Member Details
Organization: Abetalipoproteinemia and Related Disorders Foundation
Title: Incoming M1 Medical Student @ University of Toronto
About Me:
My name is Yochana (Yoyo) Benchetrit, and I am an incoming medical student at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine. I completed my undergraduate studies at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. During my time at Caltech, I conducted research in the Gradinaru Lab, where I developed a genetically encoded self-assembling synuclein model to study Parkinson's disease pathology and worked on designing an endogenous self-regulation circuit for Rett Syndrome. My passion for rare disease research was sparked at Harvard’s Rare Disease Hackathon, where I had the opportunity to learn directly from 15 rare disease foundations about the challenges patients face in diagnosis and care. During the event, I partnered with the Abetalipoproteinemia (ABL) and Related Disorders Foundation and, under the guidance of Dr. Cindy Bredefeld, explored how opportunistic lipid testing contributes to diagnostic delays for ABL. To address this, I developed a machine learning model to predict low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels using common clinical measurements such as height, weight, and iron levels. Since then, I’ve remained dedicated to advancing recognition and care for rare hypolipidemias. In partnership with the ABL+ Foundation, I am co-authoring a review exploring how low very long-chain fatty acid levels on newborn screening could serve as early indicators of ABL, advocating for improved detection and follow-up. I am also working with the foundation to secure funding for a Patient Assistance Program to support individuals affected by hypolipidemia. As I begin medical school, I am eager to continue advocating for the rare disease community through research, collaboration, and community engagement.
Interests:
- board_management
- events
- fundraising
- medical_edu
- research
- volunteers