Christine Waggoner Received 2023 Patient Advocate Leader (PAL) Award

Congratulations to Christine Waggoner, the recipient of the WORLDSymposium 2023 Patient Advocate Leader (PAL) Award. After reviewing numerous nominations, and considering many amazing individuals, the WORLDSymposium 2023 Awards Committee has selected Christine as the recipient of the 2023 PAL Award. Christine founded the Cure GM1 Foundation in April 2015 in honor of her daughter Iris and all those affected by GM1 gangliosidosis. Christine’s work at Cure GM1 has involved a broad range, including animal models, biomarkers, gene therapy, enzyme replacement therapy, patient registries, patient reported outcomes, newborn screening and the first-ever GM1 caregiver preferences study.

Christine received a B.A. from Brown University where she studied Visual Art and Computer Science. The combination of studies in art and technology served as a basis for her career in computer graphics and 3D feature film animation.  Christine holds 9 patents in computer graphics and has contributed to publications both pertaining to computer graphics and GM1 gangliosidosis. In 2017, Christine received the Sanofi TORCH award for outstanding patient advocacy.  She is also the recipient of an award for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Motion Picture and she is a member of the Association of Computing Machinery.  

The 2023 Patient Advocate Leader Award was presented at 7:30 AM EST on Thursday, February 23, 2023, at the 19th annual WORLDSymposium in Orlando, Florida.