SpecialityCEO, Denali Therapeutics

BiographyRyan Watts is the CEO and co-founder of Denali Therapeutics. He has a background in neuroscience and has worked extensively in drug discovery and development. Before founding Denali, he held leadership roles at Genentech, where he focused on therapeutic approaches for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s. His work included pioneering methods to improve drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier. Watts earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Stanford University, where he conducted research on neurodegenerative mechanisms. Throughout his career, he has contributed to advancing scientific understanding and therapeutic strategies for central nervous system disorders.