Thierry Bordet studied biology at the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Lyon, France and obtained his PhD from the department of human genetics of the Institut Cochin in Paris, France. His PhD program succeeded in the development of gene transfer-based therapies for motor neuron disorders such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gherig’s disease, and Spinal muscular Atrophies (SMA) and he identified the neurotrophic factor, cardiotrophin-1, as a potential gene candidate for treatment of these diseases. In 2001, he joined Trophos where he developed a number of cell culture models of motor neuron disease for drug screening which culminated in the identification of TRO19622, a drug candidate in clinical development for ALS, SMA and neuropathic pain syndromes. He has worked to identify the targets and mechanism of action of this family of compounds that supports their potential utility in a range of neurodegenerative diseases as well as other therapeutic indications. To be able to evaluate compounds for their potential to treat SMA, Dr. Bordet also generated and characterized a new mouse model for SMA. Since 2003, he has been working as a Project Leader for Neuroprotection programs at Trophos.