“Dr. She is truly an inspiration to us all. The story of her son’s rare disease and a mother’s effort to find a cure could as easily be found in a medical journal or a Hollywood script,” New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo spoke of Dr. Yiwei She as he presented her honor.
The pioneering mathematician—who earned her B.S. from Northwestern University and a PH.D from the University of Chicago—has made extraordinary contributions to medical innovation for ultra-rare diseases, per her personal connection and professional convictions.
She founded and serves as CEO of the TNPO2 Foundation, a not-for-profit geared toward revolutionizing early diagnosis and treatment for children with rare conditions.
The foundation recently launched Project Baby Lion in conjunction with the Stony Brook Children’s Hospital NICU. Together, their partnership deploys the foundation’s funding and cutting-edge genome sequencing from Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine to treat newborns suffering from rare genetic mutations.
“Her tenacity, painstaking research and work that led to a cure for her son has laid the groundwork for advancements in extremely rare neurodevelopmental diseases and is providing hope and advanced care for infants and their families,” Palumbo added.
When her infant son Leo became one of only two known individuals worldwide diagnosed with a severe neurodevelopment disease caused by a mutation in his TNPO2 gene, She developed “Leosen” — an FDA-approved, personalized medicine designed for her son.
A mother’s love knows no bounds, with She’s life’s work serving as proof-positive evidence.
“Dr. Yiwei She exemplifies the spirit of this award,” said Senator Anthony Palumbo. “Her courage, brilliance, and compassion not only gave her son a future, but are now giving hope to families around the world facing similar battles.”
For more information about the TNPO2 Foundation, visit www.tnpo2.org.