Paul McCray, Jr., MD, Announced as Recipient of Emily’s Entourage 2024 Trailblazer Award

Paul McCray, Jr., MD, professor of pediatrics-pulmonary medicine at the University of Iowa, was presented the 2024 Emily’s Entourage Trailblazer Award during the 2024 North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC) in Boston, Massachusetts.

The award recognizes Dr. McCray for his pioneering work in gene therapies and dedication to the final 10% of the cystic fibrosis community who do not benefit from current CFTR modulators.

Lower Merion, PA — Sept. 30, 2024 — Emily’s Entourage (EE), a 501(c)(3) foundation accelerating research for new treatments and a cure for the final 10% of people with cystic fibrosis (CF), has awarded Paul McCray, Jr., MD, professor of pediatrics-pulmonary medicine at the University of Iowa, the prestigious 2024 Trailblazer Award. This award celebrates leaders who demonstrate innovation, courage, and tenacity in advancing life-saving research for the CF community.

Dr. McCray was honored at EE’s invitation-only reception during the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC) on Friday, September 27, 2024, in Boston, Massachusetts. The reception gathered nearly 200 of the world’s leading CF researchers, care providers, and industry leaders.

“Paul is a visionary, compassionate researcher and physician who is transforming the future of CF care,” said Emily Kramer-Golinkoff, MBE, co-founder of Emily’s Entourage. “Through his cutting-edge work in gene therapy and his partnership with EE, he is opening doors to groundbreaking treatments for people in the final 10%, who do not benefit from current CFTR modulator therapies. We are thrilled to honor him with this year’s Trailblazer Award.”

Dr. McCray’s research has been pivotal in advancing genetic therapies for lung diseases, including CF. His work focuses on improving gene delivery systems to respiratory epithelial cells. In May 2024, Dr. McCray’s team received EE’s first collaborative grant of $858,932 to explore Novel Approaches to Targeted Airway Delivery in Cystic Fibrosis Treatments. The project aims to identify the most effective AAV capsid variants for delivering genetic therapies to human airway epithelia and evaluate their efficacy. These advances are critical for CF patients with ineligible mutations, adverse reactions, or suboptimal responses to current treatments.

In addition to his work at the lab bench, Dr. McCray is a scientific founder and advisor at Spirovant Sciences — formerly Talee Bio — a biopharmaceutical company conceived of and seed funded by EE that is focused on developing novel gene therapy approaches for cystic fibrosis.

“Dr. McCray’s pioneering work in gene therapy holds extraordinary promise for transforming lives,” said Chandra Ghose, PhD, EE’s Chief Scientific Officer. “Specifically, his focus on targeted airway delivery offers new hope for those with mutations that current therapies can’t reach, bringing us closer to the transformative advances the CF community so urgently needs.”

Kevin Foskett, PhD, Chair of Emily’s Entourage Scientific Advisory Board; Paul McCray, Jr., MD, 2024 Emily’s Entourage Trailblazer Award recipient; and Chandra Ghose, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Emily’s Entourage at the 7th Annual Emily’s Entourage Reception at NACFC in Boston.

An internationally recognized leader in CF research, Dr. McCray’s work is at the forefront of gene therapy for genetic lung diseases. His lab develops viral and non-viral vectors for gene addition and editing in airway epithelial cells, addressing conditions like CF and primary ciliary dyskinesia that have their onset in childhood.

Beyond his research, Dr. McCray is a dedicated mentor and advocate for people with CF and families. His unwavering commitment to the final 10% exemplifies the spirit of the Trailblazer Award, which honors those who push beyond conventional boundaries to transform life-changing therapies into a reality.

“I am deeply honored to receive the 2024 Trailblazer Award from Emily’s Entourage. This recognition means so much to me and my team as we work to advance genetic therapies for cystic fibrosis,” said Dr. McCray. “Emily’s Entourage has been an invaluable partner in driving innovative research, and together, we aim to bring life-changing treatments to those still waiting for breakthroughs. I am truly inspired by the hope we are creating for the final 10% of the CF community.”

About Emily’s Entourage

Emily’s Entourage is an innovative 501(c)3 that accelerates research for new treatments and a cure for individuals in the final 10% of the cystic fibrosis (CF) population that does not benefit from currently available mutation-targeted therapies. Since 2011, Emily’s Entourage has awarded millions of dollars in research grants, launched a now-acquired CF gene therapy company, developed a patient database and clinical trial matchmaking program to accelerate clinical trial recruitment, and led worldwide efforts to drive high-impact research and drug development. The organization has been featured in national media, including the New York Times, STAT, CNN, People, and more. Learn more at emilysentourage.org.

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