Cambridge, MA, May 30, 2024 – Lysoway Therapeutics, a leading discovery-stage biotech company dedicated to developing next-generation treatments for patients with neurodegenerative diseases, today proudly announces the appointment of Valerie Cullen, PhD as Senior Vice President and Head of Research and Translational Science.
Dr. Cullen brings a wealth of cross-functional experience as a research leader, translational medicine expert and company builder and has a proven track record of success in building and translating innovative therapeutic programs.
“We are thrilled to welcome Valerie to the executive leadership team of Lysoway Therapeutics,” said Yongchang Qiu, CEO, President and Co-Founder of the company. “Valerie brings deep expertise in lysosomal biology and neurological disease and has led complex CNS drug development programs at the intersection of research, translation and clinical development. Her leadership will be invaluable to Lysoway as we build our pipeline and navigate key milestones in 2024 and beyond.”
Dr. Cullen brings almost 25 years of operational and leadership experience in research and development, with particular emphasis on drug discovery for neurodegenerative disorders. Most recently, she served as SVP of Research at Expansion Therapeutics, where she built the research group and helped raise over $80M in VC funding. Prior to that, she served as Vice President, Translation and Development at Generian Pharmaceuticals, Inc. At Lysosomal Therapeutics, Inc. Dr. Cullen was Vice President, Program and Alliance Management and acted as program lead for a clinical-stage asset in Parkinson’s Disease. She previously held roles of increasing responsibility in NeuroPhage, Aldeyra Therapeutics and Link Medicine.
Dr. Cullen earned a PhD and BSc (Hons) in pharmacology from the University of Dublin, Ireland and held postdoctoral fellowships at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London and at the Center for Neurologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School. Her work has won various accolades including the Annals of Neurology Clinical Impact Award and she has been granted numerous patents worldwide for innovative therapies for neurological diseases.
“I’m delighted to join Lysoway’s executive team at this exciting juncture, as the organization advances towards delivering new treatment options for patients with neurodegenerative diseases,” said Dr. Cullen. “I look forward to making significant and meaningful contributions towards the company’s development of novel therapeutics with the potential to highly impact patient lives.”
About Lysoway Therapeutics
Lysoway Therapeutics is a leader in lysosomal ion channel disease biology. We have developed unique technological approaches to screen and develop potent modulators of lysosomal ion channels, including TRPML1 and TMEM175. These ion channels serve as vital transducers of cellular signals and play crucial roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis, particularly within the autophagy/lysosomal pathway, which is frequently disrupted in a number of pathological conditions. Lysoway’s small molecule modulators hold immense potential for restoring autophagy/lysosomal function, offering potential treatment for neurodegenerative diseases associated with lysosomal deficiency and other rare diseases characterized by toxic accumulation of cellular wastes.
Contact Info
info@lysoway.com
www.lysoway.com