The Barth Syndrome Foundation’s (BSF) international Scientific and Medical Advisory Board (SMAB) is a dedicated team of researchers and clinicians who generously donate their time and expertise to advance our mission. These professionals are critical partners in driving #BarthPROGRESS through groundbreaking research and improved care.
As part of their service, SMAB members provide expert perspectives during BSF’s annual grant program, ensuring we fund the most promising research. They also play a vital role in developing and updating care guidelines and best practices, creating resources that empower families and clinicians alike.
Members typically serve 4-year terms, and we’re pleased to share several updates:
Dr. Riekelt Houtkooper, Dr. William Pu, and Dr. Mindong Ren have all committed to an additional 4-year term on the SMAB, following Board approval.
Dr. Colin Steward, has committed to an additional 2-year term on the SMAB, following Board approval.
Dr. Michael Schlame, after over a decade of service as Chair of the SMAB, has stepped down from his leadership role but has committed to serve another 4-year term as an SMAB member.
We are deeply grateful to Dr. Schlame for his care, diligence, and oversight, which have been invaluable to the SMAB’s progress.
Following approval by the Board of Directors, the following changes have been approved:
Todd Cade, PT, PhD has been appointed as the new Chair of the SMAB. Dr. Cade is a Professor and Division Chief for the Duke Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Duke University. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Cade as the new SMAB chair as his dedication to the Barth syndrome community and pioneering research for novel cures are strongly aligned with Barth Syndrome Foundation’s mission. Read more about Todd here!
Stacey Reynolds, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA has joined the SMAB as a new member. Dr. Reynolds is a Professor of Occupational Therapy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Read more about Stacey here!
Laura Hagerty, PhD has also joined the SMAB as a new member. Dr. Hagerty is the Vice President of Research at Reveragen Biopharma, which recently received FDA approval for vamorolone, a steroid alternative to prednisone for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. More recently, Dr. Hagerty also joined MyoGene Bio, a muscle-focused gene therapy company, as a Program Manager. Read more about Laura here!
A new SMAB role called the Grant Review Representative (GRR) has been added, with Dr. Mindong Ren, PhD serving as the first GRR. The SMAB GRR will provide expert insights during grant funding discussions with the Board of Directors. Read more about Mindong here!
A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Arnold Strauss
Dr. Strauss has served on our SMAB since 2012 and has been on our conference steering committee several times. His wife, Pat, also has been devoted to our cause, has encouraged Dr. Strauss’s continued participation in our disease and frequently has attended our conferences along with her husband. We will all miss Dr. Strauss’s sharing of his vast experience and sage advice on many topics, but we are grateful to all that he and Pat have given to us over the years, including their friendship which we hold dear. We certainly wish them well in their retirement.
