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July 30, 2025 38 mins

In this episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, Ayesha speaks with Stella Sarraf, PhD, founder, CEO and director of Spinogenix, a company pioneering neurodegenerative therapeutics designed to restore synapses with the potential to reverse cognitive and motor decline in conditions such as ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and other neurological disorders.

Dr. Sarraf shares the scientific inspiration behind Spinogenix’s novel approach and how the company is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in neuroscience.

With a career spanning big pharma (Merck), venture capital (Foresite Capital, Prospect Ventures) and multiple biotech startups, Dr. Sarraf brings a unique and visionary perspective to the translational challenges of drug development.

In 2013, Dr. Sarraf founded Amydis, a company developing ocular tracers for digital detection of neurodegenerative diseases. She then founded Spinogenix in 2016 to focus on developing novel neurodegenerative therapeutics.

Dr. Sarraf has a PhD in organic chemistry from Columbia University and a BA in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of California, Berkeley.

Tune in to hear Dr. Sarraf discuss the urgent unmet needs in neurodegeneration, what makes Spinogenix’s approach different from traditional neuroprotective therapies and how restoring synaptic function could change the trajectory of these diseases. Dr. Sarraf also reflects on her journey as a scientist-turned-entrepreneur and the importance of resilience, adaptability and patient-driven innovation in biotech.

For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/

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