Batsheva Kerem, PhD, Honored with Inaugural Dr. Carolyn Denning Trailblazer Award by Emily’s Entourage

Recognizing a pioneering force in cystic fibrosis genetics whose research continues to drive hope and breakthroughs for the final 10% of people with CF still waiting for effective therapies. 

Seattle, Washington—November 19, 2025—Emily’s Entourage (EE), an innovative 501(c)(3) organization accelerating new treatments and a cure for the final 10% of people with cystic fibrosis (CF) that do not benefit from existing CFTR modulator therapies, has awarded Batsheva Kerem, PhD, professor of genetics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the inaugural Dr. Carolyn Denning Trailblazer Award.

The Trailblazer Award honors scientific leaders who demonstrate innovation, courage, and tenacity in advancing lifesaving research for the CF community. This year marks the first presentation of the award under its new name—introduced at the 2025 Evening with Emily’s Entourage gala—in tribute to the late Carolyn R. Denning, MD, a pioneering pediatrician whose compassionate care and vision transformed the landscape of CF treatment.

Dr. Kerem received the award during EE’s 8th Annual Reception at the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC) on Friday, October 24, 2025, in Seattle, Washington, where more than 105 of the world’s leading CF researchers, care providers, and advocates gathered. This year’s award was a painting by Dylan Mortimer, a nationally and internationally exhibited artist and double lung transplant recipient living with CF, whose work explores his lived CF experience through vibrant and thought-provoking glitter-filled paintings, sculptures, and public installations. 

A true visionary in CF genetics, Dr. Kerem has devoted her professional career to unraveling the molecular mechanisms of CF and pioneering new therapeutic strategies for those with rare and difficult-to-treat mutations. She was part of the landmark research team that identified and cloned the CFTR gene in 1989, a discovery that revolutionized understanding of CF and laid the foundation for nearly every therapeutic advance that followed.

Upon returning to Israel in 1990, Dr. Kerem established the Israel National Center for CF Genetic Research, where she mapped the distribution of CF mutations in the Israeli population and identified the W1282X mutation—the same mutation carried by EE co-founder Emily Kramer-Golinkoff. Her pioneering work enabled nationwide carrier screening and early diagnosis, revolutionizing the country’s approach to CF care. In parallel, Dr. Kerem investigated the molecular mechanisms regulating disease severity and response to mutation-specific treatments, including the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway. 

Over the decades, Dr. Kerem has worked tirelessly to develop novel therapeutic strategies for rare CFTR mutations, including nonsense and splicing mutations. Building on this work, she developed a discovery platform that became the foundation for SpliSense, a biotechnology company now conducting clinical trials for RNA-based therapies designed to restore proper CFTR function, where she now serves as Chief Scientific Officer and Scientific Founder. 

 

 

“Dr. Batsheva Kerem’s impact on the CF field is nothing short of transformational,” said Emily Kramer-Golinkoff, MBE, co-founder of Emily’s Entourage. “Her groundbreaking discoveries—and her fierce advocacy for those with rare mutations left behind by the progress—embody the very spirit of this award. Dr. Kerem’s brilliance, persistence, leadership, and compassion have redefined what’s possible, driving progress and providing hope to the final 10% who are still waiting for lifesaving breakthroughs.”

“Receiving the Dr. Carolyn Denning Trailblazer Award from Emily’s Entourage is a profound honor,” said Dr. Kerem. “Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by the conviction that no one should be left behind simply because their mutation is rare or difficult to treat. Together with Emily’s Entourage and the broader CF research community, we are advancing toward a future where we transform that dream into a reality—one where every person with CF can finally benefit from transformative, lifesaving therapies.”

 

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 do not benefit from currently available mutation-targeted therapies. Since 2011, Emily’s Entourage has awarded millions of dollars in research grants, launched a clinical-stage CF gene therapy company, developed a global 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.

Media Contact

Hannah Kleckner

Director of Marketing and Communications

hannah@emilysentourage.org