ELRIG’s USA Forum will take place in Boston, MA, USA, on 24 June 2025 Event will focus on ‘Neuroimmunology in Drug Discovery’

Cambridge, UK, 29th April 2025:

The European Laboratory Research & Innovation Group (ELRIG), a not-for-profit, volunteer-led organisation for the drug discovery community, today announced its first USA Forum. Focused on Neuroimmunology in Drug Discovery, the free-to-attend forum is taking place at at MSD’s (the tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway NJ USA) research facility in the Longwood medical area of Boston, Massachusetts, on 24 June 2025. The event is held in partnership with Drug Discovery News.

Understanding the role of neuroimmune interactions has become increasingly important in tackling complex neurological diseases. As research reveals the influence of microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and infiltrating immune cells in conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Multiple Sclerosis, scientists are shifting focus to these targets for therapeutic development.

ELRIG’s USA forum will spotlight the latest breakthroughs in neuroimmunology, showcasing how emerging technologies such as proteomics, transcriptomics, spatial biology, and next-generation models—including iPSCs, organoids, and humanized mice—are driving this evolution.

Designed to foster collaboration and idea exchange, the Boston forum offers a unique opportunity to engage with experts advancing the science at this critical intersection of neuroscience and immunology.

Forum Highlights

• Expert-led scientific sessions covering cutting-edge neuroimmunology research
• Discussions on target discovery, translational strategies, and biomarker development
• Opportunities to network with peers from pharma, biotech, and academia
• A unique setting designed to support transatlantic scientific collaboration and insight

About the Forum Directors

Swarna Balasubramanian, Forum Director and Director, Search & Evaluation, BD&L AstraZeneca, brings over a decade of experience in identifying, evaluating, and nurturing early-stage scientific innovations and startups in the life sciences industry. She serves as the Director of Business Development—Search and Evaluation at AstraZeneca, focusing on licensing and collaboration opportunities for drug candidates targeting respiratory and immunology indications. Previously, Swarna was part of AstraZeneca’s Emerging Innovations Unit, where she catalysed early-stage novel science and technology in drug discovery and development. Earlier in her career, she played a pivotal role in the entrepreneurial US-UK leadership teams at Acidophil and related companies (including AgriMetis and Acumen), where she contributed to building the startups and raising approximately $100 million in venture capital financing. Swarna holds a Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where her research focused on studying astrocyte responses to 3D micro-environments.

Matthew Fell, Forum Director and Executive Director of Neuroimmunology, MSD, is responsible for leading a team of scientists focused on the discovery of neuroimmune based therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. He co-led teams that have discovered and advanced multiple molecules into clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease including MK-1468 (a LRRK2 kinase inhibitor). Matt received his B.Sc. in Biomedical Sciences/Pharmacology and a Ph.D. in Neuropsychopharmacology from the University of Bradford, UK. As a post-doctoral fellow in the Psychiatric Disorders team at Eli Lilly and Company, Matt’s research focused on the therapeutic potential of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors in schizophrenia. Following his post-doctoral fellowship, Matt joined Neuroscience Discovery at MSD in New Jersey in 2011 but relocated to Boston in 2014.