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Patient Empowerment Program: A Rare Disease Podcast

Patient Empowerment Program: A Rare Disease Podcast

By: n-Lorem Foundation (Dr. Stan Crooke Amy Williford Kim Butler Andrew Serrano Jon Magnuson and Kira Dineen)
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Join the nano-rare disease community! Interviews features leading physicians, scientists, biotech experts, and patient advocates. Lessons teach core concepts about drugs. Our host Dr. Crooke has led the creation of antisense technology and his foundation, n-Lorem, is using this powerful technology to discover, develop, and provide personalized experimental antisense oligonucleotide medicines to nano-rare patients for free, for life. n-Lorem is a non-profit organization established to apply the efficiency, versatility and specificity of antisense technology to charitably provide experimental antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) medicines to treat patients (less than 30 patients) that are the result of a single genetic defect unique to only one or very few individuals. The advantage of experimental ASO medicines is that they can be developed rapidly, inexpensively and are highly specific. n-Lorem was founded by Dr. Stan Crooke, who founded IONIS Pharmaceuticals in 1989 and, through his vision and leadership, established the company as the leader in RNA-targeted therapeutics. The podcast is produced by n-Lorem Foundation and hosted by Dr. Stanley T. Crroke, who is the Founder, CEO and Chairman. Our videographer is Jon Magnuson. Our producers are Kira Dineen, Jon Magnuson, Kim Butler, and Amy Williford. To learn more about n-Lorem, visit nlorem.org. Contact us at podcast@nlorem.org.Copyright 2024 n-Lorem Foundation Biological Sciences Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease Science
Episodes
  • Meet Rescue 7: Firefighters Serving Patients
    Aug 27 2025

    Rescue 7 is dedicated to serving the most vulnerable patient communities with care, compassion, and critical support. Inspired by the traditions of Fire Departments, Police Departments, and Military service worldwide, their programs go beyond emergency response. From patient transportation to sibling support initiatives, as well as emergency disaster relief efforts — Rescue 7 is there. Always ready and there when you need them.

    Rescue 7 is founded by n-Lorem families. They will host the Family Club at the 2025 Nano-rare Patient Colloquium. Families are invited to stop by, hang out, or drop off their children for fun, firefighting-themed activities while caregivers attend the event. Get to meet the first responder volunteers, Luke Rosen, and Raena and Frank Vrtochnick in this episode of the Patient Empowerment Program Podcast!

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    47 mins
  • Hope for Kinsley: Facing TUBB4A with Courage and Care
    Aug 6 2025

    Sarah and Ryan Marta, proud parents of three girls from Central Texas, began noticing that their middle daughter, Kinsley, was slow to reach mobility milestones in her early years. During a visit to a friend’s house, concerns about her vision were raised, prompting a check-up. What began as a single hospital visit quickly turned into many. An MRI revealed abnormal levels of white matter in Kinsley’s brain—leading to the devastating and confusing diagnosis of a nano-rare neurodegenerative disease called TUBB4A.

    Looking high and low for help, they eventually discovered n-Lorem, a non-profit that discovers and develops personalized medicines for extremely rare individuals like Kinsley.

    Kinsley is lively and cheerful with infectious laughter and a bright smile that lights up every room. She loves singing at the top of her lungs, swinging in the fresh air, and spending endless hours playing with her sisters and cousins. Kinsley uses a mobility walker to get around, but one of her biggest dreams is to run. When asked what she’d do after running, she simply says, “I’d run some more.”

    On This Episode We Discuss:

    2:35 - Early signs of Kinsley’s disease and her TUBB4A diagnosis

    4:00 - Fight or flight – Sarah and Ryan did all they could to seek help

    7:30 - Defining TUBB4A

    9:40 - Kinsley's challenges today

    11:00 - The impact rare diseases have on families

    14:40 – Kinsley wants to do more, and an n-Lorem medicine provides optimism

    Links: 2025 Nano-rare Patient Colloquium Agenda and Registration - https://www.nlorem.org/nano-rare-patient-colloquium-2025/

    Donate to n-Lorem - https://www.nlorem.org/donate/

    Hongene Biotech - https://hongene.com/

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    17 mins
  • New Insights into Genetically Caused Developmental Delays
    Jul 23 2025

    Emerging observations from our work at n-Lorem suggest that not all developmental delays are permanent. In the absence of structural damage—such as microcephaly, congenital deformities of the skull or bones, or organ malformations—there appears to be potential for improvement in movement disorders, cognition, autistic features, and more. These insights point to a level of resilience and plasticity in the central nervous system that may be greater than previously believed, and they are beginning to reshape how the scientific community understands the brain. On This Episode We Discuss:

    • 2:12 The idea that a missed or delayed developmental step can lead to permanent deficits might not be true
    • 3:30 Observations that support the conclusions that developmental deficits aren't permanent unless they cause structural damage, like microcephaly, bone or skull deformities, or organ malformation
    • 5:55 ASO treatment can dramatically enhance muscle strength
    • 7:54 Abnormal movements and the inability to control movement
    • 11:30 The damage seizures cause lead to further developmental delays
    • 12:46 We’ve observed improvement in those with ataxia, or dizziness
    • 14:25 Improved cognition observed in patients with various mutations, genes, and forms of intellectual disability
    • 15:00 Recovery of speech and improvements in autistic features, such as intellectual disability, and other associated manifestations
    • 16:10 Severe neuropathic pain makes development difficult, and reduction in pain has been observed
    • 16:40 Ongoing issues with autonomic nervous system control—including blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, light response, and digestive and urinary function—are debilitating and make normal development nearly impossible
    • 18:00 The implications of these observations are transforming the scientific community’s understanding of the brain and central nervous system

    Links:

    2025 Nano-rare Patient Colloquium Agenda and Registration - https://www.nlorem.org/nano-rare-patient-colloquium-2025/

    Donate to n-Lorem - https://www.nlorem.org/donate/

    Hongene Biotech - https://hongene.com/

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    22 mins
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