This is an urgent call to action for all families impacted by SMA. We need your help to make sure that the promising stem cell research program in California — that has the very real potential to CURE SMA — makes it to FDA approved human clinical trials. If we don't act as a community, and act now, this clinical trial may never come to fruition due to a current nominal funding gap. If we let that happen, we may never know what the true potential for this motor neuron replacement therapy may be.
Like us, many of you know that there is a promising stem cell treatment program being funded by Families of SMA and headed up by Dr. Hans Keirstead at UC Irvine in California. You know that this therapy, perfected by Dr. Keirstead and his team, has the potential to cure SMA, ALS/Lou Gehrigs Disease, and acute spinal cord injuries characterized by motor neuron loss. You know that this program has been in process for over five years and that Dr. Keirstead has already pioneered groundbreaking stem cell research separate from this program by successfully developing a human embryonic stem cell derived treatment for acute spinal cord injuries. You also probably know that that accomplishment is currently in human clinical trial — the first ever FDA approved stem cell trial in humans. As far as the SMA program is concerned, you know that Dr. Keirstead and his team have completed all of the pre-clinical efficacy studies, including the pivotal animal safety studies, demonstrating that the cells work and that they appear to be safe. You know that all of this is very positive and that this program, the SMA stem cell program, has the real potential to become the second FDA approved stem cell trial in humans — the second ever! You also know that Phase I of those human clinical trials could potentially start in the next several months.
BUT, what many of you may not know is that this promising stem cell treatment program, led by one of the leading stem cell researchers in the world, may never actually happen because of funding. Yes, funding. How much? Only $500,000. We may all never know the true potential of this research because of a measly $500,000. This groundbreaking science is ready. The researchers are prepared. They just need money.
So how can we hope for this research and not make sure it reaches the finish line? Without funding, this hope, this potential, this chance at a cure will get pushed and pushed and well… that means thousands more families are impacted by this cruel disease and thousands more innocent babies will leave us too soon. Given all that we have faced and are facing because of SMA, raising money is simple. As a community, we can make this trial happen!
So, to organize and motivate our collective efforts we've created Unite For The Cure to help close that funding gap. Unite For The Cure has one very simple, but very important goal:
To collectively — as a united SMA community — raise $100,000 to take funding out of the equation and get this promising stem cell therapy program to and through human clinical trials as quickly as possible.
Specifically, were asking 20 families impacted by SMA to commit to raising $5,000 each by the end of November 2009 — for a total of $100,000 — with 100% of the proceeds going directly to Families of SMA to specifically fund this SMA stem cell program.
Unite For The Cure's $100,000, in conjunction with Families of SMA, will close the funding gap and get the SMA stem cell program to and through human trials as quickly as possible.
We can't do this alone — but we can do it together! UNITED we can give Dr. Keirstead, his team, and this groundbreaking science a chance to cure SMA once and for all.
To get involved with Unite For The Cure and see that this pioneering program cross the finish line, please visit UniteForTheCure.com or contact:
- Victoria Strong – [email protected]
- Bill Strong – [email protected]
