Priscilla Chan gets emotional speaking about the FOXG1 gene therapy journey
April 13, 2026 — Stanford Medicine's "The Future of Medicine" featured Dr. Priscilla Chan, co-founder of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and Biohub, in a conversation about AI, rare disease, and the future of medicine.
Speaking about the impact of CZI's Rare As One grants to patient-led research communities, Dr. Chan singled out the FOXG1 Research Foundation as the example that moved her most:
"One that I'm particularly excited about this week is around the FOXG1 mutation, which causes a rare neurodevelopmental disorder in children. The group just got FDA approval for their clinical study for gene therapy. And I can't even say this without getting a little teary. The mom who started the group promised her daughter they'd have a clinical study by the time the child was 10 — and they got it approved on Amara's 10th birthday. That is incredible. It's also incredibly fast. That work has been incredible and inspiring — to see how you can do science differently."
— Dr. Priscilla Chan
When the co-founder of one of the most influential science philanthropies in the world is brought to tears on Stanford Medicine's platform — about your work — it means the model is working. It means the science is real. And it means the children who need this therapy are one step closer to receiving it.
Thank you, Dr. Priscilla Chan and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative for your belief in our work — and for helping make this moment possible.
Learn more about FRF's "Yes, They Can!" campaign here.
Watch the Full Interview here