BOSTON, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases Association (NTSAD), the nation’s longest standing patient advocacy organization, announces that it will honor David Meeker, M.D., and Professor Timothy Cox, ScD, at Imagine & Believe, its annual Boston fundraising gala.
Marking its 60th anniversary, Imagine & Believe 2017 celebrates a history of achievement in advancing research toward a treatment, building healthy families through carrier screening, and supporting affected families.
“NTSAD has served as both a role model for other advocacy groups and a beacon for families who receive a terrible and life-changing diagnosis,” said Meeker, CEO of KSQ Therapeutics, who formerly led Sanofi Genzyme. “I’m honored to be recognized by the organization and look forward a day when the event is solely to celebrate successful treatments.”
The anniversary event will be held Thursday, November 9 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, Cambridge MA, and draws nationwide interest. Guests include families, leading researchers, health care professionals and vital members of the life science and advocacy communities.
“As one of the longest-standing medical charities in the U.S. and the leading voice globally to relieve the terrible suffering caused by Tay-Sachs and related diseases of the brain, I warmly congratulate NTSAD on its 60th anniversary, says Prof. Cox, a researcher and clinician at the University of Cambridge, UK.
Dr. Meeker and Professor Cox are being recognized by NTSAD for their significant contributions in the field of rare diseases and lysosomal storage disorders.
“David and Tim have been steadfast champions for those impacted by genetic disease, and their leadership has helped advance both new treatments and understanding,” said NTSAD Executive Director, Susan Kahn. “We look forward to their ongoing contributions to the field, and hopefully, towards new treatments.”
Sanofi Genzyme is the title sponsor of “Imagine” and is joined by 27 additional sponsors. Proceeds from at Imagine & Believe will fund research and provide support for families affected by Canavan disease, GM-1, Sandhoff, Tay-Sachs and other related rare genetic diseases. Ongoing research in Tay-Sachs disease includes substantial progress towards a clinical trial being planned by the Tay-Sachs Gene Therapy Consortium and other ongoing projects.
In addition to providing research grants and supporting more than 500 families and individuals worldwide, NTSAD’s educational programs raise awareness about how to prevent these and related neurodegenerative diseases, which are each caused by an enzyme deficiency and are fatal in children and progressively debilitating in adults.
“While we’ve made substantial progress in carrier screening and provided much-needed support for families impacted by these devastating diseases during our 60 years as an organization, we cannot rest until there is a cure,” said Blyth Lord, NTSAD President.
For ticket and sponsorship information please visit www.ntsad.org.
Media Contact:
Edna Kaplan
KOGS Communication
Kaplan@kogspr.com
781-639-1910