Steven Petrou is internationally recognized in the field of functional genetics and genomics of neurological disease – especially epilepsy. He was the first to identify a number of disease-causing gene variants and characterize how they cause the associated clinical conditions. He has a long history of industry engagement and development of new therapeutics based on disease models, is an inventor on numerous patents – including eight covering antisense oligonucleotide IP – and has founded two biotech companies to develop precision medicines. One of his lead programs – developed in collaboration with Ionis Pharmaceuticals, the world leader in ASO technology and development – is anticipated to nominate its lead ASO candidate within six months, in preparation of first-in-patient trials in 2021. He is Director of the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, one of the largest neuroscience research institutes in the world.