Freja Ekman

Freja Ekman, from San Diego, California, is pursuing an MD at Stanford School of Medicine. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical biology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in translational biomedical research from the University of Cambridge. Freja aspires to address the inequities experienced by the neurodiverse community through both the development of personalized therapies and disability advocacy. She has developed both DNA and RNA gene therapy strategies with Professor Schaffer at UC Berkeley, and Professor Lever at Cambridge. She also worked at D.E. Shaw Research where she used molecular dynamics simulations to better understand underlying disease mechanisms. Throughout her studies, and since her graduation from Cambridge, Freja has worked with non-profit organizations focused on supporting individuals with disabilities pursue their goal of independent living. She is a Gates Cambridge Scholar, and recipient of UC Berkeley’s 2018 University Medal.