William Skach, MD, received his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and biophysics from Oregon State University in 1979 and his MD from Harvard Medical School in 1983. He completed clinical and postdoctoral training in internal medicine and hematology/oncology at the University of California San Francisco before establishing his independent laboratory at the Institute for Human Gene Therapy at the University of Pennsylvania. He returned to Oregon in 1998 as professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Oregon Health & Science University in 1998. Over the past 30 years, Dr. Skach’s research has provided important insight into basic principles of membrane protein folding in cells as well as the molecular pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis and small molecule correction of mutant CFTR proteins. In 2014, Dr. Skach joined the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation where he is Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. He currently oversees Foundation-sponsored basic research and venture philanthropy programs designed to develop new, life-saving drugs and ultimately a cure for people with CF.  He also maintains a small research group at the CFFT Laboratory, where he continues to study fundamental aspects of CFTR folding and trafficking.