SAN DIEGO, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- BrainCells Inc., a company leading the scientific research of neurogenesis using its proprietary neural stem cell platform technology to identify novel pathways for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, announced the appointment of Drs. Edward Scolnick from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and David Holtzman of Washington University School of Medicine to its scientific advisory board. The appointees join BrainCells’ advisory boards comprised of world-class scientists of neurogenesis and CNS disease. Existing board members represent The Salk Institute, Columbia University, Stanford University, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital.
“Ed and David are two highly esteemed and accomplished neuroscientists; a great honor for the company and a validation of our research in neurogenesis,” said Jim Schoeneck, chief executive officer of BrainCells Inc. “Their backgrounds in research and drug development will be invaluable as we prioritize clinical applications for our assets. In the past five years, we’ve screened more than 1,000 compounds against 150 novel and known mechanisms, moved neurogenic compounds into Phase 2 clinical trials and identified several preclinical candidates.”
Dr. Edward Scolnick is an internationally recognized thought leader in neuroscience research. He currently serves as director of the Psychiatric Disease Program and the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute, focused on identifying risk genes for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Prior to joining the Broad Institute, Dr. Scolnick spent more than 20 years with Merck in various positions including president of Merck Research Laboratories. He has also worked at the National Cancer Institute and National Heart Association. Dr. Scolnick is a member of National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Institute of Medicine. He served on the board of Directors at Merck & Co., Inc. from 1997 to 2002 and is a current board member for Millipore Corporation and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Scolnick holds an A.B. from Harvard College and an M.D. from Harvard University Medical School.
Dr. David Holtzman is the Andrew B. and Gretchen P. Jones Professor and Chairman of Neurology, Professor of Developmental Biology, Associate Director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, and a member of the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders at Washington University School of Medicine. His research focuses on understanding basic mechanisms underlying acute and chronic cell dysfunction in the CNS, particularly how mechanisms may relate to Alzheimer’s disease and injury to the developing brain. Prior to Washington University, Dr. Holtzman established the Memory and Cognitive Disorders Clinic at UCSF. Over the course of his career Dr. Holtzman has been recognized with the Paul Beeson Physician Faculty Scholar Award in Aging Research, the Potamkin Prize from the American Academy of Neurology for research on Alzheimer’s, election to the American Society for Clinical Investigation, recipient of a MERIT award from the NIA, the MetLife award on Alzheimer’s disease and election to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Holtzman holds a B.S. and M.D. from Northwestern University.
About BrainCells Inc.
BrainCells Inc. (BCI) is a drug discovery and development company leading the scientific research of neurogenesis by applying its robust and proprietary platform technology to identify novel pathways for new therapeutics to treat various central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Neurogenesis is the process by which endogenous stem cells in the adult human brain produce new brain tissue, including neurons. With its predictive screening platform, BCI can direct the selection and development of neurogenic compounds, increasing the opportunity for successful clinical trials in a variety of indications. For more information, visit http://www.braincellsinc.com.
SOURCE BrainCells Inc.
CONTACT: Kim Richards of Porter Novelli Life Sciences, +1-619-849-5377,
krichards@pnlifesciences.com, for BrainCells Inc.
Web site: http://www.braincellsinc.com/
