Making a Global Impact

For nearly a decade, head of the Queensland Emory Drug Discovery Initiative (QEDDI) Brian Dymock, Ph.D, and his colleagues have pursued an ambitious goal: translate an intriguing piece of cancer biology into a potential new treatment for patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Marilyn Carson has been living with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) for nearly 30 years. But rather than let that diagnosis define her, she's driven by a sense of community, action and purpose.

For Monica Patton, life and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) go hand in hand. Diagnosed at just six months old after doctors noticed abdominal swelling and discomfort, Monica doesn’t have the experience of living without an ARPKD diagnosis. From her first memories and conversations, she entered a world where survival was far from guaranteed. At the time of this diagnosis nearly four decades ago, ARPKD was widely considered fatal in early childhood.

Founded in 2023 by Critical Path Institute (C-Path), Critical Path for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency was convened to address an urgent need: accelerating meaningful medical progress for people living with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD).

Dr. Peter Wipf, a renowned professor of chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh and one of the leading innovators in prostate cancer research, shares the impact the grant award from Critical Path Institute's (C-Path) Translational Therapeutics Accelerator (TRxA) has made.

Inherited ataxias are a diverse collection of genetic disorders that are characterized by clinical manifestations like impaired coordination of voluntary movements, such as gait and speech.

Ron Newbury is a former attorney, teacher, and a lifelong outdoor enthusiast. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in July of 2022. Like many living with ALS, he had years of unexplained symptoms before his diagnosis: a weakened golf swing, feeling his arms would tire quickly during routine tasks, and more. However, it was during one of his cherished bike trips that things progressed to the point of needing some answers.  

At Critical Path Institute's 20 Year Gala on Feb.10, 2025, Sarah Zenner-Dolan shared her personal mission and journey with Parkinson’s Disease, highlighting the importance of staying strong in the face of this challenging condition. As a 58-year-old woman living with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease, Sarah’s story is a testament to resilience.

In October of 2022, 38-year-old Melissa Diaz-Viera was a new mom to a happy eight-month-old baby and had recently recovered from a bout of COVID-19. At around that time she started experiencing mild impairments, such as pincer grasp weakness that made it difficult to use a pair of nail clippers, button her baby's clothes and use chopsticks. She also noticed some twitching in her thighs. By January of 2023, her symptoms had not subsided and it was time for a trip to her primary care physician.

John Galas has spent most of his life around soccer. At an early age, he developed a deep passion for the sport and embraced the competitive spirit inherent in it. This mindset that proved invaluable when he faced his toughest opponent yet: cancer.

Dr. Kevin Kwok and Sarah Zenner-Dolan are drawn together by more than their respective experiences living with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Both have stepped up as champions for those living with PD.

Layne Oliff was an active runner who successfully completed 10-mile trail runs up until his 60th birthday — before he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in November of 2020. Layne soon pivoted that same drive and commitment to another journey, as an active advocate in the ALS community.

Judy Ashley is one of four siblings living with PKD. The family lost their mother when she was just 61, due to complications from dialysis. All five family members and one of Ashley’s nieces received transplants. “My energy now goes to empowering my daughter to be her own advocate,” Ashley explained. “I keep telling her, if it doesn’t make sense, if you don’t agree with [the treatment plan] keep asking questions.”

When Lisa Cormack’s daughter Jaina was 4 years old, she went to the pediatrician for a typical preschool physical. A healthy, happy kid, there was no reason to fear anything abnormal or concerning would be discovered as part of the checkup.

When Joe Montminy was just 54 years old, he began noticing changes that impacted his ability to do his job. Routine work soon had him working nights and weekends to compensate for decreased productivity.

With such expansion, it is important to highlight some incredible advocates who are helping lead the effort on drug repurposing in advancing treatment options for sarcoma research.

As a person living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) who works to advance treatments for autoimmune diseases as a Drug Development Scientist for IGM Biosciences, Ryan Eberwine has seen a lot of progress since his diagnosis 24 years ago.