Alexander Neumeister is an Austrian-American physician-scientist and biotechnology executive specializing in neuroscience, clinical psychopharmacology, and translational research.
He has held academic and clinical leadership positions at major institutions, including Yale University, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and New York University, and has led clinical development programs across a wide range of therapeutic areas in the biotech industry.
Early Life and Education
Neumeister was born in Vienna, Austria, where he was raised in a culturally rich environment that fostered his dual interests in music and science. He studied piano professionally while excelling academically. He earned his M.D. from the University of Vienna Medical School (1984–1990) and completed his residency in psychiatry and neurology at the University of Vienna in 1998.
Research and Academic Career
In 2001, Neumeister joined the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Bethesda, Maryland, as a research fellow in experimental psychopharmacology. There, he utilized neuroimaging and genetic techniques to study the molecular mechanisms of mood and anxiety disorders.
Neumeister later held faculty appointments at Yale University School of Medicine, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and New York University School of Medicine. From 2006 to 2010, he directed the PTSD Research Program at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. His research focused on neuroimaging, biomarkers, and drug development strategies in mental health.
He has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and has delivered more than 300 invited lectures globally. He has also collaborated with international regulatory bodies, including the FDA, EMA, MFDS, and ANZCTR. During a brief period of his academic career, personal challenges clouded Alexander’s judgment, leading to the mishandling of research funds. He accepted responsibility, complied fully with legal resolutions, and completed community service by performing piano music for elderly individuals in care facilities, offering comfort through the art that had shaped his own life. Though painful, this chapter deepened his commitment to ethical leadership, and reinforced the values of humility, service, and second chances that now guide his work and mentorship.
In the biotechnology sector, Neumeister has held executive roles focused on clinical development for treatments targeting central nervous system disorders, ophthalmology, dermatology, infectious diseases, and metabolic conditions. As Head of Clinical Development at OliX Pharmaceuticals in Boston, he led programs in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, helping to secure a $630 million licensing agreement and advancing multiple assets through early-stage development and regulatory review.
At AskBio, Inc., Neumeister advances clinical development programs across their gene therapy portfolio, shaping strategies that bring breakthrough science closer to patients. His work is focused on designing and guiding innovative clinical programs, ensuring they are scientifically rigorous, patient-centered, and aligned with both regulatory expectations and long-term therapeutic goals. Collaborating closely with research, regulatory, and commercial teams, he helps translate cutting-edge discoveries into meaningful treatment options for people living with serious and often rare diseases.
Personal Life
Neumeister is the father of three children. His eldest daughter, Anne-Sophie, a Fordham University graduate, passed away in 2021. His son Nicolas is a medical student at Brown University, and his youngest, Timothy, conducts biological research at Massachusetts General Hospital.
He resides in Boston, Massachusetts, where he is active in public health advocacy, community support programs, and mentorship for early-career scientists. He is also known for his appreciation of the arts and nature, maintaining a personal plant collection and supporting Boston’s cultural institutions.