Brooke Slick is a spirited MS advocate, podcast host and blogger who counsels and connects with patients of all levels of disability from around the world.
Since MS entered her life 19 years ago, she has taken the long and unpredictable walk from able-bodied go-getter to disabled motivator. She draws on her personal experience of living through the physical decline of a once able body to thrive beyond the disability with a positive outlook that transcends any physical shortcomings.
If there is a bright side to a situation, she is going to find it and she’s not going to rest until you are able to pull yourself into the light as well. Her personal mantra, ‘disabled does not mean unable’ is a guiding force behind her message. She vows to empower people living with MS by helping to recalibrate the way they think about themselves and their future with a potentially disabling disease. She wants them to know there is happiness and worthiness to be found beyond your diagnosis.
Brooke’s time spent blogging her multiple sclerosis treatment journey while living in Moscow, Russia, for her followers from over 90 countries at www.msslick.com, and continuing to blog her everyday life at www.brookeslick.com has served her well as she transitioned to full-time advocate. Saying out loud what others are thinking but are afraid to share is her forte. She believes truth telling can heal the soul and free you of a self-encumbered future.
Since May of 2019, she’s used her voice and connections within the MS community as a host of The MS Gym Podcast with download numbers doubling since she came on board. Never wanting to miss out on any segment of the MS community, her episodes have featured anything from applying for Social Security disability, to diets, to depression. Most recently, she was asked to host the MS Gym’s 2020 Virtual Thrive Summit where she interviewed renowned experts in the fields of telemedicine, anxiety, nutrition and the MS connection to the Epstein Barr virus. Brooke’s story has been shared in publications such as the book and podcast, Healthcare Elsewhere, as well as many newspapers, newscasts and medical publications. Using her own experience as a stepping stone, for the past seven years she has been the lead admin for a global group of 7000+ members seeking stem cell transplants for various autoimmune diseases. In addition, she has a loyal following from the autoimmune sector on Instagram and Facebook.
Last, but definitely not least, Brooke created and subsequently patented a versatile mobility/assistive device aimed at providing its users with the independence, relevance and engagement in life that they deserve. She is currently seeking manufacturers to entertain licensing the device while providing international distribution to users in need around the globe. Originally from Pennsylvania, with a legal, medical and marketing background, Brooke spent 10 years based in New York City while traveling the world, and five more in South Florida where her daughter was born, before returning to her roots in Pennsylvania with her husband, Doug.
Tish is the co-founder and CEO of GRIT, a social enterprise that believes every person, regardless of their physical ability, deserves access to the outdoors and adventure. Tish graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with an SB in Mechanical Engineering, and she uses her design skills to create products that enable people with disabilities to enjoy life beyond the pavement. She is a designer of the Freedom Chair, GRIT’s flagship line of all-terrain wheelchairs.
Over the past decade Tish has collaborated with programs around the country to expand access to adaptive hiking, including adaptive sports programs, parks, Veterans organizations, community groups, and other like-minded partners. She has spoken at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and TEDx Boston, among others. Tish is a 2009 Truman Scholar for her dedication to public service. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, including hiking and camping.
Angie Zavoral Conley has served as Abilitech’s President and Chief Executive Officer since founding the company in late 2016. Under Angie’s leadership, Abilitech Medical has won numerous awards, including both the Tekne Award for innovation from Minnesota High Tech Association and the Grand Prize and Top Woman-led Business at the Minnesota Cup – the largest state-led business competition. Abilitech has also been recognized as a Top 10 Medical Device Startup by MedTech Outlook; a Top 20 Medical Device Startup You Need to Know by MassDevice magazine; and a Top Promising Life Science Company by Rice University. In her role as President and CEO of Abilitech, Angie has raised over ten million dollars in equity funding and nearly two million dollars in non-dilutive funding.
Angie Conley’s broad work experience in the medical device industry directly translates to her role as CEO of Abilitech Medical. Prior to founding Abilitech, Angie held leadership roles in several different medical device companies, including working with exoskeletons at Magic Arms; peripheral and neurovascular atherectomy devices at ev3/Covidien; heart valves, instruments, telemonitoring equipment, external and implantable pacemakers and defibrillators at Medtronic. She is an alumna of the prestigious Springboard Enterprise and Texas Medical Center accelerator programs. Angie Conley is named as an inventor on two patents.
