Speaker Profile
Founder, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation; Faculty Co-Chair, HBS Kraft Precision Medicine Accelerator
Biography
After being diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1998, Kathy Giusti and her sister Karen Andrews, a successful corporate attorney, founded the MMRF with the hope of one day finding a cure for this fatal blood cancer. Leveraging her past experience as a graduate of Harvard Business School and leader of a major pharmaceutical company, Kathy applied her business savvy to the science of cancer research. She and the MMRF identified barriers slowing drug development, particularly in an uncommon heterogeneous disease like multiple myeloma and developed collaborative models to overcome those obstacles. Optimized to run like a Fortune 500 company, with a culture of speed, innovation, and results—the MMRF remains laser focused on accelerating new and better treatments for patients, leading toward a cure. The success of the MMRF is a reflection of the researchers, clinicians and industry partners who have helped build game-changing models in tissue banking, genomics, clinical trials, and open access—leading not only to transforming myeloma research but becoming the blueprint for other cancer organizations around the world. Today, Giusti is extending her leadership expertise to all cancers, as Faculty Co-Chair of the Harvard Business School Kraft Precision Medicine Accelerator, a $20M endowed program funded by Robert Kraft and the Kraft Family Foundation to accelerate precision medicine. In recognition of her impact across the cancer ecosystem, Giusti has been named by Fortune, 1 of Top 3 Business Disrupters in Healthcare, #19 on Fortune’s World Greatest Leaders List and Time’s 100 Most Influential Leaders.
Session Abstract – PMWC 2017 Silicon Valley
Session Synopsis: Data aggregation and data sharing efforts exist all over the world yet there is no platform or ecosystem that brings all of these efforts together. What are the challenges of creating a universal approach to data sharing (such as Cancer Moonshot) versus private and/or proprietary approaches that are trying to differentiate themselves? In this session you will hear from industry leaders who have direct experience in the world of data sharing and data aggregation. You will get a better understanding of the true challenges behind data sharing efforts and what it will take to create a universal movement that will benefit all stakeholders.
