Tanz Centre alum finds career in commercialization

After earning a PhD at the University of Toronto, Hamza Arshad is embarking on a new career direction, while still firmly planted in his scientific roots.

And his experience at the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, he says, gave him the scientific and communications skills he needs for his new path — wherever it may lead.

“Science needs to be communicated better, but that’s a difficult skill to develop that needs to be mastered over time,” says Arshad, now chief scientific officer of start-up company Heprion, which is dedicated to advancing treatment for prion-based brain diseases.

“The Tanz Centre is a great place to refine your communication ability while doing research, because the environment emphasizes presentation skills and communicating your ideas. The centre’s community of scientists are also very willing to share resources and expertise to achieve common goals.”

Arshad first became interested in a research career during his undergraduate degree at U of T, where he specialized in neuroscience and biochemistry. He participated in research programs and courses in several labs to learn about the range of possibilities related to biochemistry.

One of those labs was led by Joel Watts, a Tanz Centre researcher and associate professor of biochemistry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, whose group studies neurodegenerative conditions including prion diseases — already then an area of interest for Arshad.

“I was really interested in how Dr. Watts used biochemical techniques to characterize neurodegenerative diseases,” Arshad says. “This wasn't very common when I was doing my undergrad, and it blended both of my areas of interest.”

Arshad started a master’s degree in biochemistry supervised by Watts, and soon transitioned to a PhD, studying prion diseases in the bank vole rodent. Prions are typically species-specific, but bank voles can be infected with prions from a wide range of species, making them an ideal model to study different types of prions and how they cause disease.

During his graduate research, Arshad developed cell-based sensors to detect prion pathogens and investigated molecular reasons why the bank vole can be infected with prions from different animal species, to help answer fundamental questions about templated misfolding in prion diseases.

After completing his PhD in 2023, Arshad wanted to pursue a slightly different field. He briefly worked for the CCRM, an organization based at MaRS Discovery District that helps accelerate development of gene therapies and regenerative medicine technologies. In his role as a venture scientist, he helped researchers who had ideas for start-ups de-risk their innovation and build their vision into mature companies.

He is now using some of the experience he gained in that role for his current position as CSO of Heprion, which stands for Harnessing Evolution for the Treatment of Prion Diseases. The company, spun from research by Tanz Centre and Temerty Medicine researcher Gerold Schmitt-Ulms, aims to develop a therapeutic for prion diseases. Arshad pitches the company to potential funders and investors, and navigates patent and intellectual property laws and regulations.

At the same time, Arshad is a postdoctoral fellow in Schmitt-Ulms’ lab, establishing cellular and animal models of spontaneous and inherited prion diseases.

Arshad says that many skills he learned during his graduate studies have proven valuable in the business world. In particular, the experience he gained through seminar series organized by Watts helped him communicate his research to other students working in different fields.

“I think Joel’s lab was a particularly great place for me. He’s an effective communicator, and he really helped me hone that skill,” says Arshad. “In the commercialization space, it’s not enough to have an idea that is scientifically sound. You have to have high-quality science and be able to communicate that effectively to people who know the business side and can advise on how to advance discoveries from bench to clinic.” 

Heprion is just a few months old, in the early stages of commercialization. As he takes part in incubator and accelerator programs at U of T and seeks funding to support the company, Arshad says he enjoys being in a field with potential for significant impact on patients. Prion diseases currently have no therapies, and are typically fatal in just a few months.

“It's extremely rewarding to work toward a treatment for a disease that I studied so much, and I'm really motivated to tackle this problem,” he says. “At conferences, I often meet family members of patients, and it’s an important reminder that we’re not just studying cells. We’re trying to help patients, and their families.”