Women in science: Trailblazing neurologist Antonella Favit-VanPelt's sound advice for success

From asking endless questions about the causes of illness as a young girl to pioneering therapeutic innovations as an adult, Dr Favit-VanPelt’s journey is marked by relentless curiosity and a drive to find new ways to help patients. Her advice to young women entering science is simple yet profound: be curious, challenge the status quo, and never take no for an answer. As the chief medical officer at Helius Medical Technologies, she continues to break barriers, developing cutting-edge treatments that offer new hope to patients with neurological disorders.  ​

Her advice to women entering into what she strongly feels remains a male-dominated profession is 'think for yourself, work hard and make it happen' and she points out that nobody can do it for you. We were delighted to speak to her for our regular female-focused feature. 

Could you give us an overview of your work?​

I’m a neurologist focused on therapeutic innovation, helping the medical community and patients gain access to novel treatment options.  For the past 30 years, I’ve used my clinical development experience and knowledge of experimental therapeutics to advance development of new pharmacological treatments to manage and treat patients with rare neuromuscular, neurological and movement disorders.

Since 2021, I’ve put that expertise to work as chief medical officer at Helius Medical Technologies, raising awareness and expanding the clinical development of a novel therapeutic option to treat neurological disorders that affect movement and coordination functions, such as multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, stroke and, perhaps soon, other conditions.  This new technology, called PoNS® (Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator), is a pioneering approach that leverages translingual stimulation of the trigeminal pathway, sending a flow of neural impulses to the brain structures that control balance and gait.  Regular and consistent neurostimulation, combined with physical therapy, promotes mechanisms of neuromodulation and neuroplasticity that upregulate directly specific areas in the brain, to replace or repair impaired corticospinal tract pathways that affect one’s ability to walk well, regardless of the underlying medical condition.

When did you realize you were interested in science - as a young child, teen, or older?​

Ever since I can remember, to be honest.  I was curious about sickness as a child – but more interested in the 'why' than the 'what'. One of my favorite questions was 'why did you get sick?' I never really asked what​ they had; my focus was on how someone ended up with a fever, stomachache or disease.  As I grew older and realized medicine and science were my passions, I understood that if I really wanted to have a meaningful impact on treating patients, I needed to figure out why they developed their symptoms; why one patient ended up with a different clinical presentation than another with the same disease, or why a therapy would work on one patient and not another.  Through medical school, I realized that medical research is the science of the “why” rather than the “what or how” and started to gravitate toward the more challenging and unexplored areas of medical research.  I developed an attitude of “finding a new way,” whether it related to diagnosing a disease, finding the right treatment or even managing how patients deal with their condition.  Even the work I do today at Helius is a testament to my interest in and predisposition toward “finding a new way” to treat patients with functional disabilities like walking impairment due to neurological deficits.

Could you describe your personal journey bringing us to where you are now?​

I grew up and completed my education through medical school in Italy.  I always knew I’d be a physician, but in Europe students interested in medicine typically focus on science and math.  I didn’t; I chose a humanistic course of study because I was - and remain - staunchly convinced that to treat a disease one must first understand the human soul, spirit and mind.  Empathy is critical.  It turned out to be a good decision.

My career path has been shaped by a long-standing passion: I’ve always looked for opportunities to be at the forefront of research and innovation that could better the standard of care and offer more-impactful therapeutic options to patients.  A scholarship brought me to the United States for an internship in Clinical Neuroendocrinology at the National Institutes of Health.  I later worked as a research fellow in neuroendocrinology at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and then at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, working on groundbreaking research in neurodegeneration.  Eventually I moved into the pharma industry, developing neuroimaging diagnostics for Parkinson’s Disease, Lewy Body Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Along the way I shared three patents for a new Alzheimer’s disease treatment and co-founded and led two companies: Synaerion Therapeutics and Thera Neuropharma, a career pinnacle fueled by the objective of developing a breakthrough therapeutic approach for ALS.

What challenges did you face - as a woman or otherwise - along the way and what is the most valuable lesson you have learned?​

As a young woman in Italy in the 1980s – especially an intellectually curious and independent one – I often was viewed as a threat to the status quo.  My instincts, intuition, search for 'the meaning' and deductive thinking skills brought me beyond mere learning, but often upset peers and, even, teachers.

At first, it was difficult not to get bogged down with what people thought or said about me.  But to move forward, I knew that I couldn’t rely on dispensed truths or, worse, take “no” for an answer.  The only truth that mattered was the one supported by facts and evidence – but even facts and evidence could, and should, be challenged to 'find a new way'.  I recognized I had to work hard and rely on myself to make things happen for me, but I also was blessed with extraordinary mentors who saw my potential.  They encouraged me to never stop thinking outside the box in my research, and to use my uncommon intuition to develop a bond with my patients.   

Throughout my journey as a physician, I realized that helping patients is not just about managing their disease.  My patients are often affected by an untreatable neurodegenerative progressive disorder.  To help them, I first need to understand their journey and disposition – how they perceive the disease and react to the challenges posed by it.  The human factor is almost always the best predictor of success of the therapeutic management plan I set for them.

What ignites your passion in your current role?​

Exploration through thinking outside the box to find solutions and alternatives that aren’t intuitive.  Finding breakthrough approaches through disruptive technologies. 

My calling always has been to foster innovation.  I’m drawn to opportunities that allow me to develop and bring new therapeutic options to a field with dire unmet medical needs.  This is the principle that guided my choices throughout my career path, including my current role.  PoNS Therapy is a different, new, one-of-a-kind way of thinking about neuromodulation to unmask its potential for deploying the brain’s full power to compensate and adapt.  It’s not often that a researcher gets to work on a technology that has the potential to make a therapeutic impact across the spectrum of multiple neurological disorders – and has been granted two breakthrough designations (in MS and stroke) by the FDA! 

What is your current work ethos/style?​

A commitment to lifelong learning is a conditio sine qua non​ for researchers, physicians and scientists.  You must be curious if you ever hope to think outside the box.  I’m no longer in school, but I’ve never stopped learning: in fact, I spend most of my free time studying, reading publications, seeking opinions from others. 

Nevertheless, my approach to gathering and processing information always has been highly critical and inquisitive.  I need evidence to make up my mind about information that others provide.  As a scientist, I believe that sharing opinions is great fuel to spearhead research and innovation, but meaningful information is something else altogether.  When it comes to patients it’s our duty as healthcare providers to acquire validated knowledge and well-documented information.  

Could you share some advice for young women starting to develop an interest in science or wanting to pursue a career like yours?​

Anyone who’s read this far will recognize key themes: be curious, have an inquisitive mindset, embrace evidence and facts.  Always challenge the status quo and, most importantly, don’t take “no” for an answer.  Always think for yourself and, if you’re confident in your abilities, you’ll find what you’re looking for.

Unfortunately, women today must work harder than men; this is still a harsh reality in our field. Too often women seek support, leniency and some form of gratification and – it’s still a painful truth – rely on their femininity to move ahead.  My advice is to be confident, self-sufficient and focus on yourselves, your skills and your ambition. 

Success is a hard-won endeavor.  My first mentor, the late Professor Umberto Scapagnini, a world-renowned pioneer in the field of neuropharmacology, once told me: 'If you work more than 16 hours a day you may​ be successful. Work more than 18 hours a day, then success is a sure thing.'

Therefore, think for yourself, work hard and make it happen. No one is going to do it for you.