YouEmpowered Inc.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization EIN # 39-3122898
Meet the Team
At YouEmpowered, we're a passionate group of students, caregivers, advocates, and medical/research advisors united by one mission: to make the cancer journey clearer, kinder, and more navigable. Our team brings together different perspectives, empathy, and action to empower patients and families at a vulnerable moment.
Founder & CEO
Chloe Giglio
Chloe is a high school student and cancer advocate. Inspired by her personal journey as a bone marrow donor to her mother during her battle with leukemia, she witnessed both the emotional toll of cancer and the lifesaving role of medical literacy. Determined to make a difference, Chloe founded YouEmpowered, a platform that demystifies cancer care, empowers families with accessible information, and amplifies the patient voice. She also serves as a legislative ambassador for the American Cancer Society CAN and a Junior Leadership Team member of Blood Cancer United (previously the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society).
Beyond advocacy, Chloe is a 2025 Regeneron ISEF Grand Prize winner for her immunotherapy research, a patient-facing volunteer at ProHealth Medical Center working under physician guidance, and a research intern at the Georgetown University Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. She hopes to bridge her passion for science with policy advocacy, strengthening the patient voice, and advancing healthcare access.
Officer
Raghav Kuruba
Raghav is a high school student and a neuroscience researcher. Inspired by his aunt’s battle against cancer, Raghav became passionate about understanding the science behind chronic illness and advancing health equity. This commitment has driven him to advocate for blood cancer patients with Blood Cancer United (previously the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society). He has conducted research through Johns Hopkins University, where he evaluated the strengths and limitations of new ADHD treatments. Currently, he is conducting a research project on spinal disorders.
Beyond research, Raghav works directly with patients as a veterinary intern. Through YouEmpowered, Raghav hopes to use his experience and voice to connect medicine, empathy, and advocacy, ensuring that research makes a meaningful impact on patients and families.
Officer
Daniil Prokofev
As a high school researcher, Boy Scout, and athlete (Go Crew!), Daniil approaches every endeavor with passion and dedication. He is particularly drawn to the potential of bioinformatics and computational modeling to uncover disease mechanisms and guide therapeutic development. At Georgetown University Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Daniil conducted research on ER+ breast cancer, where he integrated molecular biology assays with bioinformatics analyses.
Daniil is a 2025 Regeneron ISEF finalist for his research on cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Driven by the belief that scientific discoveries should empower patients, he is dedicated to transforming complex research into clear, reliable, and accessible information. Through YouEmpowered, Daniil hopes to make scientific knowledge more understandable for patients and the wider community.
Medical Advisor
Margaret McCall
Meg is a medical student at the Georgetown University School of Medicine with a deep interest in patient-centered care. While still exploring different specialties, she is especially drawn to fields that cultivate long-term, meaningful relationships with patients. She finds oncology particularly compelling for its unique integration of clinical expertise with compassionate support. Through YouEmpowered, Meg hopes to contribute to a culture of empathy and education that empowers patients and families throughout their care journeys.
Research Advisor
Kathy Cheng Wang
Kathy is a Ph.D. student in Tumor Biology at Georgetown University, where she studies the effect of obesity-related estrone and inflammation on NK cell dysfunction in ER⁺ breast cancer. She graduated from New York University in 2024 with a degree in Biology. During her previous two-year internship at the National Cancer Institute, she deepened her passion for cancer research. As an aspiring principal investigator in cancer immunology, Kathy is dedicated to ensuring her scientific discoveries translate into accessible knowledge and meaningful therapies that improve patients’ lives.
Research and Medical Advisor
Catherine Van Dongen
Catherine is an MD/PhD student at Georgetown University investigating the molecular mechanisms of cancer. Raised in Washington, DC, she earned dual undergraduate degrees in Biology and Hispanic Studies from William & Mary. She went on to work as a research technician in the Young Lab at the Whitehead Institute, where she studied the chemical environment of biomolecular condensates through both experimental and computational methods. Her fascination with how molecular biology can impact patient care and outcomes drove her interest in cancer research. Catherine is dedicated to integrating scientific research, computational biology, and clinical practice to improve patient quality of life.
