Senior Fellow & Rare Disease Project Lead: Kristine Pashin
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Kristine Pashin is a Spring 2025 Senior Fellow with No Patient Left Behind and the project lead behind Access for All: Rare Disease Trials & Equity. She is pursuing a B.S. in Symbolic Systems (Neuroscience) and an M.A. in Public Policy (Health Care Policy) at Stanford University, where her academic work centers on biotechnology, health equity, and the legal and ethical dimensions of clinical research.
Kristine chose to lead this project out of a deep commitment to dismantling structural barriers that prevent patients with rare diseases from accessing life-changing clinical trials. Having worked at the intersection of biotech innovation, health law, and patient-centered policy, she saw a critical need for a platform that could bridge the disconnect between innovation and access, especially for underserved populations. Her goal was to create a collaborative, interdisciplinary project that would bring policy proposals, patient stories, global navigation tools, and research resources together in one place: amplifying both the challenges and the solutions in this space.
Junior Fellow & High School Student: Atharva Tyagi
Hi! I’m Atharva Tyagi, a high school student passionate about translating discoveries from the lab bench to the real world.
I’ve conducted research in cancer biology, gene editing, and molecular cell development at Yale, Harvard Medical School, and George Mason University (ASSIP '24), leading to a publication in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology and a co-authored chapter in Advances in Genetics (Elsevier). I’m a USA Biology Olympiad Semifinalist and founder of Diagnosify, a health tech company incubated at UC Berkeley’s Haas B-BAY program. I also co-founded SMYL FIT, a nonprofit providing therapeutic martial arts to children with neurodevelopmental conditions, and serve as an EMT cadet with 600+ hours at Clark EMS.
You'll find me practicing Taekwondo when I’m not working on science or startups, a sport I have dedicated
I hope to one day combine an MD, PhD, or MBA to bring life-saving ideas from bench to bedside and beyond.
Ayse Tezcan MPH, PhD
I’m an entrepreneur and epidemiologist with a deep commitment to transforming clinical research operations at the intersection of biotech innovation and AI-enabled healthcare—particularly in oncology. I’m driven by the belief that research should not only be scientifically rigorous, but also accessible, inclusive, and grounded in the real lives and voices of patients.
On a personal note, I’m married to an oncologist, a parent to two children, and a spirited one-year-old Australian Shepherd, and love exploring new places—this photo was taken on the Greenland ice sheet during my last trip in September 2024.
Shreya Dokhale, B.S in Cognitive Science/Psychology
Shreya Dokhale, B.S in Cognitive Science/Psychology
I am currently in my 3rd year pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Cognitive Science and Psychology at the University of California; and have been conducting research in neuro-biology for the past seven years. Some of these projects include work done at Stanford University, UCLA, and UC Merced.
I aspire to continue my budding career in medicine by becoming a pediatric doctor or clinical based researcher. With these efforts and those of my peers, I endeavor to support the sciences as an open field for all to explore with their contributions.
When I am not in the lab, you may find me on stage performing The Nutcracker or Swan Lake, as I have trained for 20 years in various dance forms. Though I hope to expand my hobbies by traveling to Europe and South America next year.
Omnya Mohamed Izzeldin, Bachelor of Technology in Bioengineering
Hi! I’m Omnya Mohamed Izzeldin, a biomedical data analyst and global health advocate with a passion for translating complex research into accessible, actionable insights.My work spans molecular diagnostics, drug discovery, and health equity. I've helped develop paper-strip-based diagnostics for early detection, worked on drug repurposing for triple-negative breast cancer, and conducted high-throughput omics analyses to uncover novel biomarkers.
I've contributed to cross-disciplinary teams at IIT Kharagpur, Nucleate HQ, and Elucidata, always working at the intersection of data, medicine, and advocacy. Whether it's building with code or connecting with patients, I’m driven by a mission to make research more inclusive and impactful.
Let’s use science to tell better stories — and build better system
Booma Yandava
I am a PhD student conducting research at the intersection of biological sciences, business strategy, and health policy. With a deep passion for company building and venture investments, I focus on translating scientific breakthroughs into scalable, life-changing therapies. Over the years, I’ve honed my ability to bridge innovation and impact—connecting science to commercialization through strategic partnerships, risk-mitigation frameworks, and investment decisions that empower early-stage ventures.
