Gene Editing With a Personal Mission

In this episode of The Connect Current, host James Zanewicz is joined by Courtney Young, PhD, Co-founder and CEO of MyoGene Bio, one of Connect's 2026 Cool Companies. MyoGene Bio is developing MyoDys45-55, an AAV-delivered CRISPR gene editing therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare and devastating muscle wasting disease with no cure. Courtney traces her path from a high school moment, when her cousin Christopher was diagnosed with Duchenne, through graduate research at UCLA to co-founding MyoGene Bio alongside her advisors, Dr. Melissa Spencer and Dr. April Pyle. The conversation covers what makes the company's gene editing approach different, the realities of building a life science company led by three women scientists, and where gene therapies like this one most often get stuck on the path from lab to patients. The episode also looks at what MyoGene Bio's next chapter as a Connect 2026 Cool Company means for San Diego's life science ecosystem, and what kinds of partners, investors, or collaborators would be most helpful right now. Recorded at KILN Rancho Bernardo. Learn more about MyoGene Bio: https://www.myogenebio.com/ Learn more about Connect's 2026 Cool Companies: https://connect.org/