Ryan Watts

Ryan Watts is the CEO and co-founder of Denali Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.12 He has held this position since the company's inception on January 1, 2015.1

Background and Education

Watts has a strong background in neuroscience and biology:

• He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Biology from the University of Utah (1994-2000).6
• He obtained his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University (2000-2004).64

Professional Experience

Before co-founding Denali Therapeutics, Watts had a significant career at Genentech:

• He worked at Genentech from 2004 to 2015.6
• At Genentech, he served as Director of the Department of Neuroscience.4
• He led the company's re-entry into neuroscience and focused on drug discovery for cancer and Alzheimer's disease.3

Leadership at Denali Therapeutics

As CEO of Denali, Watts has:

• Led the company in advancing multiple therapeutic candidates into clinical testing for diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and ALS.3
• Overseen the development of a proprietary blood-brain barrier platform for delivering therapeutic proteins to the brain.3
• Guided efforts to raise significant capital and forge partnerships to accelerate drug discovery and development.3

Personal Motivation

Watts's dedication to neurodegenerative disease research is partly driven by personal experience:

• His mother's battle with Alzheimer's disease has influenced his mission to develop groundbreaking treatments.5
• This personal connection underscores the urgency he feels in developing cutting-edge therapies in the field of neurodegeneration.5

Ryan Watts's leadership at Denali Therapeutics is characterized by a deep understanding of neuroscience, a commitment to innovation, and a personal drive to combat neurodegenerative diseases.