Science + Clinical
We are supported by world class scientists and medical professionals.
Scientific Advisors
Johan Auwerx, MD, PhD
Johan Auwerx, MD, PhD
Dr. Johan Auwerx is a pioneering scientist and co-founder of Vandria. As head of the Laboratory of Integrative Systems Biology at the EPFL, he has significantly advanced research in biomedicine, with an h-index of over 160. Johan has also founded and advised multiple biotech companies, including Mitobridge and OrsoBio, contributing to breakthroughs in our understanding of mitochondria and metabolic diseases.
Li-Huei Tsai, PhD
Li-Huei Tsai, PhD
Dr. Li-Huei Tsai is the Director of the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT and a Picower Professor of Neuroscience. She earned her PhD from the University of Texas Southwestern and completed postdoctoral work at Cold Spring Harbor and Massachusetts General Hospital. Tsai joined Harvard Medical School in 1994 and became a Howard Hughes investigator in 1997. She has been a professor at MIT since 2006, co-founding the Aging Brain Initiative in 2015 and co-directing the Alana Down Syndrome Center since 2019.
Carmen Sandi, PhD
Carmen Sandi, PhD
Dr. Carmen Sandi is a Professor at EPFL, leading research on brain function and behaviour, focusing on stress, motivation, social behaviours, and cognition. Her work emphasizes the role of brain mitochondria and metabolism, with studies on both rodents and humans. She aims to improve mental health and resilience in diverse populations. Carmen earned her PhD in neuroscience from the Cajal Institute in Madrid and has held postdoc positions in France and the UK. She has served as President of both the European Brain and Behaviour Society and the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies. Currently, she leads the Swiss Stress Network and Global Stress and Resilience Network.
Peter Sennhenn, PhD
Peter Sennhenn, PhD
Dr. Peter Sennhenn, a seasoned medicinal chemist and biotech entrepreneur, brings 30 years of expertise in drug discovery, specializing in kinase inhibitors, oncology, CNS, epigenetics, and redox-based therapeutics. With a PhD from the University of Heidelberg and postdoctoral training at Scripps Institute under Nobel laureate K. Barry Sharpless, he has led medicinal chemistry teams at Boehringer Ingelheim, GPC Biotech, Proteros, and Bioversys. In 2012, he founded transMedChem Consulting, aiding over 60 biotech startups globally in advancing drug discovery from hit identification to clinical candidate stages.
Michael Mark, PhD
Michael Mark, PhD
Dr. Michael Mark is a former Senior Vice President at Boehringer Ingelheim, where he led research on treatments for cardiometabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and obesity. He played a key role in developing drugs like linagliptin (Trajenta) and empagliflozin (Jardiance). With over 35 years in the pharmaceutical industry, he holds a PhD in Pharmacology and has authored numerous publications. Since 2020, he has been consulting for pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
Bernard Schneider, PhD
Bernard Schneider, PhD
Dr. Bernard Schneider is a leading neuroscientist with over 20 years of experience and 100+ publications on neurodegenerative diseases and the application of gene therapy in this field. As Head of the Bertarelli Gene Therapy Platform at EPFL and co-founder of Avrion Therapeutics, he continues to push the boundaries of gene therapy research, in particular for motoneuron diseases such as ALS.
Bernd Sommer, PhD
Bernd Sommer, PhD
Dr. Bernd Sommer is a seasoned leader in neuroscience, having led Alzheimer's and neurodegeneration research units at Novartis and Global Discovery Research in Neuroscience at Boehringer Ingelheim with latest focus on Precision Psychiatry. He has extensive experience in numerous central nervous system diseases and now serves as independent Scientific Advisor (at Pivotal Bioventure Partners), bringing deep insights into neurodegenerative research.
CNS Clinical Experts
Larry Erechefsky, PharmD
Larry Erechefsky, PharmD
Larry Ereshefsky is a distinguished clinical pharmacologist and CSO at CenExel Research and Follow the Molecule, LLC. With more than 130 peer-reviewed publications, he has held prominent roles in CNS clinical trials and regulatory consulting, including advising the FDA and NIMH. His 26 years career at the University of Texas supported the development of long acting and atypical antipsychotics, novel antidepressants, and the characterization of CYPs in drug metabolism and clinical response. Subsequently, his leadership also shaped early-phase clinical research and application of biomarkers in neuropsychiatric disorders.
Richard Keefe, PhD
Richard Keefe, PhD
Dr. Richard Keefe is an Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at Duke University and a leading expert in cognitive methods for psychiatric research. He has published over 300 scientific papers and co-founded VeraSci, where he served as CEO. Dr. Keefe has contributed to several landmark NIMH studies, solidifying his reputation in psychiatric and cognitive research.
David Walling, PhD
David Walling, PhD
Dr. David Walling is a licensed psychologist and Chief Clinical Officer at CenExel - CNS. With experience in over 600 clinical trials, including 100+ Phase 1 studies, he is an expert in cognition-focused trials. He has over 50 publications and his research has been presented at such meetings as the American Psychiatric Association, Schizophrenia International Research Society and the American Society for Clinical Psychopharmacology. Formerly an assistant professor at the University of Texas Medical Brach - Galveston, his clinical leadership continues to shape innovative research in psychiatry and behavioural sciences.
Steven Arnold, MD
Steven Arnold, MD
Dr. Steven Arnold is a Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and leads the Translational Neurology Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. An expert in clinical trials and biomarker discovery for Alzheimer's disease, he has been recognized as one of Philadelphia Magazine’s “Top Doctors” in neuropsychiatry.
Muscle Clinical Experts
Olivier Benveniste, MD
Olivier Benveniste, MD
Dr. Olivier Benveniste is the Head of the Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology, where he oversees research and patient care for autoimmune diseases. He also coordinates the National Myositis Network, bridging the gap between clinical research and therapeutic solutions.
Mazen Dimachkie, MD
Mazen Dimachkie, MD
Dr. Mazen Dimachkie is a Professor and Executive Vice Chair of Neurology at the University of Kansas Medical Center. As Chief of the Neuromuscular Division and Vice Chair for Research Programs, he leads research initiatives across the department, contributing to groundbreaking advancements in neuromuscular disorders.
