Meet the Sponsors

Philip M. Fortier, MA

Chair/President, Defeat MSA Alliance (USA) & MSA United Research Consortium

Philip Fortier is the founder of five all-volunteer operated MSA community advocacy organizations in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Together, with existing organizations in Spain, Italy and Denmark, Philip helped form MSA United Research Consortium, a coalition of 10 MSA organizations worldwide targeting public awareness, patient support, medical education, community advocacy and scientific research.

At 53 years of age, Philip's eldest brother Joe was diagnosed first with Parkinson's disease and then with MSA. Prior to his diagnosis, Joe worked for almost 30 years managing sleep clinics and conducting research on sleep disorders. But sadly, after only three years, in a cruel decline, Joe succumbed to MSA at the age of 56.

Like many other activists, Phil recognized that Multiple System Atrophy does not garner the public's attention as much as other more widely known diseases. People with MSA are confronted with a dim prognosis and left with few options. Joe's wish for what has now become a collective effort of multiple charities worldwide was to advance promising research and improve the quality of life for people with MSA.

Professionally, Philip holds a graduate degree in Philosophy and Comparative Religions and has taught University for many years in the US.

Contact: philip.fortier@defeatmsa.org

Roisin Nicoll

Regional Sales Manager, EMEA - bit.bio

bit.bio is a synthetic biology company focused on generating human cells that advance research and drug discovery. bit.bio applies its unique opti-ox™ precision cell reprogramming technology to rapidly reprogram induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into any desired human cell type, at an industrial scale, while maintaining exceptional purity and consistency.

Roisin has over 10 years experience working in the biotechnology industry sector; currently serving as a Regional Sales Manager, EMEA, at bit.bio since 2019. Roisin collaborates and fosters relationships with clients, facilitating their access to bit.bio's cutting-edge portfolio of ioCells. After graduating from Plymouth University, Roisin spent four years as a scientist at Horizon Discovery, specialising in gene engineering and production of genomic NGS reference standards, before transitioning to Field Applications Science and Commercial Sales roles at companies including Axol Bioscience and Twist Dx.

Contact: roisin.nicoll@bit.bio

Dr Rachel Hughes

Preclinical Research Manager - Cure Parkinson’s

Rachel is the Preclinical Research Manager at Cure Parkinson’s – an international funder of both lab and clinic-based research on disease modification for Parkinson’s. She completed her PhD in 2022 at the University of Sheffield, in collaboration with an industrial partner, studying the mechanism of action of a novel therapeutic compound for the treatment of Parkinson’s.
Founded in 2005, Cure Parkinson’s have supported a range of pre-clinical work, as well as a number of clinical trials, including the current phase 3 trial of Ambroxol. Cure Parkinson’s also set up the international Linked Clinical Trials (iLCT) programme in 2012, in an effort to speed up the search for disease-modifying treatments for Parkinson’s.

For more information about our funding schemes or the iLCT programme, please come along and speak to us or email research@cureparkinsons.org.uk!