Meet the Founders
The CMT Research Foundation was founded by Susan Ruediger and Pat Livney; two patients driven to expedite drug delivery to those around the world with CMT. Both have CMT and know what it is like to live with the disease and care for other affected family members. They have over 20 years of collective experience working with CMT research, developing and maintaining close relationships with the most respected and accomplished researchers, biotech, and pharma industry professionals – and families – who also live with CMT.
Patrick Livney
Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors
Pat has CMT type 2 and has volunteered on behalf of families living with CMT for years. Through this work, he has come to understand the gaps in delivering treatments for CMT and wants to close them making therapies available for all types of CMT.
Pat served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Charcot Marie Tooth Association for four years and as its CEO for five years. In 2008, he was instrumental in developing the CMTA’s STAR Research platform, dedicated to treating CMT through drug development. To this day, Pat continues to work with the brightest minds and best talent in CMT research.
Pat is currently CEO of Loan EcoSystem Online. Before that, he was the senior managing director and head of the Structured Finance Group at Vanderbilt Capital Advisors where he grew assets from $300 million to over $20 billion in four years. He also functioned as the CEO and chairman of the Vanderbilt Financial LLC, a permanent capital vehicle. Prior to that, Pat held senior positions in Institutional bond sales for Wall St firms. He has a degree in industrial engineering from Roosevelt University in Chicago and holds series 3, 7, and 63 certifications.
Susan Ruediger
Founder & Chief Mission Officer
Susan has CMT1A that she can trace back five generations in her mother’s family. Since 2007, she has been deeply engaged with the patient and research communities, building connections to fund efficient and effective research leading toward drug delivery.
From its launch in 2018, she was the Foundation’s CEO. In January 2022, she became the organization’s first Chief Mission Officer continuing to serve on the Board of Directors, helping support CMTRF’s rapid financial growth, and serving as the primary spokesperson for the Foundation. Before that, she held a number of executive positions with CMTA.
As a member of the BIO Patient Advocacy Committee, Susan built a robust network of experts in drug delivery and patient advocacy and continues to be sought after by peers in patient-led drug discovery and as an expert in CMT. She has spoken on CMT at Georgia Tech, Emory University, Hanger, Inc., The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association and BIO. Susan holds a Bachelor of Arts from Clemson University.
Address
4062 Peachtree Road
Suite A209
Atlanta, GA 30319
Phone Number
404.806.7180
