Team

Anja Harmeier is an experienced drug developer, scientist and entrepreneur in neuroscience and rare diseases. She brings extensive R&D and operational capabilities complemented by a strong track record in company development and venture capital.

Anja joined Rewind from Pureos Bioventures where, as Partner, she was responsible for investments in innovative life sciences companies in the US and Europe including Vico Therapeutics, Corlieve Therapeutics (acquired by UniQure), and River Renal 2 and River Renal 3. Prior to Pureos, Anja held several positions at F. Hoffman-La Roche, initially joining the Neuroscience R&D group before working in positions of increasing seniority, including franchise and senior project leader in rare diseases. Starting in 2016, she served as an Investment Director at Roche Venture Fund, where she was on the Board of Directors at several of the fund’s portfolio companies, including Vivet Therapeutics (which Pfizer has an option to acquire), Entrada (IPO) and NMD Pharma.

Anja Harmeier holds a PhD in Neuroscience/ Biochemistry from the Institute of Biochemistry at Freie Universität Berlin and an MBA from Instituto de Empresa (ie) Madrid.

Irene Knuesel brings longstanding experience in CNS research, drug discovery and development. She is also the founder of Scienza Consulting GmbH, an independent science consultancy company, and serves as external advisor on the board of the NIH Alzheimer’s Disease Sequencing Program (ADSP).

Irene worked for six years at F. Hoffmann-La Roche; initially as lab head and drug discovery project leader, later as Head of the Neuroimmunology and Neurodegeneration section. In this role, she was accountable for the definition and implementation of the corresponding discovery strategies and responsible for 11 research laboratories focusing on neuroimmune and neurodegenerative mechanisms underlying disease and disability progression in Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. Prior to her career at F. Hoffman-La Roche, she held several academic positions in the neurobiology field, including an assistant professor position at the University of Zurich, a group leader position at the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich, Switzerland), and a postdoctoral fellowship at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (USA).

Irene Knuesel obtained a PhD in Molecular Neuroscience from the University of Zurich and also a PD (Venia Legendi in Neuropharmacology) from the University of Zurich’s Medical faculty.

Christophe Van Vaeck brings almost 20 years of operational and strategic experience from the life sciences financial community. Since the end of 2017, Christophe has been advising promising life sciences companies on getting ready for the next phase of their development. In addition to his role at Rewind Therapeutics, Christophe is also CFO of Handl Therapeutics.

During his career, he managed for 10 years investments and successful exits for both early stage VC and mature PE companies in the biotech, diagnostic, medtech and healthcare service sectors at Gimv. Christophe held board positions at Multiplicom, Spinart, Almaviva Santé and others. During his time at KBC securities, he was actively involved in the successful initial public offerings and subsequent fundraisings of biotech companies such as Galapagos, Devgen, Thrombogenics and Ablynx.
Christophe started his career at Bank Degroof in 2001, after obtaining a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology at KU Leuven, Belgium.

Guillaume brings over 20 years of experience in early and late-stage small molecule drug discovery in biotech/pharma.

Prior to joining Rewind in 2020, he co-founded Pragma Therapeutics, where he served as CSO and was in charge of the research and development of Pragma’s portfolio. From 2015 to 2018, he was Senior Director of Chemistry at Prexton Therapeutics, and, from 2004 to 2013, he served as Group Leader and subsequently as Research Director at Addex Therapeutics, where he led several preclinical programs. During his tenure at Addex, he was also responsible for developing strategic scientific partnerships and technological platforms, integrating modern techniques for the identification, characterization, and optimization of preclinical molecules for novel targets and new indications. Prior to Addex, he joined the R&D division of Janssen in France in 2000, where he focused on small molecule drug discovery and advanced several research programs in oncology, virology and CNS disorders.

Guillaume holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Rouen (France) and is co-author of more than 25 patents and peer-reviewed articles.

Ricardo Hermosilla is a seasoned drug development expert today working as an independent preclinical and clinical consultant for biotech and pharma companies. Before his consultancy, he worked for several departments at F. Hoffmann-La Roche, i.e., Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Neuroscience, Ophthalmology, and Rare Diseases. In his last position at Hoffmann-La Roche as Project Team Leader and Translational Medicine Leader in the Department of Neuroscience, Ophthalmology, and Rare Diseases, he was, among others, responsible for the development of innovative strategies, supporting research teams from non-clinical to clinical development, and leading clinical development plans and trial protocols. Prior to that, he held various roles such as Head of Study Directors, COO, Medical Director, Head of Clinical Development in Biotechs, midsize Pharma and a CRO. Ricardo started his career in academia at the University of Chile and as a Post Doc at the Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP Berlin), before he was appointed as Junior-Professor at the Charité in Berlin. Besides his consultancy activities, he is an advisory board member for startups and NGOs and a guest professor at the University Austral, Chile. Ricardo Hermosilla holds PhD in Molecular Pharmacology from Justus-Liebig-University.

Dr. Burbidge is an experienced drug hunter with an in-depth expertise in both small molecule and biological drug discovery and development. In addition to his role at Rewind Therapeutics, he is currently Director of Discovery and Preclinical Projects at 3D Consultants, Cambridge (UK), an advisory company focusing on drug discovery and development. From 2009 to 2018, he held positions of increasing responsibility at Proximagen Ltd, Cambridge (UK), most recently as Head of Discovery and Preclinical Projects. During this period, he led multiple discovery and preclinical stage programs, successfully driving the selection of multiple clinical candidates. He was Project Leader for the VAP-1 inhibitor program, which as subsequently licensed to Roche following a successful Phase 2a clinical trial. He also led an Alpha-7 nicotinic program successfully in-licensed from GSK. From 1996 to 2008, he held roles of increasing responsibility at GlaxoWellcome and GlaxoSmithKline, leading, among others, external drug discovery programs. Dr. Burbidge started his career at GlaxoWellcome in early-stage drug discovery with a focus on neuroscience. He received his BSc in Biological Sciences and a PhD in Molecular Genetics from the University of Warwick (UK) and completed Post-Doctoral studies at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, London (UK).