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Michael Ehlers
Chief Scientific Officer and neuroscience researcher
Michael Ehlers is a prominent figure in the biopharmaceutical industry, currently serving as the Chief Scientific Officer and General Partner at ATP (Apple Tree Partners), a leading life sciences venture capital firm.13
Professional Background
Dr. Ehlers has had an illustrious career spanning academia and industry:
Academic Career::
- He was a professor and investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Duke University Medical Center.2
- As the George Barth Geller Professor of Neurobiology at Duke, he focused on neuronal organelles and the trafficking of neurotransmitter receptors.3
- He has authored over 100 scientific papers and served on multiple editorial boards and advisory boards for organizations including the National Institutes of Health.2
Industry Experience::
- Before joining ATP, Dr. Ehlers was the Executive Vice President for Research and Development at Biogen.13
- At Biogen, he led discovery sciences, translational medicine, clinical development, and regulatory sciences, focusing on neurological, immunological, and rare diseases.2
- Prior to Biogen, he served as the Biotherapeutics Group Senior Vice President and Neuroscience Chief Scientific Officer at Pfizer.23
Education and Early Life
- Dr. Ehlers holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology.23
- He received his M.D. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.23
- Born in Germany and raised in rural Nebraska, he developed an early interest in science through collecting insects and rocks.3
Achievements and Contributions
At Biogen, Dr. Ehlers:
- Expanded and diversified the clinical portfolio
- Transformed research and development productivity
- Advanced more than 20 novel clinical candidates
- Oversaw the approval of Spinraza® for spinal muscular atrophy and Vumerity® for multiple sclerosis
- Advanced development programs for Leqembi® for Alzheimer's disease and Qalsody® for ALS2
At Pfizer, he:
- Created and advanced neuroscience and rare disease portfolios
- Directed global development activities in biologics
- Successfully brought 22 compounds into the clinic2
Personal Interests
Dr. Ehlers plays the French horn and piano, showcasing his diverse talents beyond the scientific realm.3
Highlights
Ascidian announced today that we received IND clearance for ACDN-01, the first-ever RNA exon editing candidate. I invite you to read my article on what this milestone means for Stargardt disease patients, Ascidian, and the field of gene editing medicines. #RNAExonEditing https://lnkd.in/eCVWGiJX
