Our Scientific Advisory Board Members
Dr. Andrew Carter, PhD
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
https://www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/groups/cartera
Dr. Katie Drerup, PhD
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Dr. Natalia Acosta-Baena, MD, PhD(c)
Universidad de Antioquia, Columbia
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1064685
Dr. Erika Holzbaur, PhD
University of Pennsylvania
https://www.med.upenn.edu/holzbaurlab
Dr. Christopher Quinn, PhD
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
https://uwm.edu/biology/about/directory/quinn-christopher/
Alexa Geltzeiler, ScM CGC
Certified Genetic Counselor, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital
Dr. Joseph Bruno Bidin Brooks, MD,
From the Departments of Function and Structure (J.B.B.B.) and Neurology (Y.D.F.), UNIMES–Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, São Paulo
For inquiries about our Scientific Advisory Board or collaboration opportunities, please contact us at connect@curemapk8ip3.org.
Our Board of Directors Members
Anne Jones
President
Anne Jones attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she earned a Bachelor’s in Communication Arts and a Master’s in Occupational Therapy. Her son’s diagnostic journey with MAPK8IP3-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder ignited a passion for connecting and supporting families affected by this disorder. She is honored to help start and chair this Foundation.
Calyssa Pine
Treasurer
Calyssa Pine is a mother of five. She works full time as an assistant manager and devotes any extra time she has to her children and researching her daughter’s condition.
Ashley Hasty
Secretary
Ashley has a son with MAPK8IP3-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder and she joined the board of this foundation to help ensure his voice is heard and all children with this rare disease get their needs met. It is equally important to Ashley that families and caregivers are well looked after and well informed. She believes if we take care of the family, care of the child will follow naturally and that is what she hopes to achieve as Secretary of the board!
Diane Carr
Director
Diane Carr graduated from the University of Colorado with a B.A. in Psychology and certification to teach K-12. She later received her MSEd in Literacy from Lesley College. She has taught in four states and now focuses on literacy skills with students struggling with Dyslexia in her hometown of Rochester, New York. She collaborated and designed a well-balanced reading intervention program with the latest research-based practices. Her daughter, Elizabeth, who is 16 years old is diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder MAPK8IP3. Diane is an enthusiastic life long learner and passionate about the research for MAPK8IP3 and being able to support the cause.
Mariyana Hristova
Director
Mariyana Hristova is originally from Bulgaria. She relocated to Switzerland together with her family two years ago. She is an engineer by profession, and a dreamer by heart. As soon as her son got diagnosed with MAPK8IP3, she turned into a mother giving her best to find a cure for him. She is more and more engaged with finding the most appropriate therapies for her son and she is passionate about supporting the mission and purposes of the CureMAPK8IP3 organization. If she needs to write a short sentence or a beloved phrase that expresses her aims and beliefs, then for sure it would be: Where There Is a Will, There Is a Way!
Haley Kinley
Director
Haley Kinley graduated from Lock Haven University with a B.S. in Disability & Community Services. For the last 10 years, Haley has worked in the social services field as a Lifesharing Specialist. In 2020, her son Aiden was diagnosed with MAPK8IP3. She did her own research and found the CureMAPK8IP3 Foundation. As the manager of social media, she hopes to help spread awareness and information about this rare genetic disorder to others.
Marie Harris
Director
Marie holds a Master of Public Health from Yale University. She is passionate about making sure families are represented in research and that their experiences help guide the path toward new therapies. She focuses on connecting the foundation with scientists, supporting research initiatives, and engaging donors to accelerate progress for children with this rare disease. She carries Coach Potter’s motto in her heart for every child with a MAPK8IP3 variant: “We can, we will, we must!”
For any inquiries about our board or serving on our board or in a short-term capacity, please contact us at connect@curemapk8ip3.org.