The VIC Fellows Program offers experienced professionals the opportunity to learn how to identify and evaluate high-potential innovations from around the world. We’re proud to showcase the members of the 2025–2026 Fellows class through a series of interviews, including this recent conversation with Olivia Asfaha, PhD.
Please tell us a little bit about your background.I’m a scientist who ventured into the realm of biotechnology after ten years at the bench. My previous research focused on protein interactions mediating normal and impaired synaptic plasticity in the brain. Now, I support science, strategy, and operations at two VIC Tech start-ups: Neurexis Therapeutics and Solaris Vaccines. I still publish academic work under my maiden name (Buonarati) but look forward to publishing company-led studies soon – stay tuned.
Could you share a bit about your path into neuropharmacology and biochemistry—and what led you to spend over a decade researching novel therapeutic mechanisms?
I had zero background in neuroscience when I started graduate school. Having completed my B.S. in Environmental Science, I was originally more interested in the ‘tox’ side of Pharmacology and Toxicology. One rotation is all it took to get excited about neuronal excitability. Also, a good team has always been hugely motivating for me, and every one of my professional pivots has been driven by people as much as by science.
You now oversee operations and research strategy at Neurexis Therapeutics and Solaris Vaccines. What inspired your move from academia into early-stage biotech and translational research?
During the COVID19 pandemic, pay and hiring was frozen across many universities, including my postdoc institution. Meanwhile, my friends in industry were thriving. This led me to reconsider my original goal of an academic faculty position. I’ve really enjoyed the transition, in part because academia and early-stage biotech share core qualities of impact, creativity, innovation, and adaptability.From your perspective, what are the biggest scientific bottlenecks in turning a novel mechanism into a first-in-class neurotherapeutic?
Previous failures in the quest for neurotherapeutic advancement stem from a variety of factors. Big picture, I think some of the most significant bottlenecks are the heterogenous and complex presentation of neurological diseases, and our relatively limited understanding of the pathological mechanisms that drive them.You’ve successfully secured NIH funding, including a Research Service Award and SBIR grant. What key lessons would you share with researchers looking to make that same translational leap?
I continue to learn lessons with each new grant application submitted. My top tips are:What part of translating science into real-world therapies do you find most rewarding?
I think the answer is yet to come, hopefully in clinical trials. But even at the preclinical stage, any progress in therapeutic development will advance the field, regardless of positive or negative outcome. This is especially true for neurotherapeutics.
Why did you decide to become a VIC Fellow, what do you hope to contribute, and what new tools or skills are you currently excited to learn?
I became a VIC fellow because it was a great fit with my current roles with Neurexis and Solaris, and because I welcome new opportunities that take me out of my comfort zone. I am most excited about contributing to and learning from the process of opportunity assessment, and how cutting-edge technologies undergo due diligence by the VIC Tech team.
What are your long-term goals and how does participating in the VIC Fellows Program facilitate attaining these goals?
I’m working to build a career that challenges me intellectually, requires continuous learning, and allows me to make meaningful contributions to human health. Other top priorities are decision-making power and autonomy in my workflow. Over the past several years, I’ve come to recognize that early-stage development of new technologies is one fantastic way to do achieve these goals. The VIC Fellows Program is a unique opportunity to better understand the risk/benefit analysis of emerging technologies from both a technical and commercial perspective. As someone who’s skilled at zooming in, I welcome the less familiar exercise of zooming out.