Gene Therapy, Neurological disease, Biotechnology, Biological Therapeutic Modalities
Dr. Bruder is the Director of Biologics and Neurotherapeutic Discovery and Development in the Division of Translational Research at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. He oversees the NIH Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN) Biologics and Ultra-rare gene-based therapeutics (URGenT) Network. The BPN Biologics program is a part of the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research, a trans-NIH effort that supports research on the nervous system. BPN Biologics supports investigator-led translational projects, from lead optimization to first-in-human trials and provides resources to bridge critical gaps. Awarded projects receive up to 5 years of grant funding, project management support and access to NIH-funded consultants and contract research organizations. URGenT provides up to three years of funding and contract resources to advance gene-based therapies for ultra-rare neurological diseases from late-stage preclinical development to first-in-human clinical testing. Prior to joining the NIH in 2024, Dr. Bruder was the Vice President, Target Discovery and Early Portfolio at Regenxbio. At Regenxbio he led a team of scientists conducting PoC AAV gene therapy research studies to nominate clinical candidates across multiple therapeutic areas including Neurology and Ophthalmology. Earlier in his career, Dr. Bruder was at GenVec, where he held roles of increasing responsibility, most recently serving as Senior Director, Research. At GenVec he led research and cross-functional teams to advance novel adenovirus-based vaccines and gene therapies. Dr. Bruder earned his PhD in molecular microbiology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and conducted his postdoctoral fellowship at the National Cancer Institute.