{"id":964,"date":"2017-02-27T19:06:27","date_gmt":"2017-02-27T19:06:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.progeriaresearch.org\/?page_id=964"},"modified":"2025-03-25T11:45:40","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T15:45:40","slug":"spokespeople","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.progeriaresearch.org\/he\/spokespeople\/","title":{"rendered":"\u05d3\u05d5\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0|false|false” border_width_bottom=”55px” border_color_bottom=”#29327a” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header background_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_font=”||||||||” title_font_size=”55″ background_color=”#29327a” background_image=”https:\/\/www.progeriaresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bubbles-header.jpg” background_position=”bottom_right” custom_padding=”11.5vw||11.5vw||true” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|56px||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” title_font_size_tablet=”45px” title_font_size_phone=”40px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” z_index_tablet=”500″ custom_css_main_element=”background-position: center !important;” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Spokespeople<\/h1>\n

[\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ specialty=”on” padding_left_1=”35px” padding_left_2=”35px” padding_2_tablet=”|||0px” padding_2_phone=”|||0px” padding_2_last_edited=”on|desktop” module_class_1=”sidebar-secondary-nav” module_class=”handprint-bg” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.progeriaresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/blue-handprint-only.png” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” inner_width=”100%” inner_max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”0|0px|54px|0px|false|false” z_index_tablet=”500″ border_width_top=”10px” border_color_top=”#8fd2ed” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”off” custom_width_percent=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_sidebar area=”et_pb_widget_area_17″ disabled_on=”on|on|off” module_class=”subpage-sidebars” _builder_version=”4.16″ animation_style=”fade” z_index_tablet=”500″ border_width_right=”5px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]
\n[\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ specialty_columns=”3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#00b2e2″ custom_margin=”41px||” custom_margin_tablet=”0px||” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”39.4375px|20px|35px|20px|false|true” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” animation_intensity_slide=”25%” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_blur=”38px” box_shadow_spread=”-12px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Progeria Research Foundation Spokespeople” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_2_line_height=”1.2em” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding_tablet=”|50px||50px||true” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_2_font_size_tablet=”25px” header_2_font_size_phone=”” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_font_size_tablet=”” header_4_font_size_phone=”19px” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_line_height_tablet=”” header_4_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_4_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” z_index_tablet=”500″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Progeria Research Foundation Spokespeople<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” padding_left_right_link_1=”false” padding_left_right_link_2=”true” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding_tablet=”||0px|35px||false” custom_padding_phone=”||0px|20px||false” animation_direction=”right” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|50px||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”||30px” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_team_member name=”Audrey Gordon, Esq.” position=”President and Executive Director” image_url=”https:\/\/www.progeriaresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Audrey-gala-09-square.jpg” admin_label=”Audrey Gordon” module_class=”prf-person-module” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ position_font=”|700|||||||” position_text_color=”#00B2E2″ custom_margin=”||45px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Working closely with the Board of Directors, committees, staff and volunteers, Ms. Gordon is responsible for The Progeria Research Foundation\u2019s financial and organizational growth, program development, and day to day management.<\/p>\n

Ms. Gordon is a graduate of Tufts University and Northeastern University School of Law.\u00a0 Prior to co-founding The Progeria Research Foundation, she practiced law in both Massachusetts and Florida, specializing in civil litigation.<\/p>\n

Locally, she is the President of the Peabody Rotary Club and serves on the Peabody Board of Registrars. Ms. Gordon has been recognized for her achievements through North of Boston\u2019s Business and Professional Women of the Year Award for non-profit organizations, being named Community Hero by the Jewish Family Services, and receiving the Mary Upton Ferrin Award for leadership. Under her management as PRF\u2019s founding President and Executive Director, PRF has been awarded a coveted 4-star Charity Navigator rating for the past 9 years, and PRF received Research!America\u2019s Paul G. Rogers Distinguished Organization Advocacy Award for bringing progeria from obscurity to the forefront of successful translational research.<\/p>\n

Ms. Gordon resides in Peabody, Massachusetts with her husband Rich Reed, daughters Nadia and Svetlana, and dogs Fred and Jack.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_team_member name=”Leslie Gordon, MD, PhD” position=”PRF Medical Director” image_url=”https:\/\/www.progeriaresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Lelsiesp.jpg” admin_label=”Leslie Gordon, MD, PhD” module_class=”prf-person-module” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ position_font=”|700|||||||” position_text_color=”#00B2E2″ custom_margin=”||45px” z_index_tablet=”500″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Leslie Gordon is a co-founder of The Progeria Research Foundation and serves as the organization\u2019s volunteer Medical Director. Dr. Gordon is the Principal Investigator for ongoing PRF programs for Progeria, including the PRF International Progeria Registry<\/a>,\u00a0Medical and Research Database<\/a>,\u00a0Cell and Tissue Bank<\/a>, and the\u00a0Genetic Diagnostics Program<\/a>. She has chaired 11 National Institutes of Health-funded, international scientific meetings on Progeria. She is Professor of Pediatrics Research at Hasbro Children\u2019s Hospital and the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Research Scientist at Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, RI.\u00a0 She is a Research Associate in Anesthesia at Harvard Medical School and Senior Staff Scientist \u2013 Associate Professor at Boston Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n

