Sarah Wurts Black

Sarah (Sally) Wurts Black has a diverse work experience in the field of neuropharmacology and research. Sarah (Sally) is currently serving as the Head of Biology for the Orexin Program at Centessa Pharmaceuticals since February 2019. Prior to that, they worked at Jazz Pharmaceuticals as a Consultant in Neuropharmacology from August 2018 to March 2021. Sarah (Sally) also held the position of Senior Principal Scientist at Reset Therapeutics from April 2016 to March 2018.

Before joining the industry, Sarah worked as a Research Scientist at SRI International from September 2011 to March 2016, where they conducted research on EEG-based biomarkers and investigated dysfunction in mouse models of Huntington's and Parkinson's disease. Sarah (Sally) was also a Postdoctoral Fellow at SRI International from January 2009 to August 2011, where they received a Career Re-entry grant to study the therapeutic mechanism of action of gamma hydroxybutyrate for narcolepsy.

Sarah started their career as an Independent Research/Education Professional, conducting independent research and education projects from May 2001 to December 2008. Sarah (Sally) also served as a Laboratory Technician at the University of Southern California from July 1992 to June 1993, where they discovered novel circuitry and neurotopographical organization of the zebra finch song system and supervised research assistants.

Sarah's educational background includes a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine from March 2000 to May 2001, where they worked in the Laboratory of Emmanuel Mignot, M.D., Ph.D., and a Visiting Doctoral Researcher role at Stanford University School of Medicine from July 1995 to March 2000, where they worked in the Laboratory of Dale Edgar, Ph.D. During this time, they conducted nationally award-winning research on the promotion of REM sleep tendency by the circadian pacemaker and developed an automated sleep-deprivation system for rodents.

Overall, Sarah (Sally) Wurts Black has extensive experience in neuropharmacology, research, and leadership roles in the pharmaceutical industry and academic institutions.

Sally Wurts Black has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from UCLA, which they obtained from 1993 to 2000. Prior to that, they completed their B.A. in Psychobiology at Pitzer College from 1988 to 1992.