The Cheryl Molloy Memorial Research Grant

Contributed by: Tim Molloy and Family

Established in 2019

Research Grants Supported

Simon Mead, PhD

Grant Title: DNA Extraction for Global Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) in Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Location: MRC Prion Unit and National Prion Clinic, University College London (UCL) Institute of Prion Diseases

Grant Year: 2026

Thomas J. Trainer

Grant Title: The structural basis of prion-induced synaptotoxicity

Location: Imperial College London (ICL)

Grant Year: 2026

Paulina Soto, PhD

Grant Title: New strains, new risks: evaluating the host range and zoonotic potential of CWD prion strains

Location: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Grant Year: 2026

Daniel Ojeda-Juarez, PhD

Grant Title: Characterizing Early Synaptic Dysfunction in Human Prion Disease Using a Human iPSC-Derived Neuronal Model

Location: University of California, San Diego

Grant Year: 2026

Prof. Neil A. Mabbott

Grant Title: Haematopoietic stem cell gene therapy as a novel therapeutic for CNS prion disease

Location: The Roslin Institute & Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh

Grant Year: 2026

Jingxin Wang, PhD

Grant Title: Development of RNA Splicing Modulators for the Treatment of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)

Location: University of Chicago

Grant Year: 2026

Vanessa Laversenne, PhD

Grant Title: Hypomorphic low PrP expressing mice as models for prion replication and native function

Location: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

Grant Year: 2026

David A. Harris, MD, PhD

Grant Title: Using a Kuru-Protective PrP Mutation as a Novel Prion Therapy

Location: Edgar Minas Housepian Professor & Chair, Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Boston University/Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Grant Year: 2026

Joaquín Castilla, PhD

Grant Title: Early vs late intervention: PrP-lowering therapy stage-dependent outcomes in sCJD and GSS mouse models

Location: Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain

Grant Year: 2026

Don’s Story

Donald Friedman shares the story of caring for his sister, Phyllis, in Still Phyllis: A Caregiver’s Memoir of Dementia and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

David L’s Story

David Langan captured the CJD journey of his wife, Zyvonne, in All is Well: Living Through Losing One You Love.

Kendall Family’s Story

Evelyn M. Kendall lost her life to CJD on August 2, 2019.
Evelyn’s family was the 2nd highest fundraising team nationally in 2020 and the top fundraising team for Strides for CJD – Arlington, TX in 2021.

Collins Family’s Story

Amy Collins lost her life to CJD on December 14, 2018.

The Collins Family was the 3rd highest fundraising team nationally in 2021, the 4th highest fundraising team nationally in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and the 2nd highest fundraising team nationally in 2025.

Yaffa Family’s Story

Jerry Yaffa lost his life to CJD on June 21, 2005.

The Yaffa Family was the 2nd highest fundraising team nationally in 2021 and the 3rd highest fundraising team nationally in 2022 and 2023, the 2nd highest fundraising team nationally in 2024, and the top fundraising team nationally in 2025.