James M. Wilson MD, PhD

James M. Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., has been working for three decades to develop effective strategies to treat and cure genetic diseases. Dr. Wilson was recognized as one of 12 leading pioneers in cell and gene research with the Pioneer Award given by Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal of the medical research community.

Wilson directs the Orphan Disease Center (ODC) in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, which focuses on making rare disease research a priority. Rare disease patient organizations are becoming increasingly integral to the development of novel therapeutics and gene therapies, Dr. Wilson said. The launch of GeneTx demonstrates a keen vision by FAST that Wilson believes can be emulated by other rare disease nonprofits in advancing their research agendas.