CNS Discovery Xchange - Boston - 2026

Target Discovery

Innovating approaches to measure target engagement in the CNS

09:05 – 10:05
- Target Discovery
Shane Hegarty, CSO - Axonis Therapeutics
Target Discovery

Validation strategies for novel CNS targets: From molecular mechanism to therapeutic candidate

16:05 – 17:05
- Target Discovery
Daniel Klamer, Vice President (Business Development & Scientific Strategy) - Anavex Life Sciences
Registration

08:00 – 08:30
- Target Discovery
- Disease Models
- Novel Modalities
- Blood Brain Barrier
- Biomarkers in Discovery
Opening Address & Keynote Presentation: The Brain–Nose Interface: A Gateway to CNS Pathology

08:30 – 09:00
- Target Discovery
- Disease Models
- Novel Modalities
- Blood Brain Barrier
- Biomarkers in Discovery
Marion San Nicoló, Chief Medical Officer - noselab
1-2-1 Meetings / Networking Break

10:40 – 11:10
- Target Discovery
- Disease Models
- Novel Modalities
- Blood Brain Barrier
- Biomarkers in Discovery
1-2-1 Meetings / Networking Break

10:10 – 10:40
- Target Discovery
- Disease Models
- Novel Modalities
- Blood Brain Barrier
- Biomarkers in Discovery
Morning Refreshments

11:10 – 11:20
- Target Discovery
- Disease Models
- Novel Modalities
- Blood Brain Barrier
- Biomarkers in Discovery
Networking Lunch

12:20 – 13:20
- Target Discovery
- Disease Models
- Novel Modalities
- Blood Brain Barrier
- Biomarkers in Discovery
Spotlight Presentation: Seeing Both the Drug and the Biology: A New Framework for Drug Development

13:25 – 13:55
- Target Discovery
- Disease Models
- Novel Modalities
- Blood Brain Barrier
- Biomarkers in Discovery
Mark Lim, Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer - AmberGen
1-2-1 Meetings / Networking Break

14:30 – 15:00
- Target Discovery
- Disease Models
- Novel Modalities
- Blood Brain Barrier
- Biomarkers in Discovery
1-2-1 Meetings / Networking Break

14:00 – 14:30
- Target Discovery
- Disease Models
- Novel Modalities
- Blood Brain Barrier
- Biomarkers in Discovery
Evening Drinks Reception

17:05 – 18:05
- Target Discovery
- Disease Models
- Novel Modalities
- Blood Brain Barrier
- Biomarkers in Discovery
Afternoon Refreshments

15:20 – 15:30
- Target Discovery
- Disease Models
- Novel Modalities
- Blood Brain Barrier
- Biomarkers in Discovery
Spotlight Presentation: Olfactory Neurons as a Longitudinal, Molecular Window Into Patient Brain Biology

15:05 – 15:20
- Target Discovery
- Disease Models
- Novel Modalities
- Blood Brain Barrier
- Biomarkers in Discovery
Alexey Kadet, Chief Business Officer - Crownlands
Disease Models

Overcoming the translational gap between preclinical CNS models and human outcomes

09:05 – 10:05
- Disease Models
Lorelei Stoica, Lorelai Stoica, Executive Director, Nonclinical Research, Ultragenyx - Ultragenyx
Disease Models

Addressing an important challenge faced: Why over-reliance on rare genetic mutation models is misleading sporadic CNS drug discovery

11:20 – 12:20
- Disease Models
Barbara Calamini, Senior Director - Eli Lilly and Company
Novel Modalities

From Surrogates to Signals: Are We Finally Reading the Brain in Real Time?

11:20 – 12:20
- Novel Modalities
Peter Fruhstorfer, Chief Executive Officer - noselab
Novel Modalities

Applying AI-driven chemistry to accelerate novel modality design

16:05 – 17:05
- Novel Modalities
Anil Tarachandani, Vice President and Head of Translational Medicine - Verge Genomics
Blood Brain Barrier

The cell secretome approach to bypass the blood brain barrier

09:05 – 10:05
- Blood Brain Barrier
Larry Brown, Executive Vice President & Chief Scientific Officer - Noveome
Blood Brain Barrier

Optimizing CNS penetration while minimizing systemic toxicity

11:20 – 12:20
- Blood Brain Barrier
Jenny Greig, SVP, Head of Operations - Franklin Biolabs
Blood Brain Barrier

Poster Presentation: Brain-Wide Cellular-Resolution Analysis of Antibody Therapeutic Distribution, Target Engagement and Phenotypic Efficacy

15:30 – 16:00
- Blood Brain Barrier
Damian Wheeler, CEO - Translucence Biosystems
Blood Brain Barrier

Targeting delivery of gene therapies for CNS indications

16:05 – 17:05
- Blood Brain Barrier
Henry Lee, Co-Founder - Galibra Neuroscience
Biomarkers in Discovery

Poster Presentation: Integrated Same-Cell Multiomics Profiling with Xenium In Situ Reveals a Neuron-Associated Proliferative Tumor Subpopulation in Glioblastoma

15:30 – 16:00
- Biomarkers in Discovery
Caroline Petersen, Science & Technology Advisor - 10x Genomics
Biomarkers in Discovery

Disease heterogeneity: Matching biomarkers to diverse CNS disorder subtypes

09:05 – 10:05
- Biomarkers in Discovery
Ricardo Noel Ramirez, Chief Scientific Officer - MED13L Foundation