CHALLENGE TIMELINE
November 2, 2020
Applications Open
December 9, 2020
Submission Deadline
February 9, 2021
Finalist Announcement
March 10-11, 2021
Innovation Challenge
March 11, 2021
Winner Announcement
Pierluigi Mantovani is the co-founder and CEO of Evolution Devices, where they are helping people with Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological diseases rehabilitate their walking with a remote physical therapy program enabled by a smart nerve stimulation wearable device. Specifically, Evolution Devices is helping people with foot drop pick up their foot to trip and fall less, and walk with more confidence. Pierluigi is a healthcare entrepreneur and former Neuroscience researcher at UCSF. Pierluigi received his BA in Cognitive Science from UC Berkeley. He was inspired to build Evolution Devices initially to help his father, who struggles with Multiple Sclerosis. Pierluigi and The Evolution Devices team has been featured in multiple media outlets, and has been recognized by the NIH, NSF, and the Toyota Mobility Foundation for their innovations.
Pierluigi Mantovani
Co-Founder & CEO
Lucy Jones is the founder and CEO of FFORA, a fashion lifestyle brand that primarily caters to people with disabilities. She believes in a world made accessible to all. Previously, she worked at Eileen Fisher as a “Social Innovator” sponsored by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). Welsh native Jones studied Fashion Design at Parsons School of Fashion in New York. As a student, Jones received several accolades including the prestigious Royal Society of the Arts prize for “Design Innovation”. Upon graduation in 2015, Jones was awarded Parsons Womenswear Designer of the Year, Kering “Empowering Imagination” Award, and shortly after named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the “Arts & Style” category. In 2016 Jones was invited to The White House to attend a “Design for All” conference. In addition, she has been recognized by the CFDA, winning the inaugural grand prize of the Elaine Gold Launch Pad in 2018, and also exhibited work in the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and currently has work on display at the “Design for Different Futures Exhibit”, a two-year exhibition. Jones’ work has been featured in numerous publications such as The New York Times, Vogue.com, Business of Fashion, BBC, CFDA, NPR, Forbes, Fast Company, Seventeen Magazine, WWD, Id Vice, Independence Care Systems, AOL online, ITV Wales, Vogue, The Impression, Plan de Ville, Fashionista amongst others. Most recently, Jones starred in a global Microsoft campaign, highlighting the work and community of FFORA.
Lucy Jones
Founder and CEO
Tish is the co-founder and CEO of GRIT, a social enterprise that believes every person, regardless of their physical ability, deserves access to the outdoors and adventure. Tish graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with an SB in Mechanical Engineering, and she uses her design skills to create products that enable people with disabilities to enjoy life beyond the pavement. She is a designer of the Freedom Chair, GRIT’s flagship line of all-terrain wheelchairs.
Over the past decade Tish has collaborated with programs around the country to expand access to adaptive hiking, including adaptive sports programs, parks, Veterans organizations, community groups, and other like-minded partners. She has spoken at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and TEDx Boston, among others. Tish is a 2009 Truman Scholar for her dedication to public service. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, including hiking and camping.
Tish Scolnik
Co-Founder and CEO
ABOUT THE SUMMIT AND AWARD
The Innovation Challenge is open to Patient Entrepreneurs – those who have been affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) as either a patient themselves or as a support partner for a loved one – whose companies are helping develop solutions to address an unmet need in MS. The goal of the initiative is to seek new solutions, beyond therapy, to help address either challenges faced by people with MS in their daily lives or an unmet need that could potentially improve outcomes and experiences for people affected by the disease.
In March 2021, Lyfebulb will host the Summit virtually. An expert panel of judges comprised of healthcare industry, medical and patient leaders will award $25,000 to the most innovative, impactful business.
Beyond presenting their innovative ventures to this group for a monetary prize, the finalists will have the opportunity to exchange ideas on how to further advance patient innovation in the MS community; engage with Lyfebulb founders, representatives from the patient community, key opinion leaders and potential investors; and share insights with each other.
The Lyfebulb Innovation Challenge stems from the idea of the Lyfebulb Entrepreneur Circle, established in 2015, and features individuals who have created a product and a company based on the issues encountered due to their personal experiences with a chronic illness (through their own diagnosis or that of a loved one).
Tim Coetzee, PhD
Chief Advocacy, Services and Research Officer at National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Stephen Squinto, PhD
Executive Partner at OrbiMed, Co-Founder at Alexion, and Co-Founder & Chairman at Lyfebulb
Darin T. Okuda, MD, MS, FAAN, FANA
Director of the Neuroinnovation Program and Director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Imaging Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center
JUDGING CRITERIA
Submissions should focus on new solutions, beyond therapy, that help address either challenges faced by people with MS in their daily lives or an unmet need that could potentially improve outcomes and experiences for both people with the disease and their support partners.
The judging panel will assess the following:
Unmet Need
- What is the strategic basis for the identified problem/gap (e.g., research conducted)?
