Melanie Leitner

Scientific Advisory Board Member

2020 - Current

Founder

2016

A solo consulting practice, Accelerating NeuroVentures provides strategic, advisory, programmatic, and business development services to investors, industry, and non-profit clients interested in funding, initiating, or advancing programs within the neuroscience translational space. Currently helping neuroscience clients in the industry and non-profit sectors to develop research and clinical infrastructure initiatives, develop and execute programs, develop strategic plans, strategically allocate resources, and grow scientific communications efforts.

Associate Director

2014 - 2016

Invited to join a newly created ALS team dedicated to developing new paradigms for testing ALS therapies, incorporating the latest advances in science, technology, and clinical trial design. •Study director for novel Methodology Study to identify new outcome measures for proof-of-concept studies •Assembled and led company-wide, cross-functional Communications Team responsible for all external and internal communications in support of ALS clinical development •Served as key member of clinical development and program teams, cross functional scientific team responsible for vetting scientific strategy, and business development team responsible for vetting potential collaborations and acquisitions •Authored 6 abstracts and publications, and served as invited speaker for multiple conferences and meetings

ALS Research Specialist (Consultant)

2013 - 2014

Invited to consult for a new $25M, 3-year initiative founded by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Dan Doctoroff, and David Rubenstein to streamline the discovery of new approaches to treating ALS, through the seeding of drug-development programs at pharmaceutical and biotech companies based on cutting-edge data generated by Target ALS-funded academic scientists. •Member of the leadership team •Supported two target-focused academic consortia •Provided knowledge of the ALS academic and industry landscapes to guide strategic decision-making •Introduced Target ALS to thought leaders in the field •Surveyed the ALS community to identify strategic gaps, obtain programmatic feedback, and inform resource allocation

Chief Scientific Officer

2008 - 2014

First full-time employee for a new, non-profit organization founded to accelerate the discovery of treatments and cures for ALS through the use of the incentive prize model. Chief Scientific Officer (2008-2014) Developed and managed organization’s programmatic strategy, including conceptualizing and launching all programmatic initiatives of the organization designed to fill translational gaps in ALS research and drug development. •Oversaw conduct and awarding of the $1M ALS Biomarker Prize Challenge. •Staff point of contact for Prize4Life’s Scientific Advisory Board and the Program Committee of Prize4Life’s Board of Directors. •Established relationships with relevant industry, academic, government, and foundation thought leaders in the neurodegeneration, drug development, and prize spaces, increasing awareness of Prize4Life and expanding its influence / ability to achieve its mission. •Managed 3 FTE’s (2 Scientific Program Officers and the Communications Officer). •Conceptualized, secured funding, and oversaw development of PRO-ACT, the world’s largest ALS clinical trials database of data from Phase II and Phase III ALS clinical trials. •Served as subject matter expert in preclinical ALS for the Northeast ALS Consortium, the Neurotechnology Industry Organization, Israel Brain Technologies, and multiple biotech companies. •Conceptualized, secured funding, and oversaw development of the ALS Research Forum website, which receives 2600+ hits/month from 100+ countries. •Conceptualized and oversaw development of the bi-weekly ALS Forum e-newsletter reporting on the latest ALS research and industry news, which currently has 1000+ subscribers.

Chief Operating Officer

2007 - 2010

Responsible for establishing all operational aspects of a start-up, non-profit organization, including growing the organization to a staff of 7 FTEs. •Coordinated team of volunteers and contractors to establish processes. •Responsible for hiring process (developing job description, solicitation, and interviewing). •Oversaw establishment and management of organizational ($1M) budget. •Performed AP/AR functions and tracked expenses.

Program Officer

2005 - 2007

Project Manager for a newly established boutique consulting firm focused on developing digital interactive tools to enable distributed collaborations in the neuroscience and mental health space • Project Lead for a $1 million small business contract from the NIMH • Successfully coordinated a team of program staff, consultants, and software engineers, including establishing development timetable and overseeing all software testing, to achieve program goals • Developed proposal concept, wrote, submitted, and obtained Phase I SBIR contracts to create virtual international networks of researchers in suicide prevention and drug addiction

Program Director

2004 - 2005

First program staff member responsible for spearheading many of the initial programs of a start-up non-profit "action tank" working across sectors and diseases to accelerate the process by which advances in science and technology are turned into meaningful medical solutions for patients.

Director, Department of Educational Programs

2003 - 2004

First Director of a newly established department responsible for all society initiatives related to member education, professional development, and public outreach for this 34,000 member professional society.

AAAS Science Policy Fellow

2001 - 2003

Received competitive national science policy fellowships to work in Congress and at USAID •Key staff member responsible for tracking, research, and development of policy initiatives in the areas of stem cells and cloning, bioterrorism, dietary supplements, and mental health •Researched, proposed, and organized the first Senate hearing on the stimulant ephedra, which was banned by the FDA in 2004; advised on ephedra-related press statements and media interviews •Coordinated international scientific grants programs for collaborative development grants in the Middle East and Central Asian Republics