Laura MacNeill

I'm a nonprofit executive and patient advocacy leader who builds organizations at the intersection of science, strategy, and human urgency. My career has spanned some of the most mission-driven organizations in health research - from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (now Blood Cancers United) and Global Lyme Alliance to the rare disease space with the CMT Research Foundation - and the throughline has always been the same: getting resources, focus, and momentum behind the science that patients can't afford to wait for. I specialize in translating complex science into strategy, mobilizing major donors around ambitious campaigns, and building the governance and organizational infrastructure that lets small teams create outsized impact. I'm drawn to organizations at an inflection point - where focused, venture-minded philanthropy can change the trajectory of an entire field. I believe the most powerful patient advocacy organizations don't just fund research, they accelerate it. And I believe the people closest to the problem are the ones best positioned to lead the solution. I'm a 2026-2027 FasterCures LeadersLink Fellow and hold an MBA with deep experience in leading teams, venture philanthropy, research governance, board development, and major gift strategy. Open to connecting with researchers, biotech leaders, philanthropists, and anyone who believes patient-led science is the future of drug development.

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