Our Scientists

Diana Gallagher joined Biogen in 2015 and now leads development efforts across Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, multiple sclerosis (MS), and immunology. Her teams provide clinical development support for Biogen’s leading portfolio of marketed MS treatments, available in more than 60 countries worldwide, as well as work on novel BTK assets for MS and autoimmune indications. In addition, her teams innovate for patients with Alzheimer’s disease through a multi-modality approach to tackle this devastating disease.

Diana also oversees four Phase 3 clinical studies in lupus, positioning her teams at the forefront of Biogen’s ongoing expansion into immunology. With more than 15 years of lupus drug development experience, these scientists have advanced one of only three assets ever to achieve positive Phase 3 results in a global lupus clinical study. In addition, they support 5 preclinical and early clinical development opportunities in autoimmune diseases.   

In a prior role at Biogen, Diana led the External Innovation Team, bringing more than 40 new ideas into the pipeline in just four years. Today, in collaboration with Business Development and other colleagues, she continues to evaluate external investment opportunities that have the potential to further strengthen and diversify Biogen’s pipeline. 

Before Biogen, Diana worked in early clinical development at Merck on oral, IV, and inhaled therapies across multiple indications. Her career began at the bedside as a pulmonary and ICU physician, following rigorous training that included an M.D. from Johns Hopkins, a Master’s in Medical Sciences from Harvard, and a fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care at Harvard hospitals. Her research focused on endothelial barrier dysfunction, deepening her understanding of immune-mediated diseases.

Steph first joined Biogen in 2009 as a post-doc and has held various roles across Research and Development over the past 16 years, including roles in Safety, Regulatory, and Clinical Development. She now oversees our Neuromuscular Development Unit. 

During her tenure with Biogen, Steph has helped to bring meaningful therapies to people living with rare diseases around the world. 

Steph helped shepherd the 2016 groundbreaking approval of the first drug approved to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) – once the leading genetic cause of infant death. Nearly a decade later, Steph and her teams are advancing the next era of treatment options to address critical unmet need for people living with SMA. 

Steph also led the development of the first approved therapy for a genetic form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SOD1-ALS), which supported significant advancement of neurofilament as a biomarker and optimization of clinical trial design in ALS. In 2024, Steph and a colleague were recognized with the Muscular Dystrophy Association ‘Diamond Award’ for clinical & scientific advancements in ALS. She is also the co-chair of the Accelerating Medicines Partnership (AMP) for ALS, a precompetitive public-private partnership that brings together NIH, CPATH, FDA, academia, patient advocacy groups, and industry to accelerate development of ALS therapies.

More recently, Steph has had the chance to leverage these experiences in rare disease development to support expansion of the portfolio into Friedreich Ataxia (FA), with the first approved therapy for FA in hand.   

Nick joined Biogen in 2025 to lead strategic efforts to advance innovative research in immunology. Prior to his current role, Nick served as the Head of Discovery Cancer Immunology and Cell Therapy at Bristol Myers Squibb. With a career spanning multiple leading biotechnology companies, Nick has held key positions at Gilead, Novartis, Agenus, Merck KGaA, and CSL Limited across California, Massachusetts, and Australia. He earned his PhD in Medical Biology from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (Melbourne University) and completed postdoctoral research at Genentech.

Uptal joined Biogen through the 2024 acquisition of HI-Bio, where he had been Chief Medical Officer since 2022. At Biogen’s West Coast Hub, Uptal leads development efforts for our late-stage investigational immunology asset, with nephrology as a leading area of focus.

Before joining Biogen, Uptal held leadership roles at AstraZeneca and Gilead Sciences, where he directed clinical strategy, translation, and development of kidney-focused portfolios. He is also an adjunct professor at Duke University, where he has spearheaded clinical and translational research programs to improve detection and management of kidney disease. His work with the Duke Clinical Research Institute advanced several landmark nephrology trials and population health programs.

Uptal currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Kidney Health Initiative (KHI), an organization designed to catalyze innovation and the development of safe and effective patient-centered therapies for the 40 million Americans with kidney diseases. The KHI has brought together industry, academia, patients and regulators to redefine the regulatory pathway for kidney disease treatments, which has led to significant advancements and investment in new therapies.