Dr. Avi Spier, Executive Director Business Development and Licensing, Search & Evaluation for Cardio-Renal-Metabolic, Chemistry Platforms, Diseases of Aging and Region UK, Novartis Dr. Spier has over 19 years of experience at Novartis, having joined the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF) as its Head of Business Development in 2004. In 2012, Dr. Spier moved over to Novartis BD&L where he is now Executive Director and responsible for Search and Evaluation activities in a range of therapeutic areas and disciplines. Dr. Spier studied Biological Sceinces at the University of Oxford, and received his Ph.D. in molecular neuroscience from Cambridge University at the MRC-Laboratory of Molecular Biology. Having completed a Postdoc in molecular neuropharmacology at The Scripps Research Institute in California, in 2001, Dr. Spier co-founded La Jolla based Allon Therapeutics, Inc. There he led the peptide therapeutic neurodegenerative disease focused company as its President and CEO through two financing rounds and onto the Toronto Stock Exchange before joining Novartis.