CoRDS Cast

On this exciting episode of CoRDS Cast, Alyssa sits down with Sophia Zilber from the Cure Mito Foundation and Allison Peck from Cure VCP Inc. Sophia and Allison are both very strong advocates for their foundation and have done an amazing job recruiting to their registries. Tune in to learn how they have built their registries along with different strategies to make it successful. Enjoy!  Contact information: Sophia Zilber: email: sophia@curemito.org Website: https://www.curemito.org/ Allison Peck: email:  allison@curevcp.org Website: https://www.curevcp.org/ 

Welcome to another episode of CoRDS Cast where Polly had the honor of sitting down with Dr. Karen Dolins, who is a registered dietician and is also a mother to her daughter who was diagnosed with Classic MSUD. We also have the privilege to sit down with Sandy Bulcher, who is a nurse and the mother to her son who was diagnosed with Classic MSUD. In this episode we will not only get to hear about MSUD but we will also get to hear the story of these two amazing mothers and their children. If you would like to learn more about MSUD, please visit: msud-support.org Enjoy!

On this episode of CoRDS Cast you will hear from Andrea Johnson and Carissa Carman who are not only the co-founders of the NUS1 Foundation, but also amazing parents to their sons who are diagnosed with NUS1. We also get the pleasure of speaking with Richard Steet who is the Director of Research at the Greenwood Genetic Center and Heather Flanagan-Steet who is the Associate Director of Research at the Greenwood Genetic Center. Richard and Heather are both heavily involved with NUS1 research and with the help of Andrea and Carissa, come together to make an impact with the NUS1 community. For more information, please visit: https://www.nus1foundation.org/ Enjoy!

Tune in as Polly sits down with Kearstyn Shaw and Dr. David Picketts with BFLS Incorporated. Kearstyn's son was diagnosed with BFLS in 2021. Kearstyn has been a strong advocate for her son and her community since the diagnosis. Dr. David Picketts is a researcher at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. His research is focused on understanding the role of epigenetic regulators in brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Dr. Picketts works closely with Kearstyn to help find a cure and treatments for BFLS. For more information, you can visit: www.bflsinc.com Enjoy!

On this episode of CoRDS Cast, Alyssa sits down with Terry Thompson, Jameson Parker, Ed Meyertholen, and Chris Grunseich with the Kennedy’s Disease Association. Kennedy’s Disease is a defect in the ‘X’ Chromosome, and it makes testosterone almost a poison to the body. The disease is Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy; more commonly known as Kennedy's Disease. Please tune in to listen to each heart felt story, and why they are each involved in rare disease research today. If you would like more information on Kennedy's Disease or have any questions, please visit: https://www.kennedysdisease.org/  Enjoy!

On this month's episode of CoRDS Cast, Alyssa sits down with Kasey Woleben who is one of the founders of the Cure Mito Foundation, and Sophia Zilber who is the board member, patient registry director. Kasey and her family have started several non-profits to save their son, Will, and other children facing mitochondrial diseases like SURF1 Leigh syndrome.  Sophia has over 15 years of experience in pharmaceutical industry and is volunteering her expertise to help the rare disease community, in memory of her daughter, Miriam. In mitochondrial disorders, the mitochondria’s ability to convert food and oxygen into energy is impaired because of a genetic mutation in the DNA. There are over 100 different mutations that can cause this condition.  You will not want to miss the incredible story of these two families fighting to find a cure. To learn more about the Cure Mito Foundation, please visit: https://www.curemito.org/

Austin interviews the President & Founder of All Things Kabuki, Rene King, to learn more about the condition and what the group does to raise awareness and advocate for families living with Kabuki Syndrome.  Joining them in the interview is Olaf Bodamer, MD PhD FACMG FAAP.  Dr. Bodamer is the Director of the Roya Kabuki Program at Boston Children's Hospital and leads a team of dedicated scientists and professionals to nurture a better understanding of the disease and develop treatments to better the lives of Kabuki patients.

