Boston, MA (US) and London (UK) –June 28th 2023. The Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF), the world’s largest family of specialized venture capital funds dedicated to investing in novel treatments for neurodegenerative disorders causing dementia, is delighted to announce the addition of Prof. Michael Heneka to its esteemed team of scientific advisors. Prof. Heneka, a distinguished neuroscientist and expert in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will significantly enhance the fund's mission to accelerate the development of innovative therapies.
With over two decades of research experience, Prof. Heneka has made significant contributions to understanding the underlying mechanisms of neuroinflammation and its role in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. His ground-breaking work has shed light on the interplay between the immune system and the brain, opening new avenues for therapeutic interventions.
Prof. Heneka currently serves as the Director of the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), where his research focuses on the intricate relationship between brain inflammation, the aging process, and neurodegeneration. He has published extensively in renowned scientific journals, and his work has garnered widespread recognition and acclaim from the scientific community.
As a scientific advisor to the Dementia Discovery Fund, Prof. Heneka will lend his deep scientific expertise and clinical insights as a board-certified neurologist to help identify promising research and ground-breaking approaches to dementia treatment. His deep understanding of the biological mechanisms involved in neurodegeneration make him an invaluable addition to the fund's scientific advisory team.
"We are thrilled to welcome Prof. Heneka to the Dementia Discovery Fund as a scientific advisor," said Dr. Christian Jung, Partner at the Dementia Discovery Fund. "His unrivalled expertise in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in the area of neuroinflammation, will be instrumental in driving our efforts to accelerate the development of innovative treatments for dementia. Prof. Heneka's profound dedication to improving patient outcomes aligns perfectly with our mission, and we are excited to collaborate with him to accelerate meaningful impact in this field."
Prof. Heneka expressed his enthusiasm for joining the Dementia Discovery Fund, stating, "I am honoured to be part of the Dementia Discovery Fund and to contribute to their mission of advancing novel therapies for dementia. By working together, we can accelerate the development of innovative approaches to tackle this urgent global health challenge. I look forward to collaborating with the fund's exceptional team to drive meaningful progress in dementia R&D."
Prof. Michael Heneka, M.D.
Prof. Heneka studied medicine at the University of Tübingen. He received clinical training in Neurology at the University of Tübingen, University of Münster and the University of Bonn. From 2016 to 2021, he directed the Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Gerontopsychiatry-Neurology at the University Hospital Bonn and led the Neurodegenerative Disease unit at the Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), one of the largest research institutes worldwide to focus on understanding the causes of diseases of the brain and the central nervous system. From January 2022 onwards, he became the Director of the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) at the University of Luxembourg and Principal Investigator in the Neuroinflammation group. LCSB is accelerating biomedical research by closing the link between systems biology and medical research to help understand the mechanisms of complex biological systems and disease processes.
He is further an adjunct professor at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School and the recipient of the Hans und Ilse Breuer Alzheimer Research Award (2013) and of the Christa-Lorenz Award for ALS Research (2011).
Photo available on request***
About the Dementia Discovery Fund
The Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF) is the world’s largest family of specialized venture capital funds that invests exclusively in companies developing or enabling novel therapeutics for dementia, managed by SV Health Investors. Dementias including Alzheimer’s Disease are arguably the largest unmet medical need with over 55m patients worldwide. With more than $475m raised for this strategy, and offices in London and Boston, DDF capitalizes on global investment opportunities to fulfill its dual mandate of delivering measurable impact and generating significant financial returns. Utilizing its network of venture partners, entrepreneurs, leading scientists, and strategic partners, DDF invests in and creates new biotech companies and provides thought leadership in the field. DDF is enabled by its limited partners including major pharmaceutical companies (Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Co., GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Otsuka (Astex), Pfizer and Takeda), along with AARP, Aegon, Bill Gates, British Patient Capital, NFL Players Association, Quest Diagnostics, UnitedHealth Group, and the non-profits Alzheimer’s Research UK and LifeArc. Learn more at www.ddf.vc.
About SV Health Investors
SV Health Investors is a leading healthcare fund manager committed to investing in tomorrow’s healthcare breakthroughs. The SV family of funds invests across stages, geographic regions, and sectors, with expertise spanning biotechnology, dementia, healthcare growth, healthcare technology medical devices and public equities. With approximately $2.5bn in assets under management and a truly transatlantic presence with offices in Boston and London, SV has built an extensive network of talented investment professionals and experienced industry veterans. Since its founding in 1993, SV has invested in more than 200 companies with more than 90 of these having achieved successful acquisitions or IPOs.
For more information, please see www.svhealthinvestors.com.
