Danielle Kerkovich

About Danielle Kerkovich

Ask Danielle about nonprofit medical research foundation strategies and you\'ll get a lively discussion of how building a well-informed, multifaceted strategy is the difference between expensive hope and real progress. Dr Kerkovich is the Principal Scientist of Beyond Batten Disease Foundation (BBDF) a young foundation dedicated to preventing, treating, and curing Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (JNCL, juvenile Batten disease). Danielle\'s goal is to discover and validate Batten disease drug targets, pair those with existing and emerging medicine, and shepherd those through the therapeutic pipeline and into the hands of affected children https://beyondbatten.org/our-role-and-impact/our-research-to-treatment-strategy/. In less than 5 years, BBDF has raised and spent $6 million on Batten disease research and leveraged into an additional $7 million through careful partnerships. Forty percent of all fundamental discoveries are never cited beyond a single publication. Instead, the information is lost within the \"Valley of Death\" between discovery and drug development. To date, almost citations have been attributed to BBDF-funded work consistently published in the top 1% of science and technology journals. With careful attention to detail, necessary milestones, go/no go decision points, and input from thought leaders from every sector of medical research, BBDF will change the course of children and families affected by Batten disease. For us there is only one clear measure of success, to end Batten disease. BBDF\'s scientific staff in the US and Europe travel to scientific conferences, invited lectures, and in-person meetings with Pharma. Our message of \"Passion is our Driver. Strategy is our Compass\" resonates with members of the research community, families and donors. BBDF-funded research accomplishments have been presented to in 5 continents. Our partnerships span 14 countries.

Experience

1. Principal Scientist

   Beyond Batten Disease Foundation

   Jan 2010 — Present · Austin, TX, US

   The mission of the Beyond Batten Disease Foundation (BBDF) is to eradicate Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (JNCL) by preventing JNCL through the establishment and use of prevention/carrier screening and funding research for the treatment and cure of JNCL. The Principal Scientist serves as BBDF’s scientific liaison and is responsible for developing and driving BBDF’s treatment and cure research funding strategy.

Education

• Albert Einstein College of Medicine

  PhD, Biomedical Sciences

  1996 — 2000

• Albert Einstein College of Medicine

  MS, Biomedical Sciences

  1992 — 1995