Leadership

Karoly Nikolich is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Alkahest. During the 1980s, he led Genentech’s entry into neuroscience and led and participated in the development of numerous protein therapeutics. He was Vice President of Research at Lynx Therapeutics, co-founder of AGY Therapeutics, Amnestix, Neurofluidics, Chase Pharmaceuticals, Circuit Therapeutics, and Alkahest. He has served as venture partner with Pivotal BioVentures, and has been on the boards and scientific advisory boards at a number of neurotherapeutics and biotech companies, as well. Dr. Nikolich is a graduate of Eotvos University in Budapest and worked as postdoctoral fellow at Tulane University and UCSF before joining Genentech. He has been Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Stanford University Medical School.

Steven has extensive experience in therapeutic development in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. He previously led research at Circuit Therapeutics, drug discovery at Signum Biosciences, headed the cellular neurodegeneration group at Wyeth/Pfizer, and was a program leader at AGY Therapeutics. In these roles he has led both small molecule and biological research and development programs across a diverse range of indications in the field of neuroscience. Steven is a graduate of the University of Cambridge, UK, received his PhD from the University of Bristol, UK and performed postdoctoral work at Stanford University. He also serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Neurology at Rutgers University.

Tony Wyss-Coray, D. H. Chen Distinguished Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford University, is the Co-Director of the Stanford Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, and Senior Research Career Scientist at the Palo Alto VA. His lab studies brain aging and neurodegeneration with a focus on age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. The Wyss-Coray research team discovered that circulatory blood factors can modulate brain structure and function and factors from young organisms can rejuvenate old brains. These findings were voted 2^nd place Breakthrough of the Year in 2014 by Science Magazine and presented in talks at Global TED, the World Economic Forum, and Google Zeitgeist. Wyss-Coray is the recipient of an NIH Director’s Pioneer Award, a Zenith Award from the Alzheimer’s Association, a NOMIS Foundation Award, an inventor on multiple patents, and was selected by TIME Magazine to “The Health Care 50” as one of the most influential people transforming healthcare in 2018.

David Ian Bell is the Chief Innovation Officer for Grifols S.A. Additionally, he is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Grifols Innovation and New Technology Limited (GIANT). He also serves as General Counsel with responsibility for, among other things, mergers and acquisitions and new business development. Mr. Bell serves on Grifols Corporate, Strategy, Bioscience, Diagnostic and Hospital Management/Executive Committees and is on the Board of Directors of numerous Grifols’ portfolio companies. Mr. Bell is currently the Chairman of the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association. Prior to joining Grifols in 2003, Mr. Bell served as General Counsel and Vice President of Alpha Therapeutic Corporation following more than 20 years as a corporate lawyer specializing in healthcare, pharmaceutical and biotechnology regulation and liability. Mr. Bell attended the University of California, Irvine focusing on Psychobiology (Neuroscience), Southwestern University School of Law and a postgraduate program at Harvard Law School.

Mr. Tomás Dagá Gelabert has served as Director of Grifols, S.A. since April 2000 and also as Vice Secretary of the Board since May 2016. He is partner and founder of the law firm Osborne Clarke in Spain, he was the managing partner until June 2017 . Prior to joining Osborne Clarke, he worked in the corporate and tax department of Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co. in Barcelona. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Kiro Grifols, S.L., Araclon Biotech, S.L., Biomat USA, Inc., Chiquito Acquisition Corp., PBS Acquisition Corp., Grifols Innovation and New Technologies Limited, Talecris Plasma Resources, Inc., Grifols Diagnostic Solutions Inc. and Grifols Worldwide Operations Limited. He is also a trustee and the Secretary of the private foundation Víctor Grífols i Lucas, a trustee of the Probitas Fundación Privada foundation and the Secretary non-board member of the Board of Directors of Progenika Biopharma, S.A. Mr Dagá earned his degree in Law from the University of Barcelona (Universidad de Barcelona).