Highly Self-Motivated, Innovative Scientific Leader with strong expertise in CNS Targets Identification, Validation, Drug Discovery and Development. Strong background and extensive experience in Neurodegenerative/Neuromuscular Diseases (AD, PD, ALS/FTD, HD) and Neuropsychiatric Diseases (SCZ, ASD, AS). Extensive experience (14 years) in Neuro-immunological/Neuroinflammatory components of Neurological Disorders. Expertise in; mABs, ASO/siRNA, small molecules and large molecules. Successfully led highly productive multi-disciplinary cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment to generate high quality data to inform Go/NoGo decisions. Fosters agile approach to effectively monitor progress and strategically adjust approaches to ensure success of the plan. Communicates effectively to upper management as well as external stakeholders. As Associate Director at Arrakis Tx, I have proposed several New Drug Discovery Programs in Rare Neurological/Neuromuscular Disorders. Furthermore, I mentored and managed 2 direct reports (PhD level Scientists II). As Principal Scientist at Takeda Early Target Discovery, I'm in charge of proposal, evaluation and validation of novel target to feed Drug Discovery Programs pipeline related to the treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases. Furthermore, I defined and developed Neuroimmunology Modulation Strategy by outlining Budgets, Deliverables, Timelines and Resources. I also had been part of the collaboration with Denali Therapeutics aiming to Late Development and IND filing for ATV:TREM2 and PTV:PGRN . As Principal Scientist at Astellas Innovation Management (AIM), I'm in charge of proposal, development and management of Drug Discovery Programs related to the treatment of Neuropsychiatric Diseases. Previously, at Biogen under the mentorship of Prof. Richard Ransohoff, I led Exploratory and Drug Discovery Programs targeting microglial components to treat various Neurodegenerative Diseases. My recent studies have led me to the observation that BIN1, the most statistically significant locus associated to Late Onset Alzheimer's Disease, after ApoE, is implicated in the Tau proteostasis and clearance by Microglia. As a post-doc scholar under the mentorship of Prof. Christopher Glass, I investigated the role of microglia in the progression of Huntington’s Disease. and I have discovered that mutant Huntingtin, the protein responsible for Huntington's Disease, triggers cell-autonomous microglia activation and this ultimately impact neurons functionality in vivo (Crotti A. et al., Nat Neurosci. 2014).