
Join co-chairs, Dr. Robert Rissman and Dr. Nicholas Ashton for a focused scientific summit bringing together leading investigators, clinicians, and translational researchers to advance the future of synuclein biomarker development. This meeting will spotlight emerging hypotheses, active research programs, and key challenges limiting antemortem detection across Alzheimer’s disease–related dementias and movement disorders.
Through expert-led discussions, the summit aims to deepen understanding of synuclein pathology, ongoing therapeutic trials, and biomarker strategies to help accelerate earlier, more accurate detection.
Robert Rissman, PhD
Nicholas Ashton, PhD
Lea Grinberg, MD, PhD
Paul Aisen, MD
Luis Concha, PhD
Carlos Cruchaga, PhD
Sterling Johnson, PhD






Nicolas T. Seyfried, PhD





Thursday, April 9
9:00 am-4:30 pm: Main Session
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
Major Hypotheses in Synuclein Research Alzheimers Disease & Parkinsons Disease
Lea Grinberg, MD, PhD – Mayo Clinic
Session 1 (panel discussion): Clinical Standards for Synucleinopathies
Moderator: Robert Rissman, PhD – Epstein Family ATRI, USC
Panelists:
Paul Aisen, MD – Epstein Family ATRI, USC
Amy Kind, MD, PhD – University of Wisconsin
James Leverenz, MD – University of Washington
Ahmad Sajjadi, MD – UC Irvine School of Medicine
Lon Schneider, MD – USC Keck School of Medicine
Session 2: Synuclein Proteomics
Moderator: Steve Williams, MD, PhD – Alamar Biosciences
Speakers:
Carlos Cruchaga, PhD – Washington University School of Medicine
Nicholas Ashton, PhD – Banner Health
Nicolas T. Seyfried, PhD – Emory University School of Medicine
Session 3: Advances in Synuclein Biomarkers and Treatment
Moderator: Nicholas Ashton, PhD – Banner Health
Speakers:
Brian Spencer, PhD – Epstein Family ATRI, USC
Pam J. Mclean, PhD – Mayo Clinic
Duygu Tosun-Turgut, PhD – UCSF
Hartmuth Kolb, PhD – Enigma Biomedical USA
Session 4 (panel discussion): Biomarker Strategies for Therapeutic Development
Moderator: Sterling Johnson, PhD – University of Wisconsin
Panelists:
Joel Mathews, PhD – Ionis
Steve Williams, MD, PhD – Alamar Biosciences
Luis Concha, PhD – Amprion
Charbel Moussa, MBBS, PhD – Georgetown University Medical Center
Session 5 (panel discussion): Future Directions
Moderator: Nicholas Ashton & Robert Rissman
Panelists:
Lea Grinberg, MD, PhD – Mayo Clinic
Sterling Johnson, PhD – University of Wisconsin
Susan Landau, PhD – UC Berkeley
Kendall Van Keuren-Jensen, PhD – TGenSteve Williams, MD, PhD – Alamar Biosciences
4:30 pm: Closing Remarks & Adjourn
4:30-6:00 pm: Closing Reception
CSO
Dr. Willams serves as the company’s Chief Scientific Officer. He was previously Chief Medical Officer at Standard Biotools and at SomaLogic where he pioneered the discipline for discovery and validation of predictive, diagnostic and prognostic models using machine-learning applied to large-plex proteomics. 20 such tests were used for drug characterization, safety and efficacy when incorporated in clinical drug trials at Pharma/Biotech and 17 different multivariate tests were validated and translated into regulated healthcare uses. Prior to SomaLogic, Dr. Williams was at Pfizer in the UK and the USA as a clinical triallist in Translational Medicine, and subsequently as VP, Global Clinical Technology. He sat on the National Advisory Council for the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, the Executive Committee for the FNIH Biomarkers Consortium, and worked with FDA and PhRMA on developing evidentiary standards for biomarker qualification. Dr. William’s medical training was in London, at Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, followed by a PhD in medicine/physiology at the same institution and training in Radiology at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Steve is co-inventor on 26 proteomics patents and author/coauthor on multiple foundational proteomics manuscripts.
CFO
Mr. McAnear serves as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. He brings over 25 years of operational and financial leadership experience across various sectors and was instrumental in taking 10x Genomics public in 2019, serving as its CFO for over five years. Mr. McAnear served for over 3 years as Tesla’s VP of Worldwide Finance and Operations, supporting landmark initiatives such as the Model X and Model 3 launches and Solar City acquisition. He also held various roles at Apple and J&J earlier in his career and served as a naval officer and aviator for over 9 years.