Dr. Sarah Busch is a neuroscientist who has spent her career navigating the translational landscape from early research and development through late-stage clinical trials. Dr. Busch was the Vice President of Regenerative Medicine and Head of Nonclinical Development at Athersys, Inc. where she served in various positions of increasing responsibility over 13 years: leading development of the spinal cord injury program, successfully harnessing non-dilutive funding to accelerate translational activities and collaborating with academic institutions to advance several early-stage therapeutic programs. She led nonclinical regulatory submissions to global health authorities for multiple indications and managed a large patent portfolio. Dr. Busch was also Head of Business Development where she successfully licensed a family of products to a leading veterinary biotechnology company. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, with minors in Music, Neuroscience and Classics, and received her PhD in Neurosciences from Case Western Reserve University in the laboratory of Dr. Jerry Silver with a focus on spinal cord injury. Dr. Busch serves as a mentor, guest lecturer, and program advisor for numerous institutions and was named one of Crain’s Cleveland Business’ “Forty Under 40”.