At the heart of my work is a singular mission: to bring science from the bench to the bedside—for every patient, everywhere.
Outside of my professional pursuits, I find joy in exploring global politics, crafting culinary creations, and capturing life’s moments through photography.
Chloe Twomey
Hello! My name is Chloe and I am a 2020 graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Biology and minors in Chemistry and Neuroscience. I am a current Master's student at Johns Hopkins pursuing a Master of Science in Biotechnology with a concentration in Regenerative and Stem Cell Technologies. I am a spring 2025 NPLB fellow and currently work in Phase 1 oncology clinical trials. My passion is helping patients through pharmaceutical and biotech advances. I am motivated to expand care to patients, continue to advance clinical trials, and contribute to NPLB's mission to improve access and promote innovation! It has been an honor to contribute to this project and fellowship and I look forward to continuing to stay involved.
Silva Kantareva
Silva Kantareva is a Spring 2025 Senior Fellow with No Patient Left Behind and a seasoned advocate at the intersection of health policy, innovation, and access. With over 15 years of experience in international public affairs, she currently leads Corporate Communications and Investor Relations at Avextra Pharma, where she shapes policy positioning and advances patient-centered advocacy. Silva holds an MBA from IE Business School and advanced degrees in international law and relations from The Fletcher School and Yale University.
She joined this project to help close the persistent gaps between regulatory frameworks, patient needs, and the pace of medical innovation—especially for marginalized populations navigating rare disease diagnoses. Drawing on her background advising global institutions, including the UN and NATO Parliamentary Assembly, as well as her work in EU health governance, Silva is committed to translating complex legal and policy landscapes into tangible, equitable solutions. Her vision for the project is to build alliances across sectors, amplify patient voices, and co-create resources that make clinical trial access a reality for all.
Marina Crowe
Marina Crowe received her B.S. at MIT in 2026 and MBA from Harvard Business School in 2023. She works at 2A Biosciences, a company dedicated to developing disease-modifying therapeutics that target the root causes of neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases. Marina is passionate about helping the biotech ecosystem translate cutting-edge research into innovative therapies and ensuring the patients who need them most can access them. The NPLB Fellowship deepened her understanding of the policy and economic levers that shape access and strengthened her commitment to advocating for a system that prioritizes patients. Marina is honored to be part of this community and excited to continue contributing to NPLB’s mission.
Ritish Kodali
Ritish Kodali is currently an undergraduate sophomore at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business pursuing a Bachelors of Science degree in Finance. Ritish has a keen interest in researching market failures in U. S. Healthcare Systems and implementing solutions through Finance. He's particularly passionate about Rare Disease and Neglected Tropical Disease markets, and has experience in entrepreneurship as the co-founder of a Biotechnology startup dedicated to providing affordable diagnostics to underserved communities in Central Africa as part of the Nucleate Activator flagship program. Ritish initially served as an NPLB fellow during the Fall 2024 session and continued his advocacy work during the Spring 2025 session. In the future Ritish plans on attending Business School and Law School as he continues to research, advocate, & implement change in modern healthcare systems.
Miaomiao He
Miaomiao is a Spring 2025 Junior Fellow with No Patient Left Behind and seeks to drive innovation in cost-effective therapies that address healthcare’s ethical and economic challenges. With a deep interest in ion channel structure-function and electrophysiology, she applies the knowledge and skills she has developed to real-world applications in drug discovery. She is particularly passionate about elucidating mechanisms and validating drugs for pain and psychiatric conditions, where disease heterogeneity poses major treatment challenges. Joining NPLB has been an incredible experience—working alongside a group of dedicated fellows to bring bold, patient-centered ideas to life.
Kendra Viloria, B.S. Public Heath
Having graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelors Degree in Public Health and Minoring in Global Health; Kendra Viloria is a Spring 2025 Junior fellow at No Patient Left Behind and an upcoming Masters student at Boston University, focusing on Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Her professional pursuits reflect a commitment to health equity and addressing the systemic barriers traditionally faced by maginalized communities. She aims to integrate a multidisciplinary approach to her work--focusing on data-driven research and health policy in order to explore the role of biotechnology within preventative care.
In the future, she aspires to obtain a PHD in the field of public health and continue bridging the gap between scientific data and health policy; further contributing to the field of academia.
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