Meet FAST Staff: Nycole Copping, PhD
We are starting a new year off with a bang!
I am thrilled to be able to introduce the community to Nycole Copping, who officially joins FAST as science director as of…right now! Nycole, who has spent the last 10 years working with preclinical models of rare neurodevelopmental disorders, will work in tandem with Allyson to manage our rapidly and robustly expanding translational research projects. “I have been a part of the AS community and FAST team throughout my graduate and post-doctoral training, mainly investigating both potential biomarkers and therapeutic efficacy of various treatments in animal models,” Nycole told me recently. “I hope to help accelerate the translational roadmap towards a cure for AS. This community is so impressive with what it has already accomplished. I am so inspired to keep the momentum going and help direct future scientific endeavors of the FAST team.”
On behalf of everyone at FAST, we are so thrilled to welcome Nycole! Here's a bit more about her, in her own voice, but I encourage everyone to join us this Sunday, Jan 8th for our fireside chat, where you can meet and hear from both her and Meghan directly.
– Alana
Name, Title at FAST: Nycole Copping, PhD, Science Director
Tell us a bit about how you come to the world of AS: I have been a part of the AS community and FAST team throughout my graduate and post-doctoral training, mainly investigating both potential biomarkers and therapeutic efficacy of various treatments in animal models. Given my background in preclinical research and understanding of the current AS science landscape, I hope to help accelerate the translational roadmap towards a cure for AS. This community is so impressive with what it has already accomplished. I am so inspired to keep the momentum going.
How you will support FAST’s mission to a cure: A large part of my responsibilities will focus mainly on grant management and engagement with the scientific community in experimental design and planning. I will also serve as a resource for families and the AS community at large to keep everyone updated on the latest AS research. FAST’s ability to connect families, scientists, clinicians and industry partners has been exemplary and I hope to build on this foundation and communicate with the community regularly!
What did you do before FAST? I have spent the last 10 years working with preclinical models of rare neurodevelopmental disorders in Dr. Jill Silverman’s laboratory. Here I received not only my translational research formal training, but also developed an understanding of the preclinical to clinical pipeline for therapeutic development and experimental design tools to ensure expediency and effectiveness. I also presented regularly to various audiences and look forward to both applying and developing those communication skills within the AS community.
5 fun facts about you!
- I just got married to my husband Andrew and my first official FAST event that I attended as a FAST team member was this year’s Global Science Summit in Miami which served as a precursor to our honeymoon! I couldn’t be more grateful to kick start this new chapter of my life with such an incredible community of people!
- I have two corgis – Rodney and Roland … and would like about 100 more!
- I love to travel. We recently went to visit family friends in Denmark and were introduced to fun Christmas traditions, honninghjerter (Danish gingerbread hearts), and pickled herring open-faced sandwiches (which were not a favorite).
- I love horror movies and novels and am always open to any and all suggestions!
- I am so grateful to be a part of the FAST team and the AS community and I cannot wait to hit the ground running!