Our Team

Nathan Peck of Georgia possesses a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology as well as a MBA and Masters of Civil and Environmental Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In January 2018, he formed Cure VCP Disease, Inc. along with a passionate group of IBMPFD patients, caregivers and researchers.  Through Cure VCP Disease, Inc. he is committed to bringing together patients, caregivers, researchers, pharmaceutical companies, other non-profits and investors to identify treatments and ultimately a cure for this rare, genetic disease.

Amy Casey lives in Eastern Iowa and is a wife and a mom of four. She is a clinical dental hygiene educator at Kirkwood Community College and the University of Iowa. As a patient, Amy is a strong supporter of community within the rare disease population and co-leads our patient support groups. Mental health, as it relates to physical health, is an area that Amy is passionate about. Coming from a family with many members affected by VCP disease, Amy has vowed to continue to work towards a treatment or a cure, not only for the current generation but for generations to come. Amy feels she owes it to her family members who have passed on to be involved in Cure VCP Disease. We are stronger together, and Amy is dedicated to helping drive efforts towards a treatment or cure.

Kelly Gold is the Chief Business Officer at CAMP4 Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on identifying RNA-based therapies for the treatment of rare and neurodegenerative diseases. Prior to joining CAMP4, Kelly worked in corporate finance at Biogen, where she was the finance leader for rare disease business unit and sat on the program team responsible for the approval and launch of Spinraza, the first approved therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Prior to Biogen, Ms. Gold worked in Deutsche Bank’s healthcare investment banking group. She began her career designing infectious disease research facilities. Kelly holds degrees in biochemistry and mechanical engineering from Queen’s University in Ontario, and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Kelly is originally from Edmonton, Canada and currently lives with her husband and three children in Atlanta.

Dr. Han Phan is a pediatric neurologist and sleep specialist with a deep passion for clinical trials in rare diseases. With over 15 years of experience leading clinical research, she has focused extensively on conditions such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Spinal Muscular Atrophy. She currently serves on the Pediatric Advisory Board at the FDA and was previously a guest researcher with the CDC's Newborn Screening Branch. Dr. Phan also held the position of Associate Professor at the University of Alabama and co-directed the MDA clinic. Driven by a strong commitment to expanding access to clinical trials for patients with rare diseases, she founded Rare Disease Research in 2017—an independent organization where she now serves as principal investigator, overseeing active studies in neuromuscular disorders.

Allison Peck of Georgia is a graduate of Georgia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering. She started her career as a Manufacturing Engineer and Project Manager with National Instruments in Austin, TX. She has continued her professional experience with website design and small business management. Allison has a wealth of experience leading volunteer organizations including the PTO, a backpack food program, and community non-profits. As the treasurer, website designer, and project manager, Allison is committed to doing everything in her power to aid in the effort to help her husband, Nathan, find a cure to VCP Disease.

Sara Buhr lives outside of Denver, Colorado and is an Executive Director of Development for the University of Denver. She has a master's degree in nonprofit administration from the University of San Francisco and a BA in public relations from Pacific Lutheran University. She is a third generation VCP patient in her family and is committed to finding a cure for the next generation. She enjoys life in Colorado and international travel with her husband, John, and boys, Griffin and Beckett.

Maureen McArthur Hart is a patient advocacy, public policy, and communications leader with experience in structuring biomedical research collaborations with engagement of multiple stakeholders, accelerating biomedical innovation, ensuring ethical conduct of research, and developing outreach materials to varied audiences. She is the Director, Patient Advocacy, Public Policy, and External Engagement at Creyon Bio, a member of the voluntary PRA/ICON Rare Disease Advisory Council, and a member of the Scientific Advisory Council for Uplifting Athletes. Previously, she was a strategic advisor with Global Genes, working with the Medical & Scientific Advisory Board on projects focused on science and technology issues related to rare disease research and therapy development, developing content for major patient advocacy meetings, and leading efforts to connect rare disease researchers and patient advocates. Prior to joining Global Genes, Dr. Hart served as a researcher with the Science and Technology Policy Institute on strategic planning projects for translational research, bioinformatics, and clinical trials, and on program evaluation for the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health. She also has led the development of policies to protect human research subjects and public outreach projects on biomedical research at the University of Kentucky. She earned a PhD in public policy from George Washington University, an MS in science and technology studies from Virginia Tech, and a BS in biology from UCLA.

Jesse has over a decade of drug discovery experience, centered on his expertise in cancer cell and human disease biology. He currently serves as Director of Scientific Affairs and Strategic Messaging at Eikon Therapeutics, a technology enabled biopharmaceutical company with a robust pipeline of programs across oncology, immunology and neuroscience, where he leverages his skillset to advise scientific discovery programs and crafts and shapes the scientific narrative for internal and external stakeholders, potential partners and investors. Prior to joining Eikon, he lead preclinical research and development at Cleave Therapeutics where he oversaw research supporting a phase 1 clinical program in oncology, from IND enabling studies to ongoing work on biomarkers, patient selection and analysis and interpretation of emergent human subject data from the trial. During his tenure at Cleave he lead an effort to establish a program exploring the feasibility and therapeutic rationale for a VCP inhibitor in neurodegenerative disease. From initial proof of concept with Cleave proprietary molecules, to engagement with KOLs across the nation specializing in VCP disease and Huntingtons Disease, and presenting preliminary data at the annual Huntingtons Disease meeting, he brought his passion for exploratory research and patient advocacy to that endeavor, working with SMEs and consultants and culminating in a detailed plan and budget for a clinical program in the space. He previously served as microscopy core director at both UC San Diego and UCLA as part of integrated quantitative and computational systems biology laboratories. Jesse completed his doctoral studies at UC San Diego/the Salk Institute under the mentorship of Martin Hetzer in advanced microscopy and cell biology. He completed a Masters in Molecular, Cellular and Systemic Human Physiology from SIU Carbondale, and graduated with honors with dual bachelor’s degrees from UC Irvine in Chemistry and Biology. He served as director of an outreach program for underrepresented students at UC Irvine for several years and served as Vice President of Academic Affairs of the Graduate Council at UC San Diego where he worked to advance student concerns to the Graduate Dean and the Academic Senate and successfully drove the push to overhaul the graduate recruitment and outreach program for the School of Biological Sciences. In his free time, Jesse enjoys photography, Judo, hiking and spending time with his French Bulldog, Aristide.