Dr. Gordon has paved the way for finding treatments and the cure for those affected by Progeria. She was co-author on the 2003 gene discovery for Progeria in Nature<\/em>, lead author of the 2012 Progeria treatment discovery study in Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). <\/em>She has co-chaired four Progeria clinical drug trials<\/a> for children with Progeria at Boston Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n

Dr. Gordon received her undergraduate degree from the University of New Hampshire and her Master\u2019s and MD, PhD from Brown University.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_team_member name=”Scott D. Berns, MD, MPH, FAAP” position=”Chair, Board of Directors” image_url=”https:\/\/www.progeriaresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Scott-Berns.jpg” admin_label=”Scott D. Berns, MD, MPH, FAAP” module_class=”prf-person-module” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ position_font=”|700|||||||” position_text_color=”#00B2E2″ custom_margin=”||45px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

After serving for 14 years at the March of Dimes National Office, where he was the Senior Vice President of Chapter Programs and Deputy Medical Office, in October 2015 Dr. Berns became President and CEO of the NICHQ (National Institute for Children\u2019s Health Quality), an independent, nonprofit organization working to improve children\u2019s health.<\/p>\n

Scott is a board-certified pediatrician and pediatric emergency physician. He is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Clinical Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice at the Brown School of Public Health in Providence, RI. He earned a masters of public health from the Harvard School of Public Health with a concentration in health, policy and management, and completed a one-year White House Fellowship where he served as a Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.<\/p>\n

Scott has received the Willis Wingert Award for excellence in research in pediatric emergency medicine from the American Academy of Pediatrics, a national award from the National Perinatal Association, a public health service award from the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the 2015 Impact Award from the White House Fellows Foundation & Association.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_team_member name=”Carlos” position=”PRF Ambassador” image_url=”https:\/\/www.progeriaresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Carlos-WhatsApp-from-Tatiana-3-12-25.jpeg” admin_label=”Carlos” module_class=”prf-person-module” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ position_font=”|700|||||||” position_text_color=”#00B2E2″ custom_margin=”||45px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Carlos serves as PRF’s youth ambassador, sharing the unique perspective of his journey with Progeria through various media opportunities. Diagnosed with Progeria at age 4, <\/span>he always gravitated toward toys that involved building and construction. <\/span>Carlos is best known for being incredibly kind and smart, and always putting a smile on people’s faces with his warmth and humor. Today, he is in 9th grade, where his favorite subjects are Science and History, with plans to graduate in either science or law. Carlos has always had a very bold and strong personality, working hard at everything he sets his mind to and never giving up on his dreams.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_team_member name=”In Memory of PRF Ambassador and Progeria Researcher, Sammy Basso” image_url=”https:\/\/www.progeriaresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Sammybasso-headshot.jpg” admin_label=”In Memory of Sammy Basso” module_class=”prf-person-module” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ position_font=”|700|||||||” position_text_color=”#00B2E2″ custom_margin=”||45px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Sammy Basso was known and adored throughout the world as a spokesperson for PRF and the Progeria community. He passed away in October 2024 at the age of 28, the oldest known person to ever live with classic Progeria.<\/p>\n

Born in 1995, Sammy was diagnosed with Progeria at age two, serving as the spokesperson of the Sammy Basso Italian Association for Progeria since he was ten years old. In 2007, Sammy was among the first to join PRF\u2019s clinical trials, testing the now-FDA-approved drug lonafarnib as the first-ever treatment for Progeria. In 2014, he was featured in the National Geographic docu-film \u201cIl Viaggio di Sammy\u201d (Sammy\u2019s travels), which chronicled his dream trip: traveling on Route 66 in the U.S. from Chicago to Los Angeles with his parents and friend.<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

