In this episode, Mark Opler, PhD, MPH, Chief Research Officer at WCG MedAvante-ProPhase sits down with Steve Smith, WCG’s President of Patient Advocacy to discuss the achievements in the field of CNS and rare disease clinical research. Dr. Opler and Steve highlight the unmet need of therapies available for rare disease, the importance of patient enrollment, ensuring efficacy and safety throughout a trial, and how time is of the essence in every study that is conducted. 

In this episode, Amanda Moore, CEO of Angelman Syndrome Foundation speaks with Steve Smith, WCG’s President of Patient Advocacy. As a mom whose son has been diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome - a rare neuro-genetic disorder that affects 1 in 15,000 children - Amanda walks through the time from receiving initial diagnosis to the odyssey of her son’s patient journey in therapy and clinical trials.

In this episode, Kristin Smedley sits down with President of WCG Patient Advocacy, Steve Smith, to talk about the journey her two children with retinal blindness have experienced. Known as the “happiest mom of two blind kids” and a powerful TEDx talker, Kristin highlights the CRB1 rare genetic degenerative disease both of her boys are affected with. She underscores the importance of genetic diagnosis and shares the impact clinical trials and patient advocacy groups have had in finding a cure for this disease.

In this episode, WCG’s President of Patient Advocacy, Steve Smith, talks with Emil Kakkis, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals and President of the non-profit EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases organization. Known for his work in developing an enzyme replacement therapy for the rare disorder MPS I and his connection to the Ryan Foundation, Dr. Kakkis shares with us his experiences in being involved in bringing drugs to market and forming relationships with patients along the way. 

In this episode, Mark Dant, Founder of the Ryan Foundation speaks with Steve Smith, WCG’s President of Patient Advocacy. Their conversation highlights the importance of Patient Advocacy Groups – and the resources they bring to individuals diagnosed with a disease – as well as the great promise clinical trials bring to patients. Mark shares a personal story of his son, Ryan, who was diagnosed with MPS I, and how Patient Advocacy Groups and clinical trials have positively impacted their lives.

In this episode, WCG’s President of Patient Advocacy, Steve Smith, sits down for an interview with Dr. David Fajgenbaum, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Author of Chasing My Cure: A Doctor’s Race to Turn Hope Into Action. In this podcast, you’ll hear Steve and Dr. Fajgenbaum discuss what it’s like to be a patient of a rare disease – in this case Castleman’s disease – and Dr. Fajgenbaum’s fight to find a cure for his own disease. This is a story of incredible courage and uniquely acquired wisdom. It is a story of triumph over adversity. And it’s a story of life changing, groundbreaking hope.  

What’s the state of clinical trials in autism and neurodevelopmental disorders? What’s on the horizon?

Scott J. Hunter, PhD, a member of WCG’s Scientific Leadership Team, shared his insights during a recent conversation with Mark Opler, MD, PhD, Chief Research Officer at WCG-MedAvante-ProPhase. Dr. Hunter is a professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience, as well as pediatrics, at the University of Chicago. 

Despite advances in science and technology, we still see that 80% of clinical trials are running behind on their enrollment timeline.

Mark Summers, Founder of WCG ThreeWire, and President of Patient Engagement at WCG, shares his insights on the current industry model of patient recruitment and the philosophy behind the new patient recruitment paradigm.

Things you will learn in this podcast:

• Shortcomings of the current industry model of patient recruitment
• How to better plan for and deploy patient recruitment strategies
• How to find the most reliable and resource effective patients
• The economic philosophy of planning and deploying a patient recruitment program

Dr. Andrew J. Cutler shares his insights on the current challenges and opportunities for CNS therapies during an energizing conversation with Dr. Mark Opler, Chief Research Officer at WCG MedAvante-ProPhase.

Dr. Cutler is a member of WCG’s Scientific Leadership Team, and a recognized expert in CNS therapies and clinical trials. Dr. Cutler is a sought-after speaker about the evaluation and treatment of mental illnesses such as ADHD, Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depression), Major Depression, Anxiety Disorders and Schizophrenia. He conducts clinical trials for Phase I-IV studies. Indications include ADHD in children, adolescents and adults, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric and medical conditions. In addition to being the Chief Medical Officer for Meridien Research, Dr. Cutler is a Courtesy Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Florida.

Dr. Seltzer, president and founder of ACI Clinical, and chief scientific officer of WCG Clinical, shared his insights on expert committees during a recent conversation with Bill Stedman, manager, member services, ACI Clinical.