- How is the problem/gap being specifically addressed®?
IMPACT
- Does the innovation have the potential to improve the lives of people affected by multiple sclerosis?
- How great of an impact (market impact and patient impact) will the innovation make and how will it be measured?
Market Feasibility
- How is the product or service unique to the market?
- What is the feasibility of development and implementation into the marketplace (e.g., funding, regulations, requirements for testing)?
Join us for an informal, chat-style discussion between Patient Entrepreneur, Kinza Kasher (Lyfebulb-BMS 2019 Innovation Award Winner), and Dr. Tim Coetzee, Chief Advocacy, Services and Research Officer at the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society (Lyfebulb-BMS 2019 Judge). The conversation will be lightly moderated by Lyfebulb CEO Karin Hehenberger, MD, PhD. We are all living during unprecedented times created by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has put new and additional burdens on those living with a chronic disease like MS. Do you want to hear how others in the MS community have created solutions from their experiences, as well as what the future of MS innovation may look like? This event, part of our fireside chat series, will spotlight innovative solutions and adaptations, developed by patient entrepreneurs, in order to reduce the burden of MS. We will be sure to discuss today’s MS research landscape as well as what looks most promising for patients.
Time: Nov 10, 2020 04:30 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Applications for the $25,000 Innovation Challenge award now being accepted
NEW YORK – (November 2, 2020) – Lyfebulb, a patient-empowerment platform that connects patients with industry to support user-driven innovation today announced the launch of two key initiatives that will source patient-driven innovation to address unmet needs in the management of multiple sclerosis (MS) and raise collective awareness about this chronic disease.
An Innovation Challenge will take place virtually in March 2021 and is open to patient entrepreneurs who have been directly affected by MS as either a patient or support partner for a loved one and whose U.S.-based companies are working to help address challenges that people living with or affected by MS face in their daily lives. Selected finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas to an expert panel of judges comprised of healthcare industry, medical and patient leaders, and the winner will be awarded a $25,000 monetary grant.
Applications for the Innovation Challenge are now being accepted and will be available through December 9, 2020. More information can be found at https://lyfebulb.com/innovation-challenges/.
A series of virtual speaker sessions, leading up to the Innovation Challenge, will take place starting in October 2020 and offer MS community members the opportunity to engage in panel discussions aimed at raising collective awareness of MS and inspiring change. Speaker panels will be comprised of patient and industry leaders as well as 2019 Innovation Challenge alumni.
The speaker sessions will be open to all members of the MS community, and information about attending is available at Lyfebulb.com.
“We are thrilled to support this patient-driven innovation in MS,” said Dr. Karin Hehenberger, CEO and Founder of Lyfebulb. “While great strides have been made, the burdens of MS continue to take a toll on the nearly one million people living with the disease in the US,[i] and their support partners. By placing patients at the forefront and spotlighting their voice and solutions, we hope to inspire all members of the community to take charge and create positive change.”
About Lyfebulb
Lyfebulb is a chronic disease-focused patient empowerment platform that connects patients and industry to support user-driven innovation. Grounded with its strong foundation in diabetes, the company has expanded disease states covered into cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, mental health, migraine and transplantation. See Lyfebulb.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Karin Hehenberger LinkedIn, and Lyfebulb LinkedIn.
About Multiple Sclerosis Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable and often disabling disease that affects nearly one million people in the United States.[ii] MS is a disease in which the immune system attacks the protective myelin sheath that covers the nerves. The myelin damage disrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body.[iii] Ultimately, the nerves themselves may deteriorate — a process that’s currently irreversible.[iv]
For more information:
Lyfebulb Contact:
Karin Hehenberger, MD, PhD
CEO & Founder, Lyfebulb
Phone: + 1 917-575-0210
Email: karin@lyfebulb.com
[1] National Multiple Sclerosis Society. How Many People Live with MS? www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/How-Many-People. Accessed March 25, 2020..
[2] National Multiple Sclerosis Society. MS Symptoms. https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms-Diagnosis/MS-Symptoms. Accessed September 24, 2020.
[3] National Multiple Sclerosis Society. What is Myelin? www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Definition-of-MS/Myelin. Accessed July 07, 2020.
[4] AJMC. The Pathologic Foundations of Multiple Sclerosis: Current Considerations. https://www.ajmc.com/view/the-pathologic-foundations-of-multiple-sclerosis-current-considerations. Accessed September 24, 2020.
