Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) has announced the appointment of Harald Hampel, M.D., Ph.D., as senior vice president, worldwide head of medical affairs, neuroscience, effective as of Jan. 12.
Dr. Hampel is one of the world’s most influential leaders in brain health, recognized for shaping how Alzheimer’s disease and other serious neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric conditions are understood, studied and advanced.
His work has helped move the neuroscience field toward biologically grounded diagnosis and precision medicine, as well as earlier, more decisive intervention — changes that are now redefining modern neuroscience.
In his new role, Hampel will set and implement the worldwide medical strategy for BMS’ brain health ambition and neuroscience portfolio, serving as the company’s senior medical leader and external scientific voice in neuroscience.
He will shape how BMS leads in brain health, guiding medical strategy from early development through commercialization, driving early differentiation, biomarker strategy and translational innovation, and strengthening BMS’ leadership presence with regulators, academia and the global neuroscience community.
“BMS is uniquely positioned to shape the future of brain health,” said Hampel. “Its recent advances in neuropsychiatry are just the beginning. I’m excited to help drive the next wave of precision neuroscience, bringing earlier diagnosis, stronger science and real hope to patients and families.”
Hampel has secured 12 patents in diagnostics and biomarkers for psychiatric, neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory disorders; directly influenced international frameworks for the biological definition of Alzheimer’s disease, biomarker validation and next-generation clinical trial design; authored more than 900 peer-reviewed publications; and been consecutively ranked among the most highly cited neuroscience researchers globally.
Harald is one of the rare leaders whose work has changed how neurodegenerative disorders and neuropsychiatric conditions are diagnosed and treated worldwide,” said Dr. Tania Small, senior vice president and head of global medical affairs, BMS.
“This appointment reflects our ambition at BMS and strengthens our ability to turn science into real progress for patients who have waited far too long for better answers and better lives.”
Additionally, Hampel is a board-certified psychiatrist who has previously worked successfully in leadership positions at international university-based medical, academic and research institutions. He is the founding president of the Alzheimer Precision Medicine Initiative (APMI) and its flagship cohort program (APMI-CP).
He also leads the International Cholinergic Systems Working Group, helping to set global scientific direction and align academia, industry and regulators around precision approaches to brain disease.
Most recently, he was chief medical officer and senior vice president of neurology at Eisai Inc., where he critically supported the development, approval and successful U.S. and international launches of the first disease-modifying treatment in Alzheimer’s disease.
His appointment underscores BMS’ commitment to leading the next era of innovation in brain health and advancing meaningful progress for patients while supporting long-term portfolio growth.
