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The 2024 Global Conference speaker roster is now live and expanding! Explore the growing lineup, with more additions expected before the program release in early April.

Changemakers

FasterCures
Changemakers
Disruptive Philanthropy for Patients

What is the power of philanthropy to disrupt the biomedical innovation ecosystem? That is a question that will be tested by the members of our new advisory group, which brings together the chief executives of 22 leading nonprofit, patient-driven, research-funding organizations that share our mission of speeding treatments and improving health. 

Changemakers brings a new level of leadership to this movement to make philanthropy and patient-driven organizations key players driving biomedical innovation.

Members are Guided by the Following Statement of Purpose

We are a collective of philanthropic innovators that have come together to:

  • Be a future-focused force that drives systems change in biomedical R&D;

  • Work together to make measurable progress on shared challenges; and

  • Capture and share knowledge to help nonprofits become more effective in achieving their missions.

Three Broad Areas of Shared Challenge With Potential for Impact

  1. Redefining the Role of Philanthropic Capital
    Our funding plays a unique role in the biomedical R&D ecosystem.  We aim to redefine the understanding of the role philanthropy can play as a source of risk capital to accelerate progress for patients, and to define new models and create new partnerships to scale its impact.

  2. Regulatory Innovation
    Patient representatives are uniquely positioned to work collectively with FDA and other regulatory bodies in the U.S. and internationally, to inform clearer and more consistent frameworks around cutting-edge therapies, innovative trial models, clinical development pathways for rare diseases, and other pan-disease concerns.

  3. Healthcare Access and Equity
    Even when we are successful at helping drive new treatments across the “finish line” of regulatory approval, our patients are faced with increasing challenges with the affordability of and disparities in healthcare access and outcomes.  If our missions are to improve health outcomes for our constituents, our work cannot end with the FDA.

FasterCures’ Changemakers Members

  • Jeff Allen, CEO, Friends of Cancer Research

  • Margaret Anderson, Managing Director, Deloitte (FasterCures Board Liaison)

  • Annette Bakker, President, The Children's Tumor Foundation

  • Michael Boyle, Incoming President and CEO, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

  • Deborah Brooks, Co-Founder and CEO, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

  • Lou De Gennaro, President and CEO, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

  • Emilio Emini, Director, HIV and Tuberculosis, Bill and Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute

  • Andrea Ferris, President and CEO, LUNGevity

  • Julie Fleshman, President and CEO, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

  • Patricia Furlong, Founding President and CEO, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy

  • Seth Ginsberg, CEO, Creaky Joints/Global Health Living Foundation

  • Kathy Giusti. Executive Chairman, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

  • Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive, British Heart Foundation

  • Kenneth Hobby, President, Cure SMA

  • Leah Howard, Interim President & CEO, Psoriasis Foundation

  • Marc Hurlbert, President and CEO, Melanoma Research Alliance

  • Aaron Kowalski, President and CEO, JDRF

  • David Panzirer, Trustee, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust

  • Mark Roithmayr, CEO, Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation

  • Chuck Ryan, CEO, Prostate Cancer Foundation

  • Paula Schneider, President and CEO, Susan G. Komen

  • Todd Sherer, Executive Vice President for Research Strategy, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

  • Alex Silver, Co-Founder and Chairman, EB Research Partnership

  • Garen Staglin, Chairman, One Mind

  • Sharon Terry, President and CEO, Genetic Alliance