Monica Berrondo

Home Commentary Patient Advocacy Leads to Synthetic Antibodies for Mycobacteria By Monica Berrondo and Varun Thvar Rarely do small biotech companies pursue projects instigated by patients themselves. But patient advocacy groups in the rare disease space aim to change that. These groups are led by patients who are anxious to cure their own disease or their friends and family who are eager to help others handle the struggles of a new or rare disease.

By Monica Berrondo and Varun Thvar Rarely do small biotech companies pursue projects instigated by patients themselves. But patient advocacy groups in the rare disease space aim to change that. These groups are led by patients who are anxious to cure their own disease or their friends and family who are eager to help others handle the struggles of a new or rare disease. In late 2018, I was connected serendipitously to one such family.

Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez is a Presidential Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Prof. de la Fuente has received more than 50 awards. He was recognized by MIT Technology Review as one of the world’s top innovators, selected as the inaugural recipient of the Langer Prize, and received the ACS Infectious Diseases Young Investigator Award.