Senator Palumbo Honors Yiwei She as 2025 Woman of Distinction

This week, New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo (R,C-Southold) honored Yiwei She, PH.D., at this year’s Women of Distinction Ceremony at the State Capital.  Yiwei She was recognized as the 2025 Woman of Distinction for the First Senate District for her groundbreaking and transformative work in medical innovation and rare disease research.

            “Dr. She is truly an inspiration to us all. The story of her son’s rare disease and a mother’s effort to find a cure could as easily be found in a medical journal or a Hollywood script,” said Senator Anthony Palumbo. “Her tenacity, painstaking research and work that led to a cure for her son has laid the groundwork for advancements in extremely rare neurodevelopmental diseases and is providing hope and advanced care for infants and their families.”

            Dr. She is the founder and CEO of the TNPO2 Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to building accessible and affordable pathways to early diagnosis and treatment for children with ultra-rare diseases. Yiwei established the TNPO2 Foundation in 2022 after her son, Leo, was diagnosed with an ultra-rare neurodevelopmental disease caused by a mutation in a copy of his Transportin-2 (TNPO2) gene. Through her research and efforts, Dr. She is paving the way for groundbreaking advancement in treating rare genetic mutations. Her contributions exemplify the profound impact one individual’s courage and dedication can have on the world.

            “Congratulations Dr. She on this well-deserved recognition. We applaud your achievements and continued efforts to make the world a better and healthier place,” concluded Senator Palumbo.  

            Dr. Yiwei She obtained a B.S. in Mathematics from Northwestern University and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Chicago. She lives in Setauket with her husband and their two children.

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