BioInnovations in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases: Guiding the Future of Diagnosis and Treatment

Wednesday, April 16, 2025
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. CDT

Register Now

Rosalind Franklin University Presenter and Panelist

• Grace “Beth” Stutzmann, PhD, Professor and Director
  Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and Therapeutics

Rosalind Franklin University Panelist

• Vidyadhara D J, PhD, Assistant Professor Neuroscience
  Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and Therapeutics 
  

Industry Panelists

• Ole Graff, MD, Executive Medical Director, Neuroscience Clinical Development
  AbbVie
• Jim Sullivan, PhD, President and CEO
  Vanqua Bio

Moderator

• Michael S Rosen, MBA, Managing Director, IRP and Helix 51 Incubator
  Rosalind Franklin University 

Grace “Beth” Stutzmann, PhD 

Dr. Stutzmann’s research interests are focused on investigating the early neuronal pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) using transgenic mouse models and human neurons derived from AD patients. She aims to understand how AD mutations affect neuronal functioning and synaptic plasticity, leading to cognitive decline. By targeting mechanisms upstream of amyloid and tau pathology, such as dysregulated calcium-mediated signaling pathways, she hopes to develop novel therapeutic strategies to prevent memory impairment. Her approach combines basic disease mechanism studies with drug discovery, utilizing innovative techniques like in vitro electrophysiology and live-cell imaging. With a strong academic background and affiliations with various institutions and organizations, including her role as a professor and a director of the center for neurodegenerative disease research, she is actively involved in advancing our understanding of AD and developing potential treatments.

Vidyadhara D J, PhD

Dr. Vidyadhara D J’s lab is dedicated to understanding the mechanisms behind synaptic degeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD) and aging, aiming to improve the lives of those affected by these conditions. The team focuses on how genetic and environmental factors, alongside aging, contribute to the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, with a focus on the presynaptic endolysosomal system. Through three key studies, the team explores the role of presynaptic endocytosis, synaptic vesicle recycling, and autophagy in PD, examines the influence of genetic and environmental risk factors, and investigates how aging affects different neuronal types. Utilizing a variety of advanced techniques, including mouse models, iPSC neurons, histopathology, biochemistry, and collaboration with clinicians and other research labs, the team is working to translate their findings into tangible relief for patients. The lab fosters an inclusive environment that values diversity in research and perspectives.

Ole Graff, MD

Dr. Graff joined AbbVie in early 2020 and serves as executive medical director forneuroscience clinical development. Dr. Graff has more than 30 years worth of experience and contribution, across multiple therapeutic areas. Before joining AbbVie, Dr. Graff served in various roles with GSK and Pfizer, covering multiple therapeutic areas across early and late-stage development. To augment his experience in pharmaceuticals, Dr. Graff spent half a decade as the head of clinical development and regulatory affairs for Neurosearch, a Danish biotech company. Dr. Graff earned his MD from the University of Copenhagen and began his residency in cardiology with the University Hospital system in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Jim Sullivan, PhD

Dr. Sullivan is co-founder and CEO of Vanqua. In addition, he has been a venture partner with Orbimed since January 2019. Previously, he was the vice president of research at Abbvie where he was responsible for the company’s research efforts in a variety of therapeutic/disease areas, including oncology, immunology, neurology, hepatitis C and cystic fibrosis. Dr. Sullivan has advanced more than 100 compounds into clinical development across a number of disease states and technology platforms. These include products on the market for HCV (Mavyret and Viekira), the first-in-class Bcl2 selective inhibitor, Venclexta, for hematological cancers, a new oral agent for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, RINVOQ, and multiple compounds currently in Phase II or III clinical trials. He has authored/co-authored more than 130 scientific publications and is an inventor on 11 patents. Dr. Sullivan is an adjunct faculty member at Northwestern University and serves on the board of several companies and foundations, including Regis Technologies, Genomics Medicine Ireland, Genuity Science, MATTER Healthcare Incubator, Chicago Biotechnology Accelerator and the Pistoia Alliance. He earned his bachelor’s degree and PhD in biochemistry from Trinity College Dublin and conducted post-doctoral research in neurobiology at Northwestern University.