Ekkehard Leberer PhD

Dr. Leberer received his Ph.D. in Biology at the University of Konstanz, Germany (1986), and conducted post-doctoral training in molecular biology at the Banting and Best Institute of the University of Toronto, Canada. He then obtained the Habilitation for Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Konstanz, Germany (1992). From 1989-to 1998, he served as Senior Research Officer in genetics and genomics at the Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Council of Canada, Montreal. He was also Adjunct Professor at McGill University, Montreal.

Since joining Hoechst Marion Roussel in 1998, Dr. Leberer carried out various managing roles in this company, Sanofi’s predecessor companies, and Sanofi itself, including responsibilities in functional genomics, biological sciences, and external innovation and alliance management for oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. In addition, from 2012-to 2018, he has been the Scientific Managing Director of the Innovative Medicines Initiative COMPACT Consortium on the delivery of biopharmaceuticals across biological barriers and cellular membranes, Brussels. In 2021, he has founded Elbiocon (www.elbiocon.com) to provide consulting services in life sciences. He serves as a member of the Scientific Advisory Boards of several biotechnology companies, and he is the Head of the Supervisory Board of BioM, Munich.

His research has focused on the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction and the role of signaling molecules in human diseases. He is the co-discoverer of the p21 activated protein kinase (PAK) family of cell signaling proteins and of novel virulence-inducing genes in pathogenic fungi. He is co-author of more than 60 publications in prestigious peer-reviewed journals including Nature and Science.