Sophie Parmentier-Batteur
Head of Neurodegeneration Novartis
Sophie Parmentier Batteur is Neuroscience Cambridge Site Head and Head of Neurodegeneration within Biomedical Research at Novartis. In her capacity, she oversees scientific strategy and cross-functional execution across a broad neuroscience portfolio. Before joining Novartis in 2023, Sophie served as Vice
President and Head of the Neuromuscular Research Group at Biogen. She also previously led a Neurodegeneration Research Unit at Merck, where she guided programs from early target discovery through IND-enabling development. Her expertise spans various therapeutic modalities—including small molecules, biologics, oligonucleotides, and gene therapy—and encompasses multiple disease areas such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and genetic muscle disorders. Sophie earned her PhD from Université René Descartes in Paris, where her research focused on stroke, and completed postdoctoral training at UCSF and the Buck Institute. Her work focuses on advancing translational neuroscience and leading multidisciplinary teams to transform novel scientific discoveries into therapeutic approaches driven by a deep commitment to discovering innovative and meaningful strategies against devastating neurological disorders.
President and Head of the Neuromuscular Research Group at Biogen. She also previously led a Neurodegeneration Research Unit at Merck, where she guided programs from early target discovery through IND-enabling development. Her expertise spans various therapeutic modalities—including small molecules, biologics, oligonucleotides, and gene therapy—and encompasses multiple disease areas such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and genetic muscle disorders. Sophie earned her PhD from Université René Descartes in Paris, where her research focused on stroke, and completed postdoctoral training at UCSF and the Buck Institute. Her work focuses on advancing translational neuroscience and leading multidisciplinary teams to transform novel scientific discoveries into therapeutic approaches driven by a deep commitment to discovering innovative and meaningful strategies against devastating neurological disorders.
Seminars
Wednesday 2nd December 2026
Fireside Chat: Building the Next Generation of CNS Pipelines Through Brain Delivery & Modality Innovation
10:00 am
- Determining which brain delivery technologies and therapeutic modalities warrant integration into long-term neuroscience portfolios
- Establishing evidence thresholds for advancing CNS delivery platforms from discovery-stage innovation into clinical development
- Balancing investments across internal R&D, platform partnerships, licensing opportunities, and external innovation ecosystems
- Identifying the biological, translational, and regulatory advances most likely to unlock the next wave of CNS therapeutic development
