Feeling Hopeful
By Emma Dixon
When Lora Parahovnik, Ph.D., was little and living in Israel, her grandfather was diagnosed with cancer. She held his hand during infusions that he received as part of a clinical trial – one that ultimately saved his life.
“It was an innovative treatment,” says Lora, “and it was the feeling of hope that something might change in his condition.”
That clinical trial also changed Lora’s life. It was the spark that turned into a flame of curiosity, which led Lora from her birthplace in the Ukraine, to a childhood in Israel, to serving in the Israeli military, to a semester abroad in Japan for her Ph.D., and finally to Central Florida. Here, Lora can be found at the helm of Accel Research Sites Network (with local offices in Lake Mary and Maitland), where her mission is to advance scientific and medical innovation… through clinical trials.
Community-Oriented Approach
It’s clear that Lora cares about her community, and in particular, how emerging new treatments can help the local population. She has expertise in a wide variety of clinical trial areas such as vaccines, neurology, dermatology, gastroenterology, oncology, women’s health, and psychiatry, to name a few. Lora notes that it’s absolutely crucial to have support and intellectual curiosity in order to develop new treatments.
“I love translating science into medicine,” she says. “It’s important to support each other, especially in the area of developing new treatments and products. Community gives us empowerment to educate, and diversity and community engagement in trials are so important.” For all that Lora has accomplished professionally, her proudest achievement is her family. She shares sons Adam (age 12) and Matan (8) with husband Tolik. During the pandemic, Lora would typically spend 17 hours a day away from home working on Covid-19 vaccine trials.
“I wasn’t really home for over a year,” says Lora, adding that she was concerned it would negatively affect the boys. “My proudest moment was when my youngest son called me ‘CEO Vaccine,’ because in his mind, I had done something impactful and helpful.”
This artwork was created by one of Lora’s clinical trial patients as a thank you.
Lora adds, “I want to be an authentic and genuine leader in the Jewish community. If I have created a positive impact on someone’s life, I’ve had a great day.”
To emphasize her point, Lora motions to a bold, vibrant piece of artwork hanging on a wall in the Lake Mary office. The piece was created and sent to Lora in gratitude by an artist who, after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, could no longer paint or draw due to the tremors throughout her body. In searching for a new treatment, the artist was enrolled in a clinical trial with Accel. Thirty days into the treatment, she was able to create a new, tremor-free piece of artwork, filled with color and detail, that she sent to Lora.
“My life has forever been changed,” the artist wrote in a thankyou note. “I have truly been blessed to be in this trial.”
It was a profound moment for Lora.
“It’s the ‘why’ behind everything I do,” says Lora, noting that copies of the artwork now hang in all Accel offices in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia.
Heathrow resident Lora Parahovnik.
The artwork serves as a constant reminder for Lora. It’s why she continues to search for cures, why her research will never end, and, most importantly, why there is always hope.
This story was originally published in print in Winter 2023.