Scott Dorfman was the founder, chairman and CEO of NASDAQ-listed Innotrac Corporation, which later merged with eBay Enterprises to form Radial Corporation.
Scott and his wife Susie Trotochaud have twin children who were both born deaf.
In 2012, at the age of 12, Usher syndrome type 1 was genetically diagnosed as a cause of hearing loss, balance problems and increasingly worsening night and peripheral vision.
At that time, Scott and Susie realised, that they only had a short window to find a treatment for their children before they became completely blind.
Scott sold his company shares and founded the Usher 2020 Foundation with Susie.
The two have set themselves the goal of ending the blindness caused by the Usher syndrome; and not only that, but also to help other people with retinal degenerative diseases to save their eyesight.
The founding years brought high investments in the 'million dollar range' - and many – even negative – experiences regarding research progress.
Sharing these experiences and helping others in similar situations motivated Scott - together with Luk Vandenberghe (an innovator in the field of gene therapy) - in 2016, to found Odylia Therapeutics, a Boston-based nonprofit biotech company.
Odylia's mission is to bring new drugs and therapies for rare diseases from research into application.
Both the Usher2020 Foundation and Odilya are active worldwide and maintain a large network of researchers, physicians and other experts. .
Today, Scott serves on the boards of Radial Corporation, Dropoff Inc., Complemar Corporation, Fulcrum Ventures, Odylia Therapeutics and the Usher 2020 Foundation.
The story of Scott and Susie is a powerful proof, that through initiative and courage of individuals, progress can be made for many people!
Scott is a great supporter of the Alstroem Initiative!
# BECAUSE WE CAN
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