Siri Vaeth, MSW

Siri is the Executive Director of the Cystic Fibrosis Research Institute (CFRI), a national nonprofit organization which funds innovative cystic fibrosis (CF) research (including stem cell and gene editing research) while providing educational, advocacy and psychosocial support services to those living with this rare genetic degenerative disease. While most known for causing progressive lung disease, cystic fibrosis impacts virtually every organ system. Siri’s involvement with CFRI began in 1995, soon after her infant daughter’s diagnosis with CF. She served on the organization’s Board of Directors for ten years before joining CFRI’s staff in 2013.

Siri is a strong advocate for the advancement of stem cell research, co-chairing the Santa Cruz County (CA) coalition in 2004 to help pass Proposition 71 to establish the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). As a Member of CFRI’s Board at that time, Siri led the call for the organization’s early endorsement. In 2020, CFRI was an early endorser of Proposition 14 – Californians for Stem Cell Research, Treatments and Cures – to continue funding for CIRM; Siri served on the Medical and Patient Advisory Committee for the proposition, securing endorsements and advocating for its successful passage.

Siri earned her BA in Politics from UC Santa Cruz and her Master’s in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley. She brings diverse social work experience to CFRI on both the macro and micro level, including previous positions with Head Start and Migrant Head Start, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County, nonprofit consultant, and CF Advisory Council Lead at the Children’s Hospital at Stanford.

As a patient advocate, Siri seeks to expand research funding to address the underlying genetic defect in CF and other rare diseases, while advocating for access to therapies on the state and federal level. Cystic fibrosis impacts people of every race and ethnicity, yet longstanding disparities in healthcare lead to delayed diagnoses and interventions for people of color. Both personally and professionally, Siri is committed to advancing stem cell research that will provide curative therapies for all.