In this episode of The Clinical Research Coach, host Leanne Woehlke sits down with trailblazer Nasha Fitter—tech entrepreneur, rare disease advocate, and co-founder of both the FOXG1 Research Foundation and Citizen Health.

After Nasha’s daughter was diagnosed with FOXG1 syndrome, an ultra-rare neurological disorder, her world shifted. Instead of accepting the limitations of the current research landscape, she took action- building a foundation, galvanizing the scientific community, and redefining what’s possible for families facing rare disease.

What began as a grassroots foundation now drives innovative drug development, redefines data collection, and challenges the status quo in drug development.

In this conversation, Nasha shares:

• How a small, determined parent community raised $10M and launched a gene therapy program
• Why traditional research models fail rare disease patients—and how to fix them
• The power of patient-owned data and how platforms like Citizen Health are transforming access and insights
• How to build empathy for families navigating special needs
• What pharma gets wrong (and right) in working with advocacy groups
• Her vision for a precision medicine future—starting with ultra-rare

This is a story about courage, creativity, and a more inclusive, patient-driven future of medicine. Nasha’s bold vision and action oriented approach will leave you inspired and hopeful.

To Find Out More:

Nasha Fitter

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nashafitter/

FOXG1 Research Foundation:

https://www.foxg1research.org/

Citizen Health:

https://www.citizen.health/

In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Katie Diaz, Managing Partner of the Dan Diaz Biotech Breakfast Club. Katie shares the deeply personal story of her father, Dan Diaz, whose ALS diagnosis changed the course of her life- and inspired her to continue the work he started.

Together we explore the importance of empathy, the emotional layers of navigating a rare disease and how Katie transformed grief into advocacy, mission and action.

Enjoy!

To Learn More:

Katherine (Diaz) Harakel

The Dan Diaz Biotech Breakfast Club:

https://thedandiazbiotechbreakfastclub.godaddysites.com/

In this powerful episode of The Clinical Research Coach, we sit down with Kay Kays — a 30-year pancreatic cancer survivor and passionate patient advocate. Kay’s story is nothing short of extraordinary. Diagnosed with one of the most challenging cancers to treat, she not only defied the odds but has spent the last three decades using her voice to push for better patient access to clinical trials.

With her signature honesty and infectious energy, Kay shares why she believes clinical trials should be the appetizer — not the dessert — in the treatment journey. We talk survivorship, advocacy, and the urgent need to change how patients are introduced to research as a care option. Whether you’re in clinical research, oncology, or simply need a dose of inspiration, this conversation is not to be missed.

To learn more about Kay Kays:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kay-kays-2a993649/

In this episode of The Clinical Research Coach, host Leanne Woehlke sits down with Robert Goldman, Head of Clinical Operations at Contraline, a company pioneering innovation in reproductive health. Robert is a true industry disruptor, challenging traditional clinical trial models by integrating AI, decentralized trial frameworks, and real-time data analytics to accelerate timelines and improve patient outcomes.

Robert shares his journey into clinical research, the challenges he’s faced while introducing disruptive models, and his vision for the future of clinical operations. He also offers practical advice for clinical leaders looking to embrace innovation and transform the patient experience.

If you’re ready to explore how technology and human-centered design are shaping the future of clinical trials, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

To learn more:

Robert Goldman is the Head of Clinical Trail Operations at Contraline as well as the Founder of ALCOA Consulting.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-s-goldman-358b0868/

In this episode of The Clinical Research Coach, host Leanne Woehlke sits down with Stacy Martin, who shares her journey of entering a clinical trial.

Stacy talks about her mother’s stage 4 uterine cancer diagnosis, which led to genetic testing that revealed a hereditary mutation called CDH1.

This mutation increased the likelihood of cancer in Stacy and her siblings.

Stacy describes the moment she discovered she was CDH1 positive, the challenges she faced afterward, and the lessons she learned through the clinical trial process.

No longer having a stomach, Stacy has to eat more frequently to keep her energy up. Becoming a "professional snacker" led her to turn her newfound snacking habit into a business and Seahorse Snacks was born. Seahorse Snacks makes healthy delicious roasted nuts with unique and unusual flavors.

To Connect with Stacy:

Stacy Martin

Stacy@seahorsesnacks.com

Linked In:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacy-martin-461b33a/

Seahorse Snacks:

https://seahorsesnacks.com/

Instagram: @seahorse_snacks

TikTok: @seahorse_snacks

In this episode of The Clinical Research Coach, Leanne Woehlke sits down with Wessam Sonbol, CEO of Delve Health, to explore the evolving world of clinical trials. Wessam shares his personal experience as a clinical trial participant and offers insights on helping people navigate the process—especially those with limited access to technology. They discuss the power of decentralized trials, wearables, strategies for engaging underrepresented populations, concierge services and why truly understanding patients is key to making research more accessible and effective.

Enjoy!

To learn more:

Wessam Sonbol

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wsonbol/

Delve Health:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/delve-health/

https://delvehealth.com/

In this episode ofThe Clinical Research Coach, recorded live at SCOPE, hostLeanne Woehlke sits down withOr Shaked, MD-MPH, Medical Research Lead at Briya, to explore the transformative role ofreal-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) in clinical trials. They discuss how RWD is reshaping trial design, improving patient recruitment, and enhancing the overall efficiency of research. Or shares insights on the latest advancements, the challenges of integrating real-world evidence, and what the future holds for decentralized trials.

This episode offers valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of clinical trials. Tune in for an insightful conversation on how data-driven innovation is driving better outcomes in research and patient care!

To connect with Or Shaked, MD-MPH:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/orshakedd/

To learn more about Briya:

https://briya.com/

In this special live episode recorded atSCOPE, hostLeanne Woehlke sits down withKate Shaw, CEO ofInnovative Trials, to explore the evolving landscape of patient recruitment and retention in clinical research. We discuss some of the age old issues in the industry and share insights on the biggest challenges sites and sponsors face today.

Whether you're a clinical research professional, a site leader, or simply passionate about advancing patient-centric trials, this episode is packed with expert insights and actionable takeaways.

🎧Tune in now to hear the latest from the frontlines of clinical trial innovation—recorded live at SCOPE!

To connect with Kate Shaw, CEO of Innovative Trials:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-shaw-250a8a6/?originalSubdomain=uk

https://innovativetrials.com/