientific conferences• Preparation of regulatory documents (INDs) and participated in meetings with the FDA-Initiated, developed, and maintained collaborations with international thought leaders in the areas of ALS and neurology.• Designed and directed the IND-enabling studies and engaged clinical investigators in the conduct of the clinical studies.• Proposed and validated clinical biomarkers for drug efficacy measurement.• Member of the AlsGen board of directors.

Developed high throughout robotic screening approaches to study the etiology of spinal motor atrophy Developed high throughput screening assays to discover small molecules, natural products, and biologics for the treatment of spinal motor atrophy. Implemented and developed high content intracellular imaging assays to study heteronuclear ribonuclear proteins, their trafficking, and relevance to spinal motor atrophy. Designed the mouse model of SMN protein mutation.

Provided guidance, project management, and thought leadership on multiple gene-to-screen projects focused on the discovery of small-molecule pesticides (GPCRs, enzymes, and ion channels), receiving multiple awards for scientific accomplishment.• Guided an interdisciplinary senior management team in evaluating and approving new GPCR targets.• Optimized screening process and reduced personnel by acquiring robotics with walk-away automation capability.• Championed new assay technologies and supported the acquisition of a new, multifunction reader.• Initiated the first screen at FMC in the 384-well format and led the reformatting of FMC’s library into 384-well format.• Oversaw, mentored, and trained personnel in developing, running, and automating assays and protocols.

Led a group investigating the differentiation of stem cells for the treatment of neurological disease using high-throughput robotic technology; established key academic collaborations to obtain intellectual property and other technologies.Designed a clean room robotics system for high throughput screening to identify agents to drive the differentiation of stem cells to clinically useful phenotypes. Robotics were featured on the cover of Genetic Engineering News.

Led a group focused on the discovery of drugs for neurological and psychiatric disease. • Initiated the beta amyloid deposition model in mice and rats for the evaluation of Abeta aggregation inhibitors. Developed behavioral and histological endpoints to determine drug efficacy• Initiated the Johnson & Johnson programs on Parkinson’s disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob (CJD) disease• Established collaboration with NIH for the study of CJD• Managed the NK-1 in vivo program that resulted in a candidate drug entering clinical development• Contributed significantly to the NOP program that resulted in one development candidate entering proof of concept trials • Participated in due diligence studies for the evaluation of neurology, psychiatry and dermatology drugs

• Led the discovery of new molecular targets for advancing the treatment of alcoholism, depression, and other neuropsychiatric diseases; included extensive publishing and grant funding from federal, NIH, and foundations.• Developed drug screening technology (pluripotent mouse P19 cell line) that was successfully transferred to Johnson and Johnson’s drug discovery program.• Mentored and trained postdoctoral fellows and undergraduate students.• Studied stress and the regulation of the hypothalamic pituitary axis.