When you ask people to name the architects behind Target ALS’s unique model, one name surfaces time and again: Dr. Chris Henderson. A renowned neuroscientist, biotech pioneer, and founding scientific advisor of Target ALS, Dr. Henderson has helped shape not just the organization, but the entire research ecosystem for ALS over the past decades.
Recently retired from his formal industry role, Dr. Henderson remains an active force on the Target ALS board. His career journey—from enzymology labs in England to executive leadership at Biogen and startups in Marseille—has been anything but conventional. But at every turn, his focus has remained clear: driving science forward to make a real impact in the lives of people living with ALS.
From Curiosity to Commitment
Dr. Henderson’s path into ALS research began almost by accident. A basic scientist by training, he became fascinated with the survival mechanisms of motor neurons during embryonic development. That scientific curiosity, paired with a single line in a 1979 grant proposal wondering if his findings could help slow neuron death in ALS, evolved into a lifelong pursuit.
“There was no understanding of ALS when I started—no energy, no breakthroughs,” he recalled. “But that just made it more compelling. Motor neuron biology became my lens to decode a devastating disease.”
Bridging Worlds: Academia, Biotech, and Industry
Dr. Henderson’s career has defied boundaries. In France, he co-founded Trophos, where his team identified the first drug to show promise in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). At Columbia University, he launched the Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, building the largest single group focused on ALS and SMA at the time.
Later, at Biogen, he became Head of Research, helping lead major programs in ALS, SMA, Alzheimer’s, and rare diseases. There, he learned a lesson many academics underestimate: “You can’t make drugs without industry. You can publish a great paper, but if no one’s building a bridge to the clinic, patients won’t benefit.”
Target ALS: An Ecosystem Built on Principles
Together with Dr. Zach Hall, Dr. Henderson played a pivotal role in the inception of Target ALS alongside founder Dan Doctoroff. He helped craft a bold vision rooted in collaboration, transparency, and moral clarity.
“The existing system wasn’t working. Funding was fragmented. Collaboration was surface-level. We needed to do it differently,” he explained.
That difference became the DNA of Target ALS: open access core facilities, IP-friendly funding models, academic-industry consortia, and an independent review process blending scientific and industry expertise.
“We wanted to remove friction—between universities, between companies, between science and impact,” Dr. Henderson said. “And above all, we wanted to be honest. We weren’t going to promise a cure in three years. But we could promise progress.”
Failure That Moves the Field Forward
One of Dr. Henderson’s proudest contributions has been helping shape the organization’s ethos and north star: Everyone with ALS lives.
“It’s not about a magical cure,” he said. “It’s about helping people live—longer, better, with more dignity. We’ve met families who have cared for loved ones for years with joy, purpose, and extraordinary love. That vision is worth fighting for.”
A Final Word of Advice
To the next generation of researchers, Dr. Henderson offered both realism and encouragement: “Start in academia and go deep. But don’t fear industry—it’s full of passionate scientists and real opportunity. We need both sides to talk to each other more, not less.”
Although recently retired from his role of Chief Scientific Officer at Alltrna, Dr. Henderson is nowhere near ready to step down from his commitment to Target ALS.
He said, “We have a chance—right now—to fundamentally change the course of ALS. That’s a no-brainer to keep showing up for.”