In 2018, Sammy graduated from Padua University with a degree in Natural Sciences and delivered a thesis on a genetic editing approach in HGPS mice. Later that year, he was awarded Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, for his in-depth research in disabilities and his partnership with the Italian government. In 2020, Sammy became a member of the Veneto\u2019s regional and national task force for COVID-19 information disclosure (scientific and influencer features). In 2021, Sammy graduated with a second degree in Molecular Biology with a thesis on the intersection of Lamin A and Interleukin-6, an approach for treating Progeria by targeting the toxic protein, known as progerin. <\/u><\/u><\/u><\/u>Hear from Sammy in a panel at the 2021 STAT Breakthrough Science Summit here<\/a>.\u200b<\/p>\n

We treasure memories of Sammy’s extraordinary zest for life, optimism, kindness and brilliance as we do what he would want us to: continue our fight for the cure.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_team_member name=”In Memory of John Tacket, PRF\u2019s first Youth Ambassador” image_url=”https:\/\/www.progeriaresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/john.jpg” admin_label=”In Memory of John Tacket” module_class=”prf-person-module” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”||45px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

16-year-old John Tacket, PRF\u2019s first Youth Ambassador, passed away Wednesday, March 3rd, 2004. John was an incredible person who never let his condition slow him down. In between his school activities, work and passion for the drums, he welcomed talking to others, especially kids, about Progeria because he felt it was important that people be educated about it. John was a key member of the panel that announced the Progeria gene finding in April 2003 in Washington, DC. He answered reporters\u2019 questions and commented that it was an exciting time for him and his friends. We are proud to have known John and PRF is forever grateful for his contributions in raising awareness about Progeria and the work of PRF. He was an inspiration to us all. John will be missed greatly.<\/p>\n

Click here to see an interview with John, taken when he was 13 years old.<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”footer” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ background_color=”#29327a” custom_margin=”-2px|||||” custom_padding=”0|0px|0|0px|false|false” z_index_tablet=”500″ border_width_top=”12px” border_color_top=”#00b2e2″ global_module=”133″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_2″ make_equal=”on” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”89%” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”89%” max_width_tablet=”80%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” z_index_tablet=”500″ make_fullwidth=”on” width_unit=”off” custom_width_percent=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_cta button_url=”https:\/\/lp.constantcontactpages.com\/sl\/88gWWwz” button_text=”Sign Up Now” admin_label=”Sign Up for Updates” module_class=”sign-btn” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ header_font_size=”25px” background_color=”#29327a” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_intensity_slide=”25%” link_option_url=”https:\/\/lp.constantcontactpages.com\/sl\/88gWWwz” header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”30px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” z_index_tablet=”500″ border_radii=”on|25px|25px|25px|25px” global_colors_info=”{}” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_bg_color__hover=”#8fd2ed” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”on”]<\/p>\n

Sign Up<\/h2>\n

for Our<\/h2>\n

Updates!<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_cta button_url=”https:\/\/progeriaresearch.donorsupport.co\/-\/XZHJVWZR” button_text=”Donate Now” admin_label=”Together, we will find the cure!” module_class=”sign-btn” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font_size=”25px” background_color=”#29327a” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_intensity_slide=”25%” header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”30px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” body_font_size_tablet=”” body_font_size_phone=”” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” z_index_tablet=”500″ border_radii=”on|25px|25px|25px|25px” global_colors_info=”{}” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_bg_color__hover=”#8fd2ed” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”on”]<\/p>\n

Together, we<\/h2>\n

WILL<\/em><\/h2>\n

find the cure!<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.progeriaresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/2024-strip-footer-strip-copy.png” title_text=”2024 strip footer strip copy” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”35px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0|false|false” border_width_bottom=”55px” border_color_bottom=”#29327a” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header background_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_font=”||||||||” title_font_size=”55″ background_color=”#29327a” background_image=”https:\/\/www.progeriaresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bubbles-header.jpg” background_position=”bottom_right” custom_padding=”11.5vw||11.5vw||true” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|56px||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” title_font_size_tablet=”45px” title_font_size_phone=”40px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” z_index_tablet=”500″ custom_css_main_element=”background-position: center !important;” global_colors_info=”{}”] Spokespeople [\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ specialty=”on” padding_left_1=”35px” padding_left_2=”35px” padding_2_tablet=”|||0px” padding_2_phone=”|||0px” padding_2_last_edited=”on|desktop” module_class_1=”sidebar-secondary-nav” module_class=”handprint-bg” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.progeriaresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/blue-handprint-only.png” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” inner_width=”100%” inner_max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”0|0px|54px|0px|false|false” z_index_tablet=”500″ border_width_top=”10px” border_color_top=”#8fd2ed” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”off” custom_width_percent=”100%” […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\t\t\t\t[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=\"Spokespeople\" font_container=\"tag:h1|text_align:center\" use_theme_fonts=\"yes\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\r\n

PRF Spokespeople<\/a><\/h1>\r\n