Neuromuscular Disease Foundation’s Dr. Kelly Crowe presented with $20,000 research grant from Uplifting Athletes
Dr. Kelly Crowe is among 10 rare disease researchers to be awarded a grant at Uplifting Athletes’ Sixth Annual Young Investigator Draft presented by CSL Behring on February 4 at Lincoln Financial Field
Los Angeles, (January 10, 2023) — Uplifting Athletes, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to serving the rare disease community, has announced that The Neuromuscular Disease Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee member Dr. Kelly Crowe will receive a $20,000 research grant as a member of Uplifting Athletes’ 2023 Young Investigator Draft Class.
Dr. Kelly Crowe is among a group of 10 researchers who will each receive an unrestricted grant for medical research at Uplifting Athletes’ sixth annual Young Investigator Draft presented by CSL Behring on February 4, 2023 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Uplifting Athletes is a nonprofit organisation that connects student-athletes across the country as well as professional athlete ambassadors with their local rare disease community to raise awareness and funds, and bring inspiration and hope to those impacted by rare diseases, which is approximately one in 10 Americans.
The annual event, inspired by the NFL draft, invests in research which could lead to potential rare disease treatments and cures. Just as the NFL Draft rallies around the hope and possibilities that the next generation of game-changing talent will bring a franchise, the Young Investigator Draft celebrates the early-career research investigators who are working toward a brighter future for those affected by rare diseases.
“The members of our 2023 Young Investigator Draft Class represent a group of early-career, diverse researchers who are tremendous assets to the rare disease community. These individuals stand to make a profound impact on the 30 million Americans impacted by a rare disease. We are thrilled to celebrate these scientists with the same spirit and fanfare that elite athletes receive and the college and pro athletes who join us every year in this effort love sharing the stage with these deserving researchers who represent so much promise for the future.”
Rob Long, executive director of Uplifting Athletes
Including the grants to be presented at the 2023 Young Investigator Draft, Uplifting Athletes will have awarded more than $820,000 in grant funding to 44 rare disease researchers across North America since 2018. Grant submissions for the Young Investigator Draft are evaluated by an expert panel of scientific advisors prior to the selection of each year’s Draft Class. Every researcher is nominated by a patient advocacy organisation (PAO) recognised by Uplifting Athletes as a priority partner, with grants equally co-funded by Uplifting Athletes and the nominating PAO. The PAO that nominated Dr. Kelly Crowe is the Neuromuscular Disease Foundation.
Dr. Crowe is an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH. She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from The Ohio State University, as well as an M.S. in Biology from Missouri State University and a B.A. in Biology and Psychology from Drury University. Her research interests include utilisation of cell culture models to understand physiological processes relevant to muscle diseases such as GNE Myopathy.
“I’m thrilled to be a recipient of this grant from Uplifting Athletes. My research team and I look forward to contributing to gene therapy development for GNE myopathy”, shared Dr. Crowe.
Dr. Crowe, assistant proffesor in the Department of Biology at Xaviar University
CSL Behring is a vital partner to Uplifting Athletes, serving as the title sponsor for the Young Investigator Draft since its inception in 2018.
In addition to honoring the new Draft Class, the 2023 Young Investigator Draft will provide a forum to recognise the newest members of Uplifting Athletes’ Rare Disease Champion Team―an exemplary group of leaders in college athletics who have made a positive and lasting impact on people affected by rare diseases.
About The Neuromuscular Disease Foundation
NDF’s mission is to enhance the quality of the lives of people living with GNE Myopathy through advocacy, education, outreach, and funding critical research focused on treatments and a cure.
We work to enhance the quality of life for those living with GNE Myopathy by funding critical research focused on treatments and a cure through The International Gene Therapy Development Program (IGTDP) and by advocacy, education and outreach.
About Uplifting Athletes
Uplifting Athletes is a nonprofit organization founded in 2007 that harnesses the power of sport to build a community that invests in the lives of people impacted by rare diseases. Since its inception, Uplifting Athletes has raised more than $7 million by engaging athletes in order to positively impact the rare disease community through driving action and funding research. To learn more about Uplifting Athletes visit www.upliftingathletes.org.
For more information or to purchase tickets for the Uplifting Athletes 2023 Young Investigator Draft presented by CSL Behring, please visit https://charity.pledgeit.org/YID2023.
