Our Team

Dr. Robert “Bob” Anderson is a world-leading gastroenterologist, immunologist, and biotechnology innovator whose work has transformed the scientific and clinical landscape of celiac disease. With deep expertise spanning discovery research, clinical translation, and commercial development, he brings a uniquely global and multidisciplinary perspective to the Celiac Disease Foundation Impact Fund’s scientific leadership. Originally from New Zealand, Dr. Anderson completed his medical and doctoral training there before undertaking gastroenterology specialization in Melbourne, Australia, and post-doctoral research at Oxford University, where he pioneered studies into gluten-specific T cells. His subsequent work at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research defined the immune mechanisms of celiac disease, identifying the key gluten epitopes that activate pathogenic T cells and helping establish celiac disease as a systemic autoimmune condition. As scientific founder and executive of several biotech ventures—including Nexpep, ImmusanT, and now Novoviah Pharmaceuticals and JM Clinical, where he serves as Co-Founder and Director, and as Co-Founder and Chief Medical Director, respectively—Dr. Anderson has guided programs translating immunology into tangible patient applications. He led the development of Nexvax2, the first antigen-specific immunotherapy for celiac disease, advancing it through global clinical trials. Currently, through Novoviah Pharmaceuticals, he is advancing next-generation T-cell–based diagnostics aimed at earlier and more accurate disease detection and monitoring. Dr. Anderson serves as President of the International Society for the Study of Celiac Disease (ISSCD) and as the Principal Science & Innovation Advisor to the Celiac Disease Foundation. His scientific leadership has been recognized worldwide, including the Celiac Disease Foundation Prize for Excellence in Celiac Disease Research and the Mäki Celiac Disease Tampere Prize for outstanding contributions to the field of gluten-related disorders. As Chair of the Scientific Advisory Group, Dr. Anderson guides the Fund’s strategic scientific vision—identifying transformative opportunities, mentoring emerging investigators, and helping ensure that each investment drives measurable impact from the laboratory to the lives of those with celiac disease.

Dr. Daniel A. Leffler is a globally respected gastroenterologist, clinical researcher, and thought leader in celiac disease whose work spans academic medicine, translational science, clinical innovation, and global biopharmaceutical development. He is recognized for advancing standards of diagnosis, improving disease management, and shaping clinical strategy for novel therapies, bringing a comprehensive and patient-centered perspective to the Celiac Disease Foundation Impact Fund’s scientific leadership. Dr. Leffler currently serves as Executive Medical Director and Global Program Lead for Celiac Disease at Chugai Pharmaceuticals, where he guides the clinical development strategy for immune-mediated disorders, with a focus on creating better diagnostic tools, treatment paradigms, and outcomes for people with celiac disease. Prior to Chugai, he was Global Clinical Lead for Celiac Disease at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, where he helped drive the company’s clinical strategy in celiac disease and increased awareness of disease burden and unmet needs. His industry leadership has helped bridge clinical expertise and therapeutic innovation at scale. A dedicated clinician-scientist, Dr. Leffler is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and has held key roles at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s Celiac Center, including Director of Research. His clinical work informs his research and policy contributions, and he remains actively involved in care delivery. He has published extensively — more than 200 peer-reviewed articles, guidelines, and consensus statements on celiac disease, including on topics such as diagnosis strategies, patient outcomes, and real-world management — and his work is widely cited in the field. Dr. Leffler is frequently invited to speak internationally on celiac disease diagnosis and management, including how to improve recognition and care pathways. His contributions extend to public and professional education, helping raise awareness of the true burden of celiac disease and practical approaches to care. As a member of the Scientific Advisory Group, Dr. Leffler provides expert clinical and scientific review of prospective investments, evaluating translational promise, clinical feasibility, and the potential to meaningfully advance the standard of care for individuals living with celiac disease.

Dr. Daniel C. Adelman is a clinician-scientist, immunologist, and biotechnology leader whose career spans academic medicine and executive leadership in drug development. With more than three decades of experience advancing therapies for immune-mediated diseases, he brings to the Celiac Disease Foundation Impact Fund deep expertise in translational science, clinical strategy, and regulatory development, with a consistent focus on meaningful patient outcomes. Dr. Adelman the advancement of novel immune-based therapeutic programs. Over the course of his industry career, he has held senior leadership roles including Chief Medical Officer at Aimmune Therapeutics, Alvine Pharmaceuticals, and Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, guiding global clinical development strategies across allergy, autoimmunity, inflammatory diseases, and oncology. At Aimmune Therapeutics, he led clinical development efforts culminating in the FDA approval of Palforzia®, the first approved therapy for peanut allergy, marking a milestone in immune tolerance–based treatment. His work has also included programs relevant to celiac disease and food allergy, emphasizing rigorous clinical endpoints and patient-centered benefit. Earlier in his career, he served as a Clinical Scientist at Genentech and as Vice President of Clinical Operations and Biometrics at Pharmacyclics, contributing to the development of pioneering biologic and targeted therapies. Dr. Adelman served for more than three decades on the faculty of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine in the Division of Allergy and Immunology and as Director of Clinical Allergy and Immunology, and he continues as an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at UCSF. He has published extensively in allergy and clinical immunology and has served on the editorial boards of Clinical Immunology and the Journal of Clinical Immunology. He earned his B.A. in Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, and his M.D. from the University of California, Davis. As a member of the Scientific Advisory Group, Dr. Adelman evaluates emerging scientific opportunities with an emphasis on translational potential, clinical feasibility, and the capacity to advance new standards of care for individuals living with celiac disease.

Dr Ciarán P Kelly is Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the J Thomas Lamont Professor of Gastroenterology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Boston, Massachusetts USA. Dr Kelly has engaged in patient care and research in Celiac disease for more than 30 years. In 2004 he was a founder of the Celiac Center at BIDMC and continues to serve as its Medical Director. In 2013 he co-founded the Celiac Education and Research Program at Harvard Medical School which brings together Celiac disease educators and researchers from Harvard teaching hospitals including Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and BIDMC. He is a founding member and past President of the Society for the Study of Celiac Disease. Dr Kelly is an internationally recognized expert in the diagnosis and management of celiac disease. He also leads research programs on the pathogenesis of celiac disease, its diagnosis and new approaches to treatment. He is the author of more than 300 clinical and basic research book chapters, invited reviews, and original research articles appearing in medical and scientific journals including Gastroenterology, The Journal of Clinical Investigation, The Lancet and The New England Journal of Medicine.