Speakers

Dr Robert "Bob" Anderson

Bob Anderson is a leading gastroenterologist, immunologist, and biotechnology innovator whose work has impacted the scientific and clinical landscape of celiac disease.
Originally from New Zealand, Dr. Robert “Bob” 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 immune mechanisms of celiac disease, identifying the key gluten epitopes that activate pathogenic T cells and establishing 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 that promise 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.