Our Team

Inderpal Singh is the Founder and President of the ADLD Center, where he leads strategy, fundraising, and overall program execution to accelerate the development of therapies for Adult-onset Autosomal Dominant Leukodystrophy (ADLD).

He brings over two decades of experience across strategy, technology, and operations, with leadership roles at Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, HSBC, and Bridgewater Associates. He has built and led businesses across consulting and technology, including founding Northshore Partners and serving as Chief Operating Officer of Zelus Analytics, where he led growth to eight-figure ARR and a successful acquisition.

His experience spans enterprise transformation, AI-driven systems, and scaling organizations from zero to exit. At the ADLD Center, he applies this background to structure a patient-driven drug development model, coordinate global stakeholders, and mobilize capital toward clinical progress.

He holds an Honors Bachelor of Mathematics in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.

Dr. Ujjal Sekhon leads research strategy and execution for the ADLD Center, overseeing scientific programs, clinical collaborations, and therapeutic development initiatives.

He is a Principal Scientist at Haima Therapeutics, where he leads drug development programs spanning nanomedicine, lipid nanoparticles, and hemostatic therapeutics. His work includes advancing candidates from concept through IND-enabling studies, managing regulatory strategy, and leading cross-functional teams across preclinical development.

At the ADLD Center, he has built and coordinated a global clinical and scientific consortium spanning leading institutions including UCSF, UCLA, and Mayo Clinic. He has secured and deployed research funding, initiated natural history and biomarker studies, and advanced multiple therapeutic approaches including ASO and RNA-based strategies.

His background includes extensive work in nanoparticle-based drug delivery, in vivo modeling, and translational research, with demonstrated impact in improving therapeutic efficacy and advancing scalable platforms.

Dr. Sekhon holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University.

Bishen Singh leads the Scientific and Medical Advisory Board for the ADLD Center, helping shape research direction, data strategy, and translational pathways.

He brings a unique combination of government, healthcare, and technology experience. He currently serves as an advisor in Digital Transformation for Health and Life Sciences at Microsoft and is a Venture Fellow at GoingVC Partners.

Previously, he held senior roles at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where he led data strategy, innovation initiatives, and large-scale data-sharing platforms across the department. His work focused on health equity, population health, and enterprise data systems. He also worked at the National Institutes of Health, developing data platforms and machine learning systems to support scientific discovery.

His background spans neuroscience research, data infrastructure, and public-sector health strategy, positioning him to bridge scientific research with scalable, real-world implementation.

Jennifer Panagoulias is Chief Operating Officer of AS2 Bio Inc and Head of Regulatory Affairs at the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics, where she plays a central role in advancing genetic therapies from research through clinical development.

She is a leader in venture philanthropy and rare disease drug development, with deep expertise in regulatory strategy, clinical trial advancement, and policy engagement. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President of Regulatory, Compliance, and Policy at Wave Life Sciences, where she led global regulatory strategy across multiple therapeutic programs.

Her work has been instrumental in shaping patient-driven drug development models, including coordinating regulatory pathways, engaging with the FDA and policymakers, and helping build the infrastructure required to bring therapies to patients.

Her experience integrating advocacy, science, and commercialization is directly aligned with accelerating therapies in ultra-rare diseases.

Dr. Paola Leone is a Professor and Director of the Cell and Gene Therapy Center at Rowan University, and a leading figure in translational neuroscience and gene therapy for white matter disorders.

She has spent decades advancing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, including Canavan disease, multiple sclerosis, and leukodystrophies. She led one of the first FDA-approved gene therapy clinical trials for a neurological disorder, establishing foundational work in AAV-based therapies targeting white matter.

Her research focuses on understanding disease mechanisms and developing therapeutic strategies to repair myelin and prevent disease progression. Her work has directly contributed to clinical translation, with programs progressing toward regulatory approval.

Dr. Leone’s expertise in gene therapy, clinical trial design, and translational medicine provides critical scientific leadership for the ADLD Center’s therapeutic strategy.

Dr. Harmeet Malhi is a Professor of Medicine and Physiology at Mayo Clinic and a leading researcher in molecular biology and translational medicine.

She serves as Research Chair for the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and has extensive experience in cellular stress pathways, inflammation, and biomarker development. Her laboratory focuses on mechanisms of disease progression and intercellular signaling, with applications across complex and systemic disorders.

Dr. Malhi has published over 90 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals including Hepatology, Gastroenterology, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. She also serves in editorial leadership roles and national research committees.

Her expertise in disease mechanisms, biomarker discovery, and translational research contributes to the ADLD Center’s understanding of underlying biology and therapeutic evaluation.