Scott Kozak, Vice President, Research Business Development, Muscular Dystrophy Association (Moderator)
Scott is Vice President of Research Business Development at the Muscular Dystrophy Association, bringing over 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. His roles have spanned marketing, brand management, business development, and corporate development, across Big Pharma, biotech, and diagnostics. He has co-founded three companies, including two in healthcare and one in ClimateTech, focused on biofuels and specialty chemicals. Scott also serves as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Yale Ventures and UConn’s CCEI. He holds a BS in Marketing from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from Kennesaw State University’s Coles School of Business.

Rachel Salzman, CEO, Armatus Bio
Dr. Rachel Salzman is the CEO of Armatus Bio and an expert in drug development for rare diseases. Previously, she served as Executive Vice President at Alcyone Therapeutics and co-founded SwanBio Therapeutics, where she held leadership roles through 2021. Dr. Salzman also founded UltraSquared Bio, a nonprofit advancing gene therapies for ultra-rare diseases. She was Chief Science Officer at The Stop ALD Foundation, focused on X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. Dr. Salzman holds a B.S. in Animal Science from Rutgers University and a DVM from Oklahoma State University, applying her extensive expertise to bring innovative therapies to market.

Anders Näär, President & CEO, Elenae
Dr. Anders M. Näär is a Professor of Metabolic Biology at UC Berkeley and the President and CEO of Elenae Therapeutics, developing precision RNA medicines for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other diseases. He earned a B.S. in Biochemistry/Biotechnology from the University of Lund and a Ph.D. in Molecular Pathology from UC San Diego. During his postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley, he discovered the human Mediator transcriptional co-activator complex. Previously, Dr. Näär was a Professor at Harvard Medical School. His work at Elenae focuses on advancing ASO therapeutics, including promising treatments for muscle and heart conditions.

Casey Childers, Co-founder & CEO, Kinea
Dr. Casey is the co-founder and CEO of Kinea Bio, a biotech company focused on next-generation genetic medicine for neuromuscular diseases. He earned his D.O. from Western University of Health Sciences and his Ph.D. in Physiology and Pharmacology from the University of Missouri, where he was also Chief Resident in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Previously, he served as Chief Medical Officer at Asklepios Biopharmaceutical and was a professor at the University of Washington, co-directing the MDA Care Center. He led NIH-supported research on AAV gene therapy for X-linked myotubular myopathy, advancing it to a first-in-human trial in 2017.

Matthew Lumley, CEO, Myosana
Matthew has been CEO of Myosana Therapeutics and a Venture Partner at Medicxi since early 2023.  Prior to his current roles, he has experience in biotech and big pharma, having held clinical development roles in rare disease at Moderna and roles in medical affairs and market access at Pfizer.  He also has 10 years of experience as an academic clinician working in Internal Medicine and Cardiology.  Matthew received his medical degree from Imperial College London and PhD in Cardiovascular Physiology from Kings College London. He is a full member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) and is a member of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine (MFPM).