Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Bruce Morimoto
Dr. Bruce Morimoto (B.S. ’84, Ph.D. ’89) has built a distinguished career at the intersection of science, leadership, and innovation in the biotechnology industry. A UCLA alumnus, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry in 1984 and his Ph.D. in 1989 under Professor Daniel Atkinson. He has spent nearly three decades advancing drug development efforts, particularly in central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at UC Berkeley, Morimoto began his academic career as a faculty member at Purdue University before transitioning to the biotech sector in search of a more collaborative, interdisciplinary environment. He went on to hold leadership roles at several companies, including Allon Therapeutics, Alkahest, Cerecin, and Alto Neuroscience, guiding teams in manufacturing, nonclinical and clinical development, and regulatory strategy.
His work has focused on therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Reflecting on his career, he emphasizes resilience in the face of challenges. Morimoto says, “I learned more from my failures than my successes and came to realize that the true test of leadership is how we conduct ourselves during intense and stressful times and navigate a path forward.”
Continuing to be deeply engaged in the scientific community, Morimoto now serves in advisory roles for biotech companies and foundations, including the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and the vATPase Alliance. In these roles, he shares his experience and mentors emerging scientists, helping them navigate the drug development landscape.
He traces his passion for science to his time at UCLA, where undergraduate research proved formative. Encouraged by a teaching assistant to explore research, he was introduced to Professor Atkinson and joined his lab. As a graduate student, a rotation in Professor Steve Clarke’s lab and training in Molecular Biology from Professor Sabeeha Merchant “catalyzed my love of exploration and problem-solving,” he says. “It all started with undergraduate research, which opened my eyes to a new world, and I never looked back.”
Morimoto remains closely connected to UCLA, saying, “I am grateful for the education, mentorship, and friendships I found at UCLA.” In addition to speaking at the department’s Careers in Chemistry & Biochemistry undergraduate course, he was among the donors who helped establish the Daniel E. Atkinson & Charles A. West Prizes in Metabolic Biochemistry, which are awarded to undergraduate and graduate students for excellence in metabolic biochemistry. The university also holds special personal significance: it is where he met his wife, Joy, continuing a family tradition – his parents met there as well. Morimoto says, “UCLA was absolutely the best of times, a very special place.”