Leadership

Dr. Ford brings more than 30 years of neuroscience research, pharmacology, drug discovery and development experience from leading biopharmaceutical companies to his role as co-founder and chief executive officer. He became a co-founder of CuraSen in 2018. Dr Ford also holds senior advisory roles with Site1 Therapeutics and PharmNovo, both developing innovative therapies for pain and related indications, and for New Leaf Venture Partners, where he had previously held the title of venture partner. He is also an advisor to the Stanford SPARK program.

Prior to CuraSen, Dr. Ford co-founded Afferent Pharmaceuticals, and as chief scientific officer led the discovery and development of first-in-class P2X3 antagonists, including AF-219/MK-7264 (gefapixant), for chronic cough through Phase 3 readiness until the company’s acquisition by Merck in 2016 for more than $1 billion. Previously, he held several positions at Roche Pharmaceuticals (Palo Alto), including lastly as vice president of research and head of neuroscience, where he initiated and drove innovative programs in neurobiology.

Dr. Ford was trained in pharmacology at Bradford University and received a PhD in neuropharmacology from Nottingham University. He has published extensive research with a strong focus on therapeutics for poorly addressed neuroscience diseases. 

Ms. Glaub brings more than 30 years of experience in corporate development and strategy, financing and company-building for innovative life science and technology companies. She became a co-founder of CuraSen in 2018. Ms. Glaub also serves on the board of directors of Escient Pharmaceuticals, IO Biotech and Codexis, Inc.

Following Ms. Glaub’s appointment to the board of Afferent Pharmaceuticals in 2013, she joined the company as chief executive officer in 2014. Ms. Glaub led the company’s advancement of AF-219/MK7264 (gefapixant) to Phase 3 readiness for the treatment of chronic cough, raised $80 million in additional private funding for Afferent, and led the 2016 sale of the company to Merck for $1.25 billion.  

Previously, Ms. Glaub served as president of Plexxikon for 12 years, where she led the company’s business and financing strategies, negotiated several multimillion-dollar partnerships, and led the sale of the company to Daiichi Sankyo for nearly $1 billion in 2011. She also was instrumental in Plexxikon’s advancement of multiple novel molecules to the clinic, as well as advancement of Zelboraf^®, a targeted treatment for melanoma, along with its companion diagnostic to market approval in 2011. She previously held positions as senior vice president and chief financial officer of Cell Genesys, treasurer of Genentech, and various finance and treasury roles with Intel Corporation.

Ms. Glaub received her BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and her MBA from Northwestern University.

Dr. Vargas joined CuraSen in October 2018, bringing more than 12 years of pharmaceutical research and development experience, focused on translational medicine, early clinical development and neuroscience. At Amgen, he most recently held the position of executive medical director, digital health and neuroscience therapeutic area head for early development, and was responsible for the neuroscience portfolio strategy from preclinical research through early development. In this capacity, he led the early development of the recently FDA-approved migraine prophylactic, Aimovig™. Previously, he served as biomarker expert, translational medicine leader and director of discovery medicine at Hoffmann-La Roche (Basel) and Roche Pharmaceuticals (Palo Alto).

Dr. Vargas is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and currently serves as a volunteer associate clinical professor in psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

Dr. Vargas received his MD and PhD in biochemistry from the University of California, Irvine, and completed his residency and fellowship in psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco.

Dr. Dillon joined Curasen in January 2023 bringing more than 30 yrs of research and development experience across large and small pharmaceutical companies. Most recently, Dr. Dillon was chief scientific officer and head of research at IDEAYA Biosciences, where he was responsible for establishing the drug discovery strategy, building the team, and selecting the early portfolio. Under his leadership, IDEAYA established itself as one of the leading Synthetic Lethal Oncology companies with three clinical programs and a robust discovery portfolio focused on first-in-class DDR therapeutics. The company completed an IPO in 2019 and established a multi-program collaboration with GSK in 2020.

Prior to joining IDEAYA, Dr. Dillon was global discovery chemistry head, oncology and new therapeutic modalities at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research and director of medicinal chemistry at Roche. He obtained a B.Sc. (Hons) in chemistry from the University of Leicester and Ph.D. from the University of Bristol, in the UK. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship in chemistry at Oregon State University. Dr. Dillon is an author of more than 70 publications and patents.

Mr. Butera brings more than 30 years of diverse clinical and operations experience to CuraSen, ranging from CROs and large pharma to start-up companies. Before joining CuraSen, Mr. Butera was vice president of clinical operations at Attenua, where he ran the bradanicline program in chronic cough through Phase 2. Previously, he was vice president, clinical operations at Afferent, where he directed clinical operations for programs in chronic pain and cough, until the company’s $1.25 billion acquisition by Merck & Co. in 2016. Earlier, Mr. Butera spent ten years at Pain Therapeutics serving as director and vice president, clinical operations. In this role, he managed clinical development programs for chronic pain compounds in both early and late stage development.

Mr. Butera has a bachelor’s of science degree from Saint Joseph’s University.

Dr. Martin joined CuraSen in 2020 bringing more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, spanning target assessment through Phase 3 clinical trials in indications from neuroscience through inflammation.  Previously, she was Senior Vice President of Medical Sciences at Anthera Pharmaceuticals, responsible for late-stage clinical trials in lupus and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency as well as the enabling nonclinical programs.  Prior to her 8-year tenure at Anthera, Dr. Martin spent more than 14 years at Roche Pharmaceuticals in discovery and clinical research. 

Dr. Martin received her bachelor’s degree in natural sciences at Cambridge University, UK, and her PhD in pharmacology from King’s College London, UK.  She is an author on 24 peer-reviewed publications spanning discovery research through Phase 3 clinical studies.