About Us

Neuropath Therapeutics Ltd., a biotech spin-out from TCD, emanates from and is closely associated with TCD’s Academic Unit of Neurology, where Dr Kelly, Neuropath’s Founder and CEO, is a Research Associate Professor.  The Unit is headed by Professor Orla Hardiman, an internationally recognized clinician/researcher and key opinion leader (KOL) in ALS-FTD.

The Company is focused on advancing translational development of its lead compound through Phase 1 proof-of-principle studies.

For the preclinical phase, Neuropath has drawn on extended seed funding from a venture philanthropy investment.  The preceding discovery phase (prior to spin out) was funded through multiple grants on which Dr Kelly was the PI – grantors included The Wellcome Trust, Enterprise Ireland, and Research Motor Neurone.

Neuropath’s principals, Dr Julie Kelly and James Downey, working through an outsourced business model, head up a cross-functional team of experienced drug development consultants, advisors, a financial controller, and top-tier EU-based CROs to undertake the development program.  Neuropath in-licenses its IP from TCD.

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Julie Kelly

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Founder, CEO and Director

  • Research Associate Professor, Academic Unit of Neurology, TCD.

  • Neuroscientist with over 30 years’ experience in basic and translational research and third-level teaching; well-developed leadership and management skills.

  • Expert on TRH and TRH-based neurotherapeutics.

  • TCD (from 1995): Wellcome Trust Research Career Re-entry Fellow; PI on successive research grants, generating publications and patents.

  • NATO Postdoctoral Fellow (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA); NIH-funded Postdoctoral Fellow (Center for Neurochemistry, New York, USA).

  • BSc. (Hons), Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Huddersfield, UK; MSc. and Ph.D., Physiology and Neuroscience, University of Manchester, Medical School, UK.

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James Downey

Executive Director

  • Executive with over 30 years’ broad-based business experience; senior roles in international private investment management.

  • Early career with Exxon, in treasury (NYC headquarters) and engineering project management.

  • BSc., Engineering, Swarthmore College, USA; MBA, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA.