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Dr. Rita Balice-Gordon is the CSO of a newly formed biotech company focused on disease modifying therapies for neurodegenerative diseases and neuroinflammation, currently in ‘stealth’ mode, with seed funding secured. Prior to taking on this role, Dr. Balice-Gordon was the Global Head, Rare and Neurologic Diseases Research Therapeutic Area at Sanofi, Inc. for several years. She led groups of ~200 scientists based in Boston and Paris working on a portfolio of ca. 30 pre-clinical and early development stage projects using small molecules, antibodies and gene therapy as modalities for innovative and transformative therapeutics for patients with rare genetic disorders including lysosomal storage disorders, inborn errors of metabolism and renal and musculoskeletal diseases; Multiple Sclerosis; Parkinson’s Disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Before joining Sanofi, she was formerly Vice-President and Head of Circuits, Neurotransmitters and Signaling in Pfizer’s Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, led small molecule and biologics programs in the psychiatry and pain portfolios, including several assets to Ph1-Ph2a, and was Head of the Worldwide Research and Development Postdoctoral Program there. Rita has consulted on the creation of several NewCos, and partnered with business development colleagues to spin out several assets into NewCos. Prior to her career in biopharma, Rita was Professor of Neuroscience and Chair of the Neuroscience Graduate Group in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where she currently holds an appointment as Adjunct Professor.