Toward a Cure for Cystic Fibrosis: The Best Story in Medicine | Rebecca Schroeder | TEDxCoeurdalene

Rebecca Schroeder has a background in chemistry, and a child with a rare genetic disease called Cystic Fibrosis. In this video, she describes the last miraculous decade of medical research and advocacy, which has transformed the lives of many living with cystic fibrosis. Progress is FANTASTIC, but we won't stop until it's done...and 100% of cystic fibrosis patients have a cure.
Rebecca grew up in small-town Kooskia, ID and earned degrees in Chemistry and Spanish at the University of Idaho in Moscow. Rebecca's life was turned upside down in 2007, when her newborn son was diagnosed with a life-shortening, rare, genetic disease called cystic fibrosis. Her background in chemistry facilitated a fascinating deep dive into the world of pharmaceutical research and drug development, which recently yielded a massive breakthrough in treatment of CF. Rebecca continues to be a passionate advocate for those living with pre-existing conditions in her volunteer work with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. When Rebecca isn’t in Coeur d' Alene with her husband Brock and son Brady, she can be found organizing citizen volunteers in every corner of the state as Executive Director of the non-partisan political organization Reclaim Idaho. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx