Hugh Hempel is a problem-solver and builder by nature, tackling the most complex challenges with passion. In the tech sector, he held leadership roles at Apple and Netscape, contributing to the development of Apple’s first handheld device and the launch of the Internet’s early banking and advertising systems. As co-founder of Hopelink, an online platform connecting cancer patients with clinical trials, he raised $3M in venture capital, scaling the service to over a million subscribers.

 

Hugh’s greatest challenge came as a parent when his twin daughters were diagnosed with Niemann-Pick Type C, a rare and fatal genetic disease. Alongside his wife, Hugh immersed himself in science and healthcare policy, leading groundbreaking efforts to develop Cyclodextrin as a treatment and securing FDA approval for its clinical use. This journey to save his children profoundly shaped his mission to advocate for treatments for millions of children affected by rare diseases.

 

Now, as Executive Director of the N=1 Collaborative, Hugh champions advancements in drug discovery, clinical trial design, and regulatory reform, advocating for collaboration across academia, industry, and government to find cures for ultra-rare diseases.