Milken Institute 160d ago

“The exceptional guidance of my mentor was a thousand percent a win. It was a perfect match, helping me gain the confidence to prioritize needs and unblock critical strategic challenges.” Ana Rita Moreira is the founder and president of v-ATPase Alliance, the first foundation dedicated to uniting families affected by v ATPase disorders, advancing research, and raising awareness. Inspired by her son’s diagnosis with an ultra rare genetic condition, Moreira channeled her background in economics, branding, communication, and entrepreneurship to build a global community and drive scientific progress. As part of her capstone project, Moreira focused on accelerating research infrastructure for this emerging disease area. She identified 76 patients across more than 20 countries, launched the first patient registry, established a biorepository and generated iPSC lines, built a global research network, and initiated drug repurposing groundwork to jump start therapeutic discovery. Established in 2020, the FasterCures LeadersLink Program is a capacity-building program to support the personal development of an emerging cadre of leaders of nonprofit organizations that fund or conduct biomedical research. LeadersLink focuses on building participants’ leadership skills and professional network and addressing their top priorities through mentorship, a capstone project, a series of convenings, virtual collaboration, and access to Milken Institute events and networks.