Five emerging rare disease researchers were awarded a total of $50,000 in grant funding at the Uplifting Athletes Young Investigator Draft presented by CSL Behring on Saturday night in Philadelphia. The event was held at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, and the five recipients were given NFL-style jerseys to go with their grants. Four of the honorees are pictured above, along with Dr. Jay Storm, a neurosurgeon from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who was given a Collaborative Leadership Award and a $10,000 grant. The grant recipients listed below are focused on different areas of rare disease research.
- Dr. Alessia Stornetta, University of Minnesota, Rare Blood Disorders
- Dr. Aimee Layton, Columbia University Medical Center, Rare Genetic Disorders
- Dr. David Fajgenbaum, University of Pennsylvania, Rare Autoimmune and Immunological Disorders
- Dr. Angela Waanders, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Rare Cancers
- Dr. Emily Lowry, Columbia University Medical Center, Rare Muscular and Neurological Disorders
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CSL Behring was represented at the event by Jens Oltrogge, Head, Global Commercial Development Hematology, who spoke on the biotech leader’s efforts to develop and deliver its lifesaving medicines to rare disease patients around the globe.
Jens Oltrogge, CSL Behring's Head of Global Commercial Development, Hematology
For more on the Uplifting Athletes Young Investigator Draft presented by CSL Behring, check out our interview with Jens prior to the event here.
