NTSAD Staff Profiles
Board of Directors
Officers
Vice President

Jon Lawrence, Esq.
Treasurer

Michael Richards
Secretary

Lisajane Romer
Directors

Matthew Goldstein, MD, PhD

Dawn
Jacob Laney, MS, CGC, CCRC

Staci
Kallish

Jonathan
Katz
Deborah
Sanders, JD
Scientific Advisory Council
The role of the Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) is to ensure that NTSAD’s research strategy and investments align with NTSAD’s mission to find effective treatments for Tay-Sachs, Canavan, GM1, and Sandhoff diseases and to serve as a resource for the NTSAD Community. SAC members contribute their respective expertise to provide updates and context to new research developments and provide professional guidance to NTSAD. Members examine the progress, suggest new initiatives, and leverage their professional networks to recruit additional individuals to provide expertise to support initiatives. In addition, SAC members participate in NTSAD’s Research Initiative grant program by reviewing and evaluating applications.
Members of the Council are as follows:
Heather Gray-Edwards, DVM, PhD, Chair
Dominic Gessler, MD, PhD, Co-chair
- Allison Bradbury, PhD
- Florian Eichler, MD
- Rafael Escandon, DrPH, PhD, MPH
- Amanda Gross, PhD
- Edwin Kolodny, MD *
- Steven Kushner, MD, PhD
- Gustavo Maegawa, MD, PhD
- Doug Martin, PhD
- Amanda Nagy, MD
- David Pleasure, MD
- Miguel Sena-Esteves, PhD
- Christopher Stephen, MD
- Mathias Schmidt, PhD
- Evan Snyder, MD, PhD
- Cynthia Tifft, MD, PhD, FACMG
- Steven Walkley, DVM, PhD
*Emeritus
Corporate Advisory Council
The purpose of the Corporate Advisory Council (CAC) is to assist NTSAD leadership in navigating the dynamic biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries while devising a strategy for advancing research aimed at developing effective treatments for Tay-Sachs, Canavan, GM1, and Sandhoff diseases. The CAC informs NTSAD about relevant scientific, regulatory, and commercial developments; advises on biotech investment interest in the clinical trial space; and acts as a conduit to building relationships with industry partners.
Members of the Council are as follows:
- Ritu Baral
- Bradley L. Campbell
- Laura Cohen
- Michael Gladstone
- John Gordon
- Joan Keutzer
- Walt Kowtoniuk
- Greg Licholai








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