In this episode, Austin interviews Sharon Rose Nissley and Emily Lemiska from Klippel-Feil Syndrome Freedom about life with Klippel-Feil Syndrome and becoming patient advocates.  The group is also joined by Dr. Philip Giampietro, a medical geneticist and researcher, who has worked closely with both Sharon and Emily in their efforts to draw more of a research focus to Klippel-Feil Syndrome.  Thanks again for listening - enjoy!

Happy New Year from the CoRDS team! In this episode we interviewed Diane Powell, the CEO and board chair of the Hypersomnia Foundation. We also caught up with Dr. Lynn Marie Trotti, a sleep specialist and hypersomnia researcher. Together, they're working to uncover the cause of the disorder and improve the lives of everyone living with idiopathic hypersomnia. Enjoy!

In this episode, Alyssa and Austin interview Sue Hagen from long time CoRDS partner, the National Ataxia Foundation. You'll also hear from Lauren Moore, an ataxia researcher at the University of Michigan. Enjoy!

In this episode of CoRDS Cast we interview John Morris from the International WAGR Syndrome Association and learn about the great work his group is doing to raise money for research and to raise awareness for his daughter's disease. Later, we had the chance to speak with Dr. Kevin Francis about the rare disease research being done in his laboratory and to hear about his WAGR Syndrome studies.

In this episode, we interview Dan Brendtro, a passionate father who began raising money by running marathons for his daughter, who has been diagnosed with Friedreich's ataxia. His path to launching The Finish Line Fund led him to a researcher studying FA right in his home town, Dr. Peter Vitiello. We were fortunate to sit down with both men and ask them about the project and how the experience has shaped their hopes for the future. Enjoy!

In this episode of CoRDS Cast, we sit down with Jennifer VanHoutan from Noah's Hope to hear about their work in Batten Disease advocacy and sponsored research. You'll also hear from Sanford's own Dr. Jill Weimer about her Batten Disease research program and about how animals play a role in finding answers and developing treatments. Enjoy!

In episode 2, we sit down with a handful of attendees at the 2018 Professional Patient Advocates in Life Sciences (PPALS) certificate training course held earlier in the summer. In part 2 of this episode, you'll hear interviews with Seth Rotberg from the Huntington Disease Youth Organization, Olivia Montano from the PROS Foundation, and Rob Long & Brett Brackett from Uplifting Athletes.

In episode 2, we sit down with a handful of attendees at the 2018 Professional Patient Advocates in Life Sciences (PPALS) certificate training course held earlier in the summer. In part 1 of this episode, we interview Erin Hill from the Muscular Dystrophy Association and two of the PPALS event organizers, Jean Campbell and David La Greca.

Introduction to the CoRDS Registry, Sanford Research, and an interview with the man behind it all, Dr. David Pearce.

On this episode of CoRDS Cast, Polly sits down with Brianna Dose with the KBG Syndrome Association. Brianna is not only a strong advocate for her community but she also has a daughter with this rare condition. While being a pediactric nurse in neurology, she was put in the exact postition she needed to be to help her daughter and fight to find answers. To learn more about the KBG syndrome association, please visit: kbgsyndrome.org

On today's episode, Alyssa and Polly sit down with Theresa who is a part of the Coffin Lowry Syndrome Foundation. Theresa's son was diagnosed with Coffin Lowry Syndrome at the age of four. Theresa discusses the long journey ahead to finding a diagnosis for her son. Theresa has been a major part in growing their community with over 800 members and devoted her life to finding a cure. If you would like to learn more about the Coffin Lowry Syndrome Association, please visit: www.clsf.info Enjoy!

Join us on a special podcast with Price Wooldridge as he discusses his journey navigating Lambert Eaton Syndrome (LEMS). Price is not only a strong advocate for the LEMS Family Association, but is a patient himself. Learn about his amazing journey to finding answers and living with LEMS. To learn more about LEMS please visit: lemsfamily.org Enjoy!

On this episode of CoRDS Cast, Alyssa sits down with Becky from HODA (Hypertrophic Olivary Degeneration Association). Becky is an amazing advocate in the rare disease space as her sister is diagnosed with HOD. Tune in to listen to her story. To learn more information on HOD, please visit: hodassoc.org