Our Team

Jessica Bohonowych is a graduate of Duke University, and holds a PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of California, Davis. Jessica manages FPWR’s grant portfolio, supporting research into the biological mechanisms that underly PWS symptoms, developing tools for PWS research, and advancing new therapies for PWS. Jessica has also led the development of the Global PWS Registry. Data from the Registry is being used to improve clinical care for our loved ones with PWS, supporting clinical trials, is being shared with regulatory agencies including the FDA, and has been used in 6 peer-reviewed publications in the scientific literature to date.

Lisa Matesevac, Au.D. is the VNS4PWS Study Coordinator. In this role, she facilitates screening and enrollment of study participants and supports them for the duration of the trial with VNS device use and study responsibilities. Lisa holds a doctorate in Audiology and served for over 20 years as a Director of Pediatric Audiology prior to joining FPWR in October 2018 as the PATH for PWS Study Coordinator. The PATH for PWS natural history study concluded in January 2024 and has been instrumental in documenting issues surrounding hyperphagia, food security, behaviors, and serious medical events in PWS. Data collected from the PATH study has been compared to data from PWS clinical trials and supports the long-term benefits of a potential new treatment for PWS: DCCR. Furthermore, Lisa has used PATH data to analyze the variability of hyperphagia in adults and has collected normative data to establish a baseline for hyperphagia. Lisa is also an administrator for the Global PWS Registry, a caregiver reported database used to capture the range of PWS experiences and develop standards of care.

Marc Ridilla joined FPWR in 2022 as a Research Program Manager. After earning his B.S. from Rice University and PhD from Purdue University, Marc conducted postdoctoral research on molecular mechanisms of dengue virus infection with Ken Jacobson and Nancy Thompson at the UNC School of Medicine and subsequently on corneal wound healing and exfoliation glaucoma with Audrey Bernstein at SUNY Upstate Medical University. Marc has also served as Director of the Biological Materials Facility at the Brandeis Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and as Principal Scientist at Repair Biotechnologies. He is currently based near Syracuse, NY, with his wife and two children.

Lauren Schwartz, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and has been the driving force behind FPWR’s work to improve mental health and behavior for those with PWS. Dr. Schwartz coordinated the PWS Mental Health Strategy Workshop in 2015, which spurred significant new research into PWS mental health concerns. In addition, she created FPWR’s Mental Health Guidebook and Social Skills tip sheets, which have been utilized widely by parents and clinicians. She also created a PWS Sibling Guidebook for parents based on a research study she conducted through the Foundation. Lauren oversees FPWR’s funded research projects focused on mental health and behavior, and co-leads the PWS Clinical Trials Consortium. She has spearheaded efforts to develop new measures of behavior that are currently being used in PWS clinical trials. Lauren recently left her position on the faculty at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine where she did clinical work, teaching and research for over 30 years. She continues her research work with FPWR and has relocated to Arizona to be closer to family. She and her husband Mark, have two children, including a young adult daughter with PWS.

Ian Hassan joined the FPWR team as a Consultant in 2022. He received a B.S. from Brighton University, an MS.C in immunology from Chelsea College London, and a Ph.D. in Cell Biology. Ian has extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry and, in senior roles, has a broad understanding of the research and development process. He has successfully led teams in gaining approval for several drugs in the USA and worldwide. He has also led the scientific due diligence activities for multiple large pharmaceutical companies. At FPWR, Ian focuses on external interactions with pharma companies as well as internal project management to advance translational research projects. He and his wife, Tracy, have two children, including a son with PWS.