The MDS Beacon is an online service provided by Light Knowledge Resources, an independent Internet publishing company based in Princeton, New Jersey. The Beacon provides objective and unbiased news and other information related to myelodysplastic syndromes. Our mission is to be a key Internet resource and online community for MDS patients, their families, and others interested in MDS.
Currently, the MDS Beacon is supported solely by the internal financial resources of Light Knowledge Resources and the hard work of many volunteer contributors. It is the Beacon’s intention, however, to eventually gain additional financial support from individuals, companies, and other institutions interested in helping MDS patients. When such sponsorships are arranged, the Beacon will be fully transparent about their existence, and they will not alter the Beacon’s commitment to objectivity.
If you are interested in supporting the Beacon’s work, please the Beacon’s publisher.
Boris Simkovich is the Chief Executive Officer of Light Knowledge Resources and Publisher of the MDS Beacon. Boris co-founded LKR in 2005 when the firm started developing its first web service, Zuula. Boris has a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Penn State and a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard. In his free time, Boris enjoys watching movies and reading.
Maike joined Light Knowledge Resources in May 2009 as an associate publisher. She is responsible for the development of the Beacon websites. Before joining LKR, Maike worked in consulting for many years. She holds a linguistics degree and degree in business from two German schools. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, reading and practicing and teaching yoga.
Julie joined Light Knowledge Resources in March of 2008 after graduating from Princeton University with her Ph.D. in Chemistry. Her dissertation research involved the development of small molecule chemotherapeutics. She also has a B.S. in Chemistry and Mathematics from Moravian College. At LKR, Julie works on the development of the Beacon websites. With several family members who have battled cancer, she aspires to help patients through these sites. Julie's interests include crafts, playing piano, and spending time with her family.
Christine is a rising junior at Lehigh University pursuing a degree in Journalism and Science Writing with minors in Business and Health, Medicine and Society. She joined Light Knowledge Resources as an editor in May 2010. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Linda is a Research Assistant at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. She holds an M.S. in Biology and bachelor’s degrees in Molecular Biology and Language Studies from the University of California, San Diego. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. program in Biology and eventually teach at the college level. Linda has been a member of the LKR team since June 2010.
Biblia Kim has been a writer for The MDS Beacon since November 2008. A graduate of Cornell University, she is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Health, with a focus in Global Health, at Loma Linda University. When she is not studying or organizing youth activities, she enjoys reading fiction, playing the piano, and singing in her school choir.
Gillian is currently a Lehigh University sophomore working towards her B.A. in Journalism and a minor in International Relations. She joined The MDS Beacon team in August 2009 as a writer and an editor. She is originally from Chicago, and her interests include writing, reading, traveling, and volunteering.