Danielle Kerkovich, PhD

As Director of Research Development and Partnerships for the IFOPA, Danielle Kerkovich, PhD, works with the Research Committee to implement strategies and activities that advance FOP research. Danielle is engaged with the IFOPA’s grant funding programs, tools such as the FOP Biobank and mouse model, academic and industry partnerships, collaborative forums and working groups, and educational resources on FOP research, clinical studies and trials. She also provides management oversight for the IFOPA's FOP Registry.

Danielle received her doctoral and master's degrees in biomedical sciences from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. She has extensive experience with government and foundation programs and has been involved with planning and projects ranging from post-war rehabilitation following polytrauma, spinal cord injury and amputation including trauma-induced heterotopic ossification. Her experiences in rare diseases and conditions range from fourth-degree burn injury to pediatric cancers, and lysosomal and metabolic diseases including juvenile Batten (CLN3) disease where she is responsible for bringing the first interventional treatment for the disease to a Phase II/III trial planned for 2021.