Kristin Smedley is a keynote speaker, author, nonprofit founder, and entrepreneur whose work sits at the intersection of adversity, innovation, and human potential. When two of her sons were diagnosed with CRB1 LCA, a rare inherited retinal disease, she founded the Curing Retinal Blindness Foundation with no scientific or fundraising background, growing it into a leading organization that has raised nearly five million dollars, achieved FDA testimony for the first-ever gene therapy approval for an inherited retinal disease, and passed first-in-history legislation in its field. She served six years on the ACRP Board of Trustees championing accessibility, workforce inclusion, and the untapped potential of overlooked professionals in clinical research. She presented original research at ARVO 2026 in collaboration with four major international institutions. Author of Thriving Blind and Executive Producer of the forthcoming film Curveball, she teaches organizations to see what others miss.

Session:

• Blind Spot: The Untapped Talent Transforming Clinical Research