CHALLENGE TIMELINE
November 2, 2020
Applications Open
December 9, 2020
Submission Deadline
February 9, 2021
Finalist Announcement
March 10-11, 2021
Innovation Challenge
March 11, 2021
Winner Announcement
ABOUT THE SUMMIT AND AWARD
The Innovation Challenge is open to Patient Entrepreneurs – those who have been affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) as either a patient themselves or as a support partner for a loved one – whose companies are helping develop solutions to address an unmet need in MS. The goal of the initiative is to seek new solutions, beyond therapy, to help address either challenges faced by people with MS in their daily lives or an unmet need that could potentially improve outcomes and experiences for people affected by the disease.
In March 2021, Lyfebulb will host the Summit virtually. An expert panel of judges comprised of healthcare industry, medical and patient leaders will award $25,000 to the most innovative, impactful business.
Beyond presenting their innovative ventures to this group for a monetary prize, the finalists will have the opportunity to exchange ideas on how to further advance patient innovation in the MS community; engage with Lyfebulb founders, representatives from the patient community, key opinion leaders and potential investors; and share insights with each other.
The Lyfebulb Innovation Challenge stems from the idea of the Lyfebulb Entrepreneur Circle, established in 2015, and features individuals who have created a product and a company based on the issues encountered due to their personal experiences with a chronic illness (through their own diagnosis or that of a loved one).
JUDGING CRITERIA
Submissions should focus on new solutions, beyond therapy, that help address either challenges faced by people with MS in their daily lives or an unmet need that could potentially improve outcomes and experiences for both people with the disease and their support partners.
The judging panel will assess the following:
Unmet Need
- What is the strategic basis for the identified problem/gap (e.g., research conducted)?
- How is the problem/gap being specifically addressed®?
IMPACT
- Does the innovation have the potential to improve the lives of people affected by multiple sclerosis?
- How great of an impact (market impact and patient impact) will the innovation make and how will it be measured?
Market Feasibility
- How is the product or service unique to the market?
- What is the feasibility of development and implementation into the marketplace (e.g., funding, regulations, requirements for testing)?
APPLY FOR THE INNOVATION CHALLENGE
Applications for The Lyfebulb-Bristol Myers Squibb Innovation Challenge: Addressing Unmet Needs in MS open November 2, 2020
Email us with any questions: contact@lyfebulb.com
Applications open through Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at 11:59 PM EDT
One entrepreneur will be awarded the 2021 Lyfebulb-Bristol Myers Squibb Innovation Award, including a $25,000 monetary grant to grow their company
Applicants must be a Patient Entrepreneur (someone who has been affected by MS either as a patient or support partner for a loved one)
Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the beginning of 2020, this has been the most challenging year of her life. Balancing working from home, motherhood, and MS has been no easy feat. Upon diagnosis, Moyna started conducting tons of research, looking for support groups or general MS resources. She noticed a reoccurring theme within the MS community. She did not see many people who looked like her or had similar backgrounds. It motivated Moyna to create her Instagram. Sharing her journey and stories in hopes of inspiring others. The positive reception from her Instagram lead her to create a website and begin blogging. MS has been an inspiration to cherish each day. Spending time with family and friends and keeping close to her support system. Moyna lives in Queens, NY, with her partner and three-year-old son.
An early diagnosis of MS at 16 led Conor to gear his studies towards human nutrition, receiving his undergraduate degree at Trinity College, Dublin and PhD at University College, Dublin, School of Medicine. Conor has worked in several hospitals, universities and medical centers in Dublin, Washington DC and Australia. Initially returning to Ireland to pursue a lecturing role, Conor shifted his focus towards launching Setanta Nutrition, a natural, research-based, plant-based, whole-food product line to prevent and treat common diseases affecting brain health such as MS, Dementia, Alzheimer, and Parkinson. Conor has gained national recognition for his research, including winning Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur and raising pre-seed funding to further develop Setanta Nutrition.
Tarita is the CEO and founder of Travel-For-All, a global leader in accessible travel that customizes vacations and specializes in helping travelers with various ‘Specific Requirements’ – cane users, slow walkers, complex health issues (Dialysis) Cancer ALS etc., developmental disabilities, and wheelchair users. Tarita’s world changed when she was diagnosed with MS at 29. When the progression of the disease began to affect her love of travel and ability to experience the culture of distant places, she opened her travel agency with the mantra that Travel Should Be Inclusive – Not Exclusive. TFA was founded on the belief that everyone with the desire should be able to experience the beauty of the world in which we live. The truth is that the world is not perfectly accessible, there are still bumps in the road… What is spectacular about the world is that it was made to be seen by everyone; regardless of your mobility or ability. TFA works with a select group of suppliers with the same passions as ours. Choose where and when, and we will work hard at creating what your mind envisions…
