Executive Director, Critical Path for Parkinson’s Consortium, Critical Path Institute

Diane Stephenson is a neuroscientist by training with 30 years combined experience in academic neuroscience and drug discovery. She is passionate about translational science and has a long-time dedication to the discovery of therapies to treat diseases of the nervous system. Dr. Stephenson received her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at University of California and her Ph.D. in Medical Neurobiology from Indiana University. She spent the majority of her career as a translational neuroscientist at the largest pharmaceutical companies focusing on disease areas including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Stroke, ALS and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Dr Stephenson joined Critical Path Institute in 2011 and has launched several new programs such as the Huntington’s Disease Regulatory Science Consortium. She presently leads Critical Path for Parkinson’s (CPP), a multinational consortium comprised of academic experts, industry scientists, patient advocacy groups and regulatory experts collectively aimed at accelerating drug development tools for Parkinson’s disease.  Dr. Stephenson focuses on highlighting the voice of people living with Parkinson’s in all CPP’s efforts.