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James Summers

Venture Partner

Jim brings over 30 years of neuroscience drug discovery and pharmaceutical research management experience to SV as a Venture Partner in the Dementia Discovery Fund team.

Jim currently serves on the board of directors, scientific advisory board and as an advisor to several biotechnology companies and venture capital firms.

Previously, he was Vice President of Neuroscience Research at AbbVie, where he led efforts located in Ludwigshafen Germany, Lake County, IL and Cambridge, MA focused on the discovery of new drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, pain, and psychiatric disorders. Under his leadership, teams have advanced more than twenty compounds into clinical development. Jim established new research sites in Cambridge Massachusetts and Shanghai China, was an architect of strategies that defined the future direction of global research organizations, and championed multiple successful out-licensing deals, biotech collaborations and venture investments.

Outside of SV, Jim enjoys travel, genealogy, and spending time with his grandchildren.

Academic Credentials

Jim earned a Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, in chemistry from Denison University and a doctorate in organic chemistry from Harvard University.

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