Meet Our Families
Eli
Honzik
Board of Directors - Tim, Michelle and Jackie, CYFIP2 parents and Aunt
Scientific Advisor - Dr. Helen Chen
Dr. Chen is a senior scientist in Dr. Heather Mefford’s research group at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She received her B.S. in Biochemistry, and her Ph.D. in Experimental Medicine from the University of British Columbia. She completed her postdoctoral training in Dr. Ryan Potts' research group at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigating a rare, neurodevelopmental disorder called the Prader-Willi Syndrome. Dr. Chen’s research is focused on investigating rare, pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders and testing novel precision therapies. Dr. Chen is a cell biologist with 15 years of research experience, specializing in stem cells, neuronal organoids, neurobiology, and translational precision therapy. She has extensive experience in disease modelling, assay development and high-throughput screens.
Scientific Advisor - Matthew Jarpe
I have over 25 years of experience in drug discovery, covering large biotech and startup companies, which includes extensive experience in oncology, neuroscience, autoimmunity and inflammation. I am a co-author on several publications and have been an active collaborator on dozens of research projects with academic scientists all over the world. I have written grants that have resulted in government research funding.
Scientific Advisor - Dr. Isabelle Zaboroski Silva
I developed the first human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) model for the CYFIP2 R87C variant, derived from a Brazilian patient. This model is being used in other studies to investigate the variant's impact on neurogenic development. Currently, I am working to establish hiPSC lines from additional Brazilian patients and to apply these models to drug screening assays.
