Kristin Gabor, an alumna of MMA (BS, marine biology, 2007), is one of five people to be recognized as a 2019 Triangle’s Finest honoree. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s (CFF) Triangle’s Finest is a distinguished professional development and philanthropic program for individuals who excel in their chosen profession, are emerging leaders in the community, and have made a commitment to finding a cure for CF. With this distinction, Gabor will lead a fundraising campaign to support the CFF, which aims to fund research and drug development, promote individualized treatment and ensure access to specialized care.

Gabor is raising money through the foundation website established in her name. She had experience with CF research during an undergraduate internship and in graduate school at the University of Maine at Orono and is now involved in clinical trials for CF therapeutics as a research scientist at Rho, Inc. Cystic fibrosis is a rare genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. Today, the predicted median age of survival for someone with the disease is about 40 years old, more than 10 years longer than when Gabor first learned about CF as an undergraduate. While this remarkable progress (which has been largely supported by the efforts of the CFF), there is still no cure. The mission of the CFF is to find a cure for patients with CF and through Triangle’s Finest Gabor hopes to raise awareness as well as funds for research and patient care.