Yukari Blumenthal
What is your role/focus on the End AxD board?
My role/focus is a medical/scientific lead
Why did you want to serve?
Because I saw specific aspects (medical/scientific/drug development advocacy) of EndAxD, to which my experiences and background can contribute
What would you like to accomplish?
To find HOPE (aka cure/semi-curative therapeutics) for ALL, to be the voice and eyes so that no one is left behind, as well as to support each other
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Dr. Blumenthal is a surgical doctor and a researcher by profession, She graduated from St. George’s University in London Medical School, conducted her internship and Clinical Fellowship for Surgery (Urology) at the Cambridge University Hospital, UK.
Apart from her formal job, Dr. Blumenthal is also a founder of the Germany-based NPO Kindness United Neuroscience Org, (K.U.N.O.) aiming to support families and research for Alexander disease and other rare diseases. She serves as a contributing member to a government-funded Leukodystrophy Working Group on the "guidelines for supporting the healthcare transition of individuals with rare neurological disorders, intellectual disabilities, and genetic white matter diseases" in Japan.
Dr. Blumenthal is also a mom. After her son, Kuno, was diagnosed with Alexander disease, she shifted her research focus to rare diseases and collaborates with Kyoto University Center for iPS Research and Application (CiRA) in Japan.
As a Medical Lead at Astellas Pharma, Yukari strives to promote patient advocacy and research in rare conditions with high unmet medical needs.