Amy Proal, PhD, is the Chief Executive Officer of the PolyBio Research Foundation, where she leads efforts to advance scientific understanding of how persistent infections contribute to chronic disease and aging. Trained as a microbiologist, she has built a reputation for connecting diverse scientific disciplines—ranging from immunology and neurology to genomics and computational biology—to uncover the underlying drivers of complex illnesses such as Long COVID, ME/CFS, and chronic inflammatory conditions. Through her leadership, she has helped establish large-scale research collaborations, develop innovative diagnostic approaches, and support cutting-edge studies that aim to shift medical paradigms and improve patient outcomes.