Background

Science in Action.

We are a 501(c)3 transforming how complex chronic conditions like LongCovid, ME/CFS & LongLyme Disease are studied, diagnosed and treated.

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Who we are

About Us

Complex chronic conditions like LongCovid and ME/CFS are not mysterious or hopeless. The opposite is true: we can use new tools to study pathogen activity, environmental exposures, microbiome imbalances, neuroinflammation, gene changes, and other issues in patients with such conditions. PolyBio brings together some of the brightest minds in science to research these topics in a proactive and open-minded fashion.

Our Mission

Our vision

  • To take current research, identify important existing trends, and translate the data into information that doctors can use in the clinic to help their patients. This includes the development of new advanced testing methods that can reliably characterise a growing number of disease-related abnormalities.
  • To take current research, identify gaps where data is lacking, and use such knowledge to support and collaborate with research teams whose existing tools can tackle the problem and develop new solutions.

LongCovid

Research Consortium

 

The LongCovid Research Consortium is a scientific collaboration to rapidly and comprehensively study LongCovid. The program includes scientists and clinicians from institutions including Harvard Medical School, Stanford University, the J. Craig Venter Institute, University of Pennsylvania, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Yale University.

Our Values

  • Quality

    We don’t cut corners. One high-quality study to identify and solve a problem is better than 100 studies that use sub-par technologies.

  • Urgency

    We are living in the midst of an epidemic in which the incidence of nearly every of chronic disease is on the rise. We act accordingly.

  • Innovation

    We use novel approaches and new applications of innovative technologies to build on cross-discipline expertise.

  • Compassion

    We know the tremendous suffering experienced by patients with complex chronic disease. Alleviating this suffering is our primary motivation.

  • Transparency

    We are determined to improve patient health but don’t guarantee a magic pill. We are realistic about the complexity of human biology and won’t overpromise.

Background

Areas of study

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Genes

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Microbiome

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Pathogens

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Inflammation

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Brain

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Immunity

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Metabolism

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Hormones

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Gut-brain axis

Founders

Instructor in the Division of Neurotherapeutics at Harvard University and a neuroimmunologist with expertise in persistent central nervous system consequences. Mike uses functional and structural imaging techniques to identify abnormal patterns in brain inflammation and metabolism in patients with infection-associated chronic disease. He facilitates collaboration among PolyBio research teams and serves on the Board of Directors. He received a master’s degree in behavioral neuroscience at the University of Colorado and a PhD in experimental clinical psychology at Tufts University.

Microbiologist with expertise on the molecular mechanisms by which persistent pathogens modulate human gene expression, metabolism and immunity. Serves as PolyBio’s President, Research Director, and on the Board of Directors. Amy is an expert in conceptualizing and coordinating large-scale collaborative research projects. She has written multiple review articles that delineate core biological drivers of the LongCovid and ME/CFS disease processes. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Georgetown University and a PhD in microbiology from Murdoch University in Australia.

Senior Advisor

Principal at Public Purpose Strategies with 30 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, social entrepreneurship, and policy development. In 1988, Michael co-founded City Year, a leading national service organization that served as an inspiration for AmeriCorps, the federal initiative through which more than one million Americans have served their country. Michael is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, where he was a member of the Harvard Law Review.

Scientific Advisory Board

Pediatric infectious disease physician with expertise in Lyme disease and HIV/AIDS. Charlotte worked at Boston Children’s Hospital Division of Infectious Diseases and the Dean Center for Tickborne Illness at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. She is passionate about translating research on Borrelia burgdorferi and related vector-borne pathogens into cutting-edge clinical care. Charlotte received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and did residency and infectious disease fellowship training at Boston Children’s Hospital. She also serves on PolyBio’s Board of Directors.

Clinician-scientist determined to map inflammatory signatures specific to the microbiome in a creative fashion. Also an oral surgeon, Professor of Genomic Medicine, and member of the J. Craig Venter Institute infectious disease department. Life prior to disease is his mantra! Marcelo holds a DDS from College of Dentistry, Campos, Rio de Janeiro, a PhD in Craniofacial Molecular Biology from University of Southern California, and a DMedSc in Oral Medicine and Infectious Diseases from Harvard University.

Instructor in the Neurology Department of Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School. Innovator of experimental models for the study of amyloid biology and infection in neurodegenerative disease. His current research focuses on characterizing amyloid’s activity as an antimicrobial peptide that forms in response to viral and bacterial pathogens. William holds a PhD in Neuroscience from Northwestern University and completed postdoctoral work on genetics & Alzheimer’s disease biology at Harvard University.

Scientist at the Max-Planck-Institute for Biology of Ageing working to understand how cellular organelles sense and respond to intracellular pathogens. Expert in mitochondrial dynamics, parasite biology, and immunometabolism. Lena holds a PhD in microbiology & immunology from Stanford University and completed postdoctoral research on the biology of infection at the University of Padua, Italy.

CRISPR-Cas system discovery specialist at Mammoth Biosciences with a passion for developing & using technologies to identify novel genes from big data. Co-founder & Head of Bioinformatics at Ancilia Therapeutics focused on bacteriophage genomics and microbiome. Also an affiliate at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Joint Genome Institute. David holds a Ph.D. in synthetic and molecular biology and biochemistry techniques from the CNB-CSIC in Madrid, Spain, and completed a postdoctoral position at UC Berkeley on metagenomics.

Board of Directors

2x Olympic Gold Medalist and Captain of the USA Women’s Water Polo team. She is a dedicated leader not only to her team, but also to the sport of water polo and the growth of women in sport. This passion for growth is complimented by her entrepreneurial route with her company, 6-8 Sports, which she co-founded with fellow Olympian, Tony Azevedo. At 6-8 Sports, she focuses on business development & strategy and raising funds for the company to fulfill its mission. Maggie holds a Bachelor in Science in Science, Technology, and Society as well as a Master in Science in Management & Engineering from Stanford University.

Over 15 years of experience in the private equity and investment banking industries. He is currently a Partner at Newlight Partners, where he focuses on investments in power and infrastructure. Prior to joining Newlight he worked as Managing Director to its predecessor, the Strategic Investments Group of Soros Fund Management, as an Investment Banking Analyst for Bear Stearns, and as an Analyst for the Royal Bank of Scotland. Mark holds a Bachelor in Science and Foreign Service in International Economics from Georgetown University.

Expert in organizational strategy and design. Katie currently works at the intersection of strategy and job quality at Amazon. Previously, she was a director of strategy at Starbucks and a consultant at McKinsey & Company. Katie is also a nonresident fellow at the Brookings Institution, where she has recently focused on the economic impact of LongCovid. She has served on the leadership teams at two nonprofits. Katie has an MBA from MIT Sloan, a Master’s Degree from the London School of Economics, and a BA from the University of Oxford.

Our Approach

Innovating neuroscience and NOT psychology. We study the brain itself, with a focus on neuroinflammation, blood vessel issues, cerebrospinal fluid flow, and potential structural problems.

Research on root cause drivers of chronic inflammatory disease. Getting to the “root cause” of illness leads to development of the most effective treatments.

Exploring new frontiers. We prioritize research that moves beyond just blood tests and towards the study of tissue, nerves, cerebrospinal fluid & autopsies.

Our Work

Your investment in PolyBio Foundation’s Research supports far reaching scientific collaboration, patient-centred advances, and hope for millions worldwide. Can you imagine a better return?