David Fajgenbaum

David Fajgenbaum, a renowned assistant professor at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, is the founding director of the Center for Cytokine Storm Treatment & Laboratory and the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network. His contribution to the medical field is substantial, having discovered increased mTOR signaling in idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease in 2014 and then testing an mTOR inhibitor. His work extended to the realms of the COVID-19 pandemic, launching the CORONA Project in 2020 to identify promising treatments.

Fajgenbaum has also made strides in the literary world. He co-authored "We Get It: Voices of Grieving College Students and Young Adults" in 2015, and later penned his memoir, "Chasing My Cure: A Doctor's Race to Turn Hope Into Action," published in September 2019. His work in repurposing drugs to treat rare diseases, including his own condition, was highlighted in his presentation at CGI2022 titled "Getting Unstuck."

Awarded and recognized by various institutions, Fajgenbaum's accolades include being named to Forbes' "30 Under 30" in Healthcare in 2015, receiving the RARE Tribute to Champions of Hope Award, and being listed as one of the "100 great healthcare leaders to know" by Beckers Hospital Review. His innovative approach to medicine was further recognized in 2024 when he was named "Citizen of the Year" by The Philadelphia Citizen and won the Judson Daland Prize from the American Philosophical Society. Fajgenbaum's work and dedication culminated in his feature in TIME100 Health in 2025.