Cambridge Cognition announces scientific advisory board

Cambridge, UK – 21 March 2024: Cambridge Cognition, a leader in digital health solutions for brain health assessment, announces the formation of a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). This expert board will provide scientific guidance and valuable market insights, primarily focusing on addressing emerging trends such as the integration of blood-based biomarkers and the collaborative possibilities for computerised cognitive assessments.

The SAB combines expertise covering CNS-related disorders, clinical development, and academia with a shared dedication to propelling brain health forward. With a wealth of experience in clinical development programmes, the SAB will support Cambridge Cognition in identifying market trends effectively and ensuring its services and technologies continually adapt to the intricate landscape life science companies face.

Liam Kaufman, Cambridge Cognition’s VP of Clinical Science and former CEO of Winterlight Labs, will assume the role of Chair for the SAB. The board includes:

• Professor Judith Jaeger, PhD, who serves as owner and president of CognitionMetrics, LLC;
• Professor John Harrison, Chief Scientific Officer at Scottish Brain Sciences; and
• Francesca Cormack, PhD, Chief Scientist at Cambridge Cognition.

The SAB will review and advise on product strategies, scientific approaches, and evidence-generation strategy plans while also advocating for the diverse needs of life science companies.

Commenting on forming the SAB, Matthew Stork, CEO of Cambridge Cognition, said: “With the emergence of disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and the development of precise blood-based biomarkers, the landscape for CNS clinical research is rapidly evolving. Establishing the SAB underscores our dedication to advancing the alignment of emerging trends with computerised and voice-based cognitive assessments. The board aims to deepen our understanding of these shifts, aiding us in adapting to the evolving landscape while expanding the capabilities of our solutions.”

“I’m delighted to have joined the Cambridge Cognition SAB and look forward to supporting the company’s application of 30 years of cognitive science, plus the added value of Winterlight Labs’ capabilities, to facilitate decision-making in developing new therapeutics affecting cognition. I am eager to contribute to Cambridge Cognition’s continued growth in 2024 and beyond,” commented Professor Judith Jaeger.

Professor John Harrison said: “I have more than 30 years’ experience with the CANTAB system, first as a user, and between 1997 and 2000 as one of the team working on its development and validation. I have also had the good fortune to have worked with the Winterlight Labs team on their technology, which I regard as one of the most promising in the digital cognitive assessment space. It is, therefore, a huge pleasure to have the opportunity to shape the use and future development of these technologies as part of the Cambridge Cognition Scientific Advisory Board.”

Professor Judith Jaeger is a neuropsychologist with over 35 years of experience in clinical and experimental neuropsychology and psychopathology. She is the owner and president of CognitionMetrics, LLC, a consultancy serving the pharmaceutical industry on early-phase and experimental medicine projects and pivotal and late-phase clinical programmes in CNS-affected diseases. She has represented pharmaceutical clients in regulatory meetings, including the FDA and Japan’s PMDA. She is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York. She has authored over 90 peer-reviewed journal articles, several book chapters, co-edited books and hundreds of abstracts and presentations. Previously, she was Vice President for Clinical Trials at Cogstate, Inc. and Director of Clinical Development at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, where she served as a company-wide cognition and psychometrics expert. These industry positions followed a distinguished academic career as an NIH-funded research clinician and educator.

Professor John Harrison is an acknowledged cognition expert whose principal professional interest is in helping people understand, maintain, and enhance their cognitive skills. John is Chief Scientific Officer at Scottish Brain Sciences, a clinical trial and neuroscientific research company. In the past 25 years, John has assisted more than 80 CNS drug development organisations with selecting and successfully integrating cognitive testing into therapeutic development programmes. His work in Alzheimer’s disease dates back to his participation in the studies of compound AN1792, for which he developed the Neuropsychological Test Battery (NTB). Variants of the NTB have since been a common feature of CNS-focused treatment development programmes. Work in psychiatric indications has included a key role in the development and registration of Brintellix. John is an associate professor at the AUmc Alzheimer Center and a visiting professor at King’s College London. He holds Chartered Psychologist status and has authored/co-authored more than 100 books and scientific articles.

Francesca Cormack, PhD is Chief Scientist at Cambridge Cognition. She has extensive experience in statistics, cognitive neuroscience, and cognitive test development in various clinical populations. Since joining Cambridge Cognition in 2014, Francesca has worked to develop a novel cognitive testing methodology to support high-frequency, near-patient testing using digital technology, providing researchers and healthcare providers with unique insights into cognitive health. Francesca obtained a PhD in Dementia with Lewy Bodies at Newcastle University, followed by post-doctoral and academic positions at University College London and the Medical Research Council in Cambridge. She maintains academic collaborations focused on neurological disorders, ageing and dementia.

Liam Kaufman is the VP of clinical sciences at Cambridge Cognition. Previously he was the cofounder and CEO of Winterlight Labs, which develops digital biomarkers to quantify cognitive impairment and mental health using speech and machine learning. Winterlight Labs was acquired by Cambridge Cognition in 2023.

To learn more about Cambridge Cognition’s digital health solutions, visit www.cambridgecognition.com

Press contact:
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