Anonymous donor presents $1 million gift to The Ehlers-Danlos Society to jumpstart groundbreaking genomic research into genetic cause of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS).
The Ehlers-Danlos Society has announced the largest single donation in its 33-year history to establish an international research network of leading physicians, geneticists, and other health professionals devoted to finding the underlying genetic markers for hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD). The anonymous gift of $1 million dollars, represents the largest individual gift in the history of hypermobile EDS research.
“Because hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos lacks a known genetic cause, this truly has the potential to be a transformational gift,” states Lara Bloom, International Executive Director of The Ehlers-Danlos Society, a global leader in Ehlers-Danlos research, collaboration, and support.
“Through our donor’s extraordinary generosity, we are finally able to launch a virtual ‘moonshot’ in the advancement of our understanding into the most prevalent—and often most vexing—form of the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes,” declares Bloom.
“Although our 29-year-old daughter has remarkable coping ability and good medical support, she is in constant pain. She also has fatigue, nausea, sleep disturbance, and anxiety. Everything she does or plans is affected by this condition,” emphasizes the donor.
“No others in our family have hEDS or HSD that we know, but I feel as if we all have it, because we think of her every day. At the same time, as I’ve learned about hEDS and HSD, I’ve become concerned not only about our own daughter, but also for the many people suffering from these problems around the world. The severity and prevalence of these syndromes is greatly underappreciated. It is possible that hEDS and HSD are a collection of distinct and different genetic syndromes with similar manifestations. If so, it’s important we understand this so we can pursue the appropriate research for each condition and make the best recommendations about family planning,” continues the donor.
Visit www.ehlers-danlos.com for more information.
