The CFRI CF Community Voices Podcast

Advocacy in the CF Realm - Jacob Fraker, MSW, Diane Shader Smith

In the first half of this two-part session, Jacob Fraker, MSW, an adult with CF who serves in multiple roles in the state Capitol, including as a legislative aide to a California State Senator, provided an overview of the many ways in which members of our CF community can participate in advocacy efforts individually, through CFRI, and within coalitions. Part two of the session featured Diane Shader Smith, who took on the role of advocate after her daughter Mallory lost her battle with antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Diane talked about the need for new antibiotics, antifungals, and phage therapy, the PASTEUR Act, and the groups and efforts that have mobilized to respond to this health crisis. This presentation was part of CFRI's Virtual 35th National CF Education Conference.

CFRI's 35th National CF Education Conference was sponsored by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Chiesi USA, AbbVie, and Ionis Pharmaceuticals.

Panel Discussion: The Impact of CF on the Siblings (Audio)

CFRI's Virtual 35th National CF Education Conference featured a panel discussion about the impact of CF on the siblings. Three siblings of adults with CF – Marina Gonzales, Damian Rice, and Suraj Patel – opened up about how their siblings’ disease has shaped and influenced their own lives. The panel was moderated by Deborah Menet, LCSW, a CF social worker at the Stanford CF Center.

CFRI's 35th National CF Education Conference was sponsored by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Chiesi USA, AbbVie, and Ionis Pharmaceuticals.

CF-Related Bone Disease - Melissa Putman, MD, MMSc (Audio)

Dr. Melissa Putman, Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and an endocrinologist at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), gives a comprehensive overview on the connection between cystic fibrosis and bone disease, and the various risk factors contributing to compromised bone health. She also discusses prevention and treatment options, as well as the impact of CFTR modulators on bone health. This presentation was part of CFRI's Virtual 35th National CF Education Conference.

CFRI's 35th National CF Education Conference was sponsored by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Chiesi USA, AbbVie, and Ionis Pharmaceuticals.

Advocacy in the CF Realm - Jacob Fraker, MSW, Diane Shader Smith (Audio)

In the first half of this two-part session, Jacob Fraker, MSW, an adult with CF who serves in multiple roles in the state Capitol, including as a legislative aide to a California State Senator, provided an overview of the many ways in which members of our CF community can participate in advocacy efforts individually, through CFRI, and within coalitions. Part two of the session featured Diane Shader Smith, who took on the role of advocate after her daughter Mallory lost her battle with antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Diane talked about the need for new antibiotics, antifungals, and phage therapy, the PASTEUR Act, and the groups and efforts that have mobilized to respond to this health crisis. This presentation was part of CFRI's Virtual 35th National CF Education Conference.

CFRI's 35th National CF Education Conference was sponsored by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Chiesi USA, AbbVie, and Ionis Pharmaceuticals.

CF in Pakistan - A Personal Story

Raheema Arbi is a young woman living with cystic fibrosis. In her native Pakistan, those living with CF have little access to therapies and care. In this podcast, Raheema shares her personal story of resilience, and her hope that all those living with CF - regardless of country - will receive an accurate diagnosis and optimal medical care, She hopes you will watch and share her story to raise global CF awareness.

If you watch this episode, please let us know what you think at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KGB7PKY

CF Community Voices is made possible through grants from Chiesi USA, Genentech, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences, and Viatris.

The Challenges of Aging for People with CF - Richard Simon, MD

Dr. Richard Simon, Professor Emeritus at the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Michigan, gives a comprehensive overview of the health challenges faced by an aging CF population. In addition to general aging symptoms such as decreasing mobility, reduced strength, and memory loss, there are CF-specific issues such as CF-related diabetes, CF-related bone disease, and gastrointestinal cancers. This presentation was part of CFRI's Virtual 35th National CF Education Conference on July 30, 2022.

CFRI's 35th National CF Education Conference was sponsored by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Chiesi USA, AbbVie, and Ionis Pharmaceuticals.

Oral Health Considerations for Individuals with CF – Donald Chi, DDS, PhD

Dr. Donald Chi, Professor and the Lloyd and Kay Chapman Endowed Chair of Oral Health at the University of Washington School of Dentistry in Seattle, WA, gives a comprehensive summary of the available scientific data on the oral health of individuals with CF. He presents information on CF-specific risk factors that can lead to poor oral health and provides information about ongoing studies aimed at understanding the links between oral and overall health in CF. This presentation was part of CFRI's Virtual 35th National CF Education Conference.

CFRI's 35th National CF Education Conference was sponsored by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Chiesi USA, AbbVie, and Ionis Pharmaceuticals.

Novel Models of CF Mucus Plugs for Testing Phage and Tailocin Therapy – Gregory Burkeen, PhD Candidate

Gregory Burkeen, a PhD Candidate at San Diego State University in Drs. Anca Segall and Forest Rohwer’s labs, presents results from CFRI-funded research on novel models of CF mucus plugs for testing phage and tailocin therapy. He proposes an in-vitro model based on artificial sputum that is tailored to the individual, and can be used to test the safety and efficacy of personalized therapeutic regimens. This presentation was part of CFRI's Virtual 35th National CF Education Conference.

CFRI's 35th National CF Education Conference was sponsored by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Chiesi USA, AbbVie, and Ionis Pharmaceuticals.

Nanotechnologies to Enable Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapies – Steven Jonas, MD, PhD

Dr. Steven Jonas, a pediatric physician scientist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and California NanoSystems Institute, presents results from CFRI-funded research on nanotechnologies to enable cystic fibrosis gene therapies. He highlights his team’s approach to overcome common obstacles to gene therapy through the design and testing of CRISPR/Cas9-based gene-editing cargoes for CFTR correction and nanoparticle carriers that can be delivered as aerosolized suspensions to enable inhalable gene therapy solutions for CF. This presentation was part of CFRI's Virtual 35th National CF Education Conference.

CFRI's 35th National CF Education Conference was sponsored by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Chiesi USA, AbbVie, and Ionis Pharmaceuticals.

Selective Targeting Distal Small Airways by AAV Vectors (...) – Xiaopeng Li, PhD

Dr. Xiaopeng Li, Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development in the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University, presents results from CFRI-funded research on selective targeting distal small airways by adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. He discusses findings from CF pig models that support AAV4 as a suitable viral vector for CF gene therapy to target small airway secretory cells. This presentation was part of CFRI's Virtual 35th National CF Education Conference.

CFRI's 35th National CF Education Conference was sponsored by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Chiesi USA, AbbVie, and Ionis Pharmaceuticals.