Meet the dedicated individuals who guide our initiatives and advocacy efforts
Our Patient Advisory Committee consists of individuals with personal connections to ApoE4-related Alzheimer's disease. They provide invaluable insights and guidance to ensure our advocacy efforts truly represent the needs of patients and caregivers.
I became interested in learning more about Alzheimer's Disease when my older sister was diagnosed with early onset AD in her 50's. Over the past decade I have seen how this horrible disease has impacted my brilliant, talented sister and those that love her. After I learned she was APOE4 homozygous, I wanted to better understand what my risk profile was and how I could potentially mitigate that risk. I became involved with the ApoE4 Alzheimer's Alliance to help raise awareness and advocate for more research into prevention and treatment options for those with the ApoE4 gene variant.
I have a long family history with Alzheimer's disease. In addition to my ApoE4 homozygote status I have two siblings who are also ApoE4 carriers. I'm excited to be engaged with the community and advocating for better treatment options and outcomes is extremely personal for me. My professional background in healthcare administration gives me unique insights into the challenges facing patients and families dealing with Alzheimer's. I'm committed to helping bridge the gap between research and patient care.
I'm a rare APOE-2/4 heterozygote who participated in the TrailRunner ALZ-2 trial in 2023. I experienced ARIA and other adverse side-effects. Background: BSN from Penn, MSN/MPH from Drexel, DrPH from UNC Chapel Hill. My research focuses on health disparities in neurodegenerative diseases. Having worked on both the clinical and research sides of Alzheimer's, I bring a unique perspective to the committee. My personal experience in clinical trials has strengthened my commitment to patient safety and ethical research practices.
Dr. Wendy Nelson is a biotech executive with over 28 years of experience in roles spanning business development, corporate development, project management, operations, and R&D. Her experience includes tenures at Alkermes, Alantos Pharmaceuticals, several preclinical and early stage clinical CROs, as CEO at LeadingBiotech, CBO at Danforth Advisors and is currently a Managing Partner at Dreavent Capital. Wendy Nelson, PhD, is also President & Founder of the Boston Biotech Forum, a series of highly curated events that consist of networking and panel discussions on relevant industry topics. Wendy founded the Forum in Boston in 2011 and has since expanded to San Francisco, San Diego, Philadelphia and New Haven. The network consists of over 2000 biopharma executives and investors from more than 600 biopharma companies and 90 VC firms. Wendy serves on the Board of Directors for SciSure, as a Business Advisor to ModernVivo, is a Venture Partner for Waterman Ventures, and is on the Patient Lived Experiences congressional advisory board for UsAgainstAlzheimers. Wendy is 17 years into caring for her mother and now father with Alzheimer's disease and carries two variants of APOE4 herself. Dr. Nelson earned her MS in Engineering and PhD in Medical Sciences (Artificial Organs, Biomaterials & Cellular Technology), both from Brown University. In her free time, Wendy competes in triathlons and enjoys climbing mountains.
Jamie Tyrone is a dedicated advocate for Alzheimer's research, motivated by her genetic status as a homozygous carrier of the ApoE 4 allele and a multi-generational family history of AD. A former Registered Nurse turned marketing executive, she became a full-time advocate after discovering her genetic risk. Jamie founded Beating Alzheimer's By Embracing Science (BABES) and co-founded WomenAgainstAlzheimer's. She serves on several research advisory boards and has been instrumental in advancing patient engagement in clinical research.
Julie McEntire has over 15 years of experience working in the environmental field. Julie is currently the Director of Grant Programs at the Texas General Land Office. In this role, Julie oversees the Texas Coastal Management Program and the Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act program. After her mother's diagnosis with Alzheimer's and subsequent genetic testing revealed their family's ApoE4 connection, Julie became active in advocacy work. She specializes in helping families navigate the complex healthcare system and access support services.
A Cree healthcare worker (University of Alberta nursing program), I advocate for culturally safe dementia care after my grandmother's misdiagnosis. Partnering with First Nations elders, we blend traditional medicines with Western research. My Ottawa-based podcast, "Memory Keepers," amplifies Indigenous voices in the fight against Alzheimer's. As an ApoE4 carrier, I'm particularly interested in how genetic risk factors interact with environmental and cultural factors in disease progression among Indigenous populations.