About

Ed Boyden is Y. Eva Tan Professor in Neurotechnology at MIT, an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the MIT McGovern Institute, and professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Media Arts and Sciences, and Biological Engineering at MIT. He leads the Synthetic Neurobiology Group, which develops tools for analyzing and repairing complex biological systems, such as the brain, and applies them systematically to reveal ground truth principles of biological function and to repair these systems. He co-directs the MIT Center for Neurobiological Engineering and the K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics, and is a faculty member of the MIT Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Computational & Systems Biology Initiative, and Koch Institute.

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Ed received his Ph.D. in neurosciences from Stanford University as a Hertz Fellow. In parallel to his PhD, as an independent side project, he co-invented optogenetic control of neurons, which is now used throughout neuroscience. Previously, he studied chemistry at the Texas Academy of Math and Science at the University of North Texas, starting college at age 14, where he worked on origins of life chemistry. He went on to earn three degrees in electrical engineering and computer science, and physics, from MIT, graduating at age 19, while working on quantum computing for his Masters of Engineering thesis.

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Ed is the recipient of the Wilhelm Exner Medal (2020), the Croonian Medal (2019), the Canada Gairdner International Award (2018), the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2016), the Grete Lundbeck Brain Prize (2013) and numerous other recognitions. He was named to the World Economic Forum Young Scientist list (2013) and the Technology Review World’s "Top 35 Innovators under Age 35" list (2006), and is an elected member of the US National Academy of Sciences (2019).

Professor Li-Huei Tsai is the Director of the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory and a Picower Professor of Neuroscience, both at MIT, and an Associate Member of the Broad Institute. She obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and completed her postdoctoral training at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories and Massachusetts General Hospital. Tsai became Assistant Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School and was promoted to tenured Professor in 2002. She relocated to MIT in 2006. She was an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute from 1997 to 2013.

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Tsai is also a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, a Member of the National Academy of Medicine, an Academician of the Academia Sinica in Taiwan, and a Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Tsai is interested in elucidating the pathogenic mechanisms underlying neurological disorders that impact learning and memory. She is a recipient of the Mika Salpeter Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2018 Hans Wigzell Research Foundation Science Prize. In 2022 she was named a Visiting Professor of the Vallee Foundation.

Christian Howell is an accomplished healthcare executive with over 20 years of leadership experience spanning startups and large corporations. As CEO of Cognito Therapeutics, he drives the company’s mission to transform the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases through non-invasive sensory stimulation. Under his leadership, Cognito is advancing its groundbreaking Spectris technology to improve cognitive performance and enhance patient outcomes.

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Christian’s career began as an officer in the U.S. Navy, where he developed a commitment to driving meaningful social impact, an ethos that has guided his leadership in the medical device sector. His expertise includes business development, market expansion, and commercial strategy. Prior to Cognito, he led Emerging Channels at Aetion, forging strategic partnerships and playing a pivotal role in securing Series C funding. At Medtronic, he pioneered value-based care initiatives, overseeing P&L and implementing innovative commercial models.

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A sought-after speaker at institutions like Harvard, MIT, and the G20, Christian is recognized for his ability to cultivate partnerships across healthcare ecosystems. His leadership at Cognito fosters a culture of innovation, excellence, and collaboration, positioning the company at the forefront of neurological therapeutics.

Ralph Kern MD MHSc is currently Chief Medical Officer at Cognito Therapeutics. Previously he was President and Chief Medical Officer at BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics. Prior industry experience includes SVP and head of the global medical organization at Biogen; VP and head of the US Neuroscience Medical Unit at Novartis; and General Manager of the Fabrazyme biologics franchise at Genzyme.

Prior to joining the biotechnology industry, Ralph was head of the academic neurology program at the University of Toronto and led the clinical neurophysiology department at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.

Ralph completed undergraduate education in neurophysiology at McGill University in Montreal Quebec, an MD from Queens’ University in Kingston Ontario, post-graduate neurology training at McGill University and the University College London UK, as well as a research fellowship in pediatric epilepsy and EEG at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Ralph completed the MHSc program in Health Administration from the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto in 2003.

Steve Worthy is a cross-functional healthcare executive and strategic advisor. Currently serving as the Chief Business & Financial Officer at Cognito Therapeutics, Steve has over a decade of experience leveraging disruptive technologies and innovative business models to improve health outcomes and reduce inefficient healthcare spending. Before joining Cognito, he was Senior Vice President of Corporate & Business Development at Aetion, and prior to that, he was a Vice President in J.P. Morgan's Global Healthcare Coverage Group.
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In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Steve serves on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Tech Fund at Michigan Technological University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. He also holds an MBA from the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

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Robbert Zusterzeel, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., currently serves as the Chief Clinical & Regulatory Officer at Cognito Therapeutics. Dr. Zusterzeel previously held the role of Vice President of Regulatory Science & Strategy at Woebot Health, where he oversaw clinical development and operations, regulatory strategy, quality assurance, medical device safety, medical affairs, and organizational change management, contributing significantly to the company’s maturation. His career includes senior leadership positions at IQVIA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He has actively contributed to public-private partnerships, particularly in digital health policy, software as a medical device (SaMD), and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML).

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Dr. Zusterzeel earned his M.D. and Ph.D. from Maastricht University in the Netherlands and an M.P.H. in Epidemiology from Harvard University. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. His expertise spans clinical development, digital health policy, real-world evidence, and healthcare innovation. Dr. Zusterzeel is deeply committed to mentoring and educating future leaders in medical devices, regulatory science, and digital health, while advancing transformative innovation in the healthcare landscape.

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Pritesh Shah, PharmD, brings over 20 years of experience in healthcare and medical devices, with expertise in commercial leadership, product and market development, and enterprise-wide strategy. Prior to Cognito, Pritesh was Chief Growth Officer and Chief Commercial Officer at Novocure, where he led global commercial and patient operations, drove revenue growth in key markets, and advanced the company’s pipeline.

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Pritesh has previously held leadership roles in commercial and medical affairs at Roche/Genentech, Bristol Myers Squibb, and OSI Oncology, where he played a critical role in launching and expanding access to innovative therapies. He holds a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Maryland and has pursued advanced studies in leadership and communication at Seton Hall University and the Yale School of Management. In addition to his executive experience, Pritesh serves as a strategic advisor and board member, contributing to growth and innovation across the healthcare and technology sectors.

Kimberly leads Communications at Cognito Therapeutics. She is founder and CEO of KKH Advisors, a life sciences and digital health strategic communications firm. She was previously Senior Director at FTI Consulting, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Capital Markets, where she advised a broad range of clients from Fortune 500 to early-stage companies on business transformation, corporate and executive positioning, crisis and issues management, and financial communications with a focus on IPO readiness.

Prior to FTI Consulting (NYSE: FCN), a global business advisory firm, she was Global Editor at BioPharm Insight, a business intelligence product launched by the Financial Times Group. She started her career as an M&A reporter in Hong Kong covering Asia-Pacific healthcare and transferred to New York to cover US pharmaceuticals in 2007. She has been a guest lecturer at Columbia University and Georgetown University on change management communications and a guest speaker at Weill Cornell Medicine Bioventure eLab. She has a BA in Psychology from New York University.