Tracy Ryan

Co-Founder & Chief Communications Officer at NKore BioTherapeutics

Speaker

Tracy Ryan is an award-winning entrepreneur with over 27 years of experience in brand building, capital raising, and pioneering research. She is the Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer of NKore BioTherapeutics, a biotech company advancing next-generation, off-the-shelf natural killer (NK) cell immunotherapies for cancer treatment.

Tracy’s journey into biotech was driven by personal urgency—her daughter, Sophie, was diagnosed with a low-grade but relentless brain tumor at just 8 ½ months old. Despite seven years of chemotherapy, 11 surgeries (including five brain surgeries), over 75 MRIs, a left-hand-side weakness and severe visual impairment, the tumor persisted. Determined to find a cure, Tracy explored novel treatment approaches, leading her to UCLA’s Dr. Anahid Jewett, a world-renowned NK cell immunotherapy researcher.

Dr. Jewett’s research revealed that Sophie lacked functional NK cells in her brain, a deficiency critical to tumor progression. This discovery led to the formation of NKore BioTherapeutics, which has since developed an allogeneic, supercharged NK cell therapy designed to overcome immune suppression and selectively target cancer stem and stem-like cells.

In 2023, NKore began treating patients internationally, with Sophie as the first child to receive their therapy. After just two infusions, her tumor began breaking down, and she has shown no negative side effects, neurological improvements, and the best health of her life. NKore is now working toward FDA-approved human trials in the U.S.

Beyond NKore, Tracy is a recognized advocate and speaker in pediatric oncology. She is a regular guest at the White House, speaks annually at Capitol Hill for the Congressional Pediatric Cancer Caucus, and serves on Children’s Hospital Los Angeles’ PFAC board. Her family’s journey has been widely documented across film, television, and major media outlets, with a new documentary, Saving Sophie: The Road to a Cure, currently in production.

Tracy’s vision, relentless drive, and biotech leadership continue to propel NKore toward revolutionizing NK cell therapy—not just for Sophie, but for patients worldwide.