BBDF Blog

AUSTIN, TEXAS (February, 2013) The Batten Disease Support and Research Association (BDSRA) and Beyond Batten Disease Foundation (BBDF), working together in close partnership with more than 20 other nonprofits around the world, today announced grants totaling almost $1 million for research to develop treatments and a cure for Batten disease.

Batten disease is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder that strikes infants, children and adults. There is no known treatment or cure. Those born to parents who carry gene mutations for Batten disease are at risk to inherit the condition which can cause vision loss and seizures, progressively impairs cognitive and motor capacities, and ultimately results in death.

Funding for research has been challenging due to the rare nature of the disease. The 2013 grants represent the largest Batten disease research collaboration to date. The new grants will support nine high-value projects at universities and institutes in the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Israel and New Zealand. The goals of these projects include:

Organizations pooling their funds for the nearly $1 million in grants include BDSRA, BBDF, Hope for Bridget, Blake’s Purpose, Our Promise to Nicholas, Fight for Nicholas, Biomarin, LLC, and Noah’s Hope – all based in the United States – along with Germany’s NCL-Stiftung and the United Kingdom’s Batten Disease Family Association. Together these organizations are funding basic discovery to identify drug targets, translate those discoveries into treatment, and prepare for clinical trial success. Expanding, improving and connecting registries will result in the world’s largest, clinically and genetically best characterized set of Batten disease patients. Exploring multiple approaches to identify biomarkers capable of measuring the efficacy of potential drugs for treating Batten disease will ensure clinical trial success.

“We are so proud of the accomplishments of all the organizations and dedicated scientists involved in this unprecedented, international effort to identify and fund research for curing this devastating disease,” said Margie Frazier, PhD, executive director of the BDSRA. “This is a great example of the whole being so much greater than the sum of its parts.”

The world’s leading Batten disease nonprofit organizations are uniting to pool funds and expertise to evaluate grant proposals based on a state-of-the-art scientific merit review process that reflects the highest standards associated with the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the European Research Council and industry-standard drug discovery processes.

“We’ve crossed a major milestone in the fight against Batten disease,” said Craig Benson, founder and CEO of Beyond Batten Disease Foundation. “Through this type of global collaboration, we can take an even more strategic approach and apply both greater rigor and resources to our work, ensuring that the most important research to treat and cure this horrific illness gets funded.”

The newly funded work will be completed at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Yale University, University of Iowa and University of Medicine and Dentistry in the US; Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel; King’s College London in the United Kingdom; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany; and Lincoln University in New Zealand.

Other nonprofits joining Batten Disease Support and Research Association and Beyond Batten Disease Foundation in the fight against Batten Disease include: Catherine’s Hope for a Cure, Drew’s Hope, Hayden’s Hope, Luke and Rachel Batten Foundation, Mary Payton’s Miracle Foundation, Melissa Froio Foundation, Partnering for Cures and Taylor’s Tale in the US; Jasper Against Batten in the US and Netherlands; Beat Batten! in the Netherlands; Bee for Batten’s in Ireland; ContactPuntNCL in Belgium; NCL-Gruppe Deutschland in Germany; and Norsk Spielmeyer-Vogt Forening in Norway.

About The Batten Disease Support and Research Association

The Batten Disease Support and Research Association is the major support and research organization in North America for families who have children with the disease. Founded in 1987, the association promotes and funds research nationally and internationally, provides family services and advocacy, fosters awareness and education with the scientific, medical and caregiving community, and coordinates networks for diagnosis, medical referrals, genetic testing, and counseling. The first research grant from BDSRA was awarded in 1992 and, since then, more than $6 million in funding has been awarded. BDSRA is the largest source of private funding for family support and research into the disease. For more information, visit www.bdsra.org.

About Beyond Batten Disease Foundation

Beyond Batten Disease Foundation works to cure and prevent juvenile Batten disease, a rare, inherited neurological disorder that strikes young children; first causing vision loss and seizures, then cognitive and motor impairment, and ultimately, death by the late teens or 20s. The foundation raises funds for research, and is leading the development of an easy, inexpensive, groundbreaking blood test to detect gene mutations that cause Batten disease as well as 600 other rare, serious and often fatal, childhood ailments. For more information, visit www.beyondbatten.org.

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Contact:
Danielle M Kerkovich, PhD
Scientific Officer | Batten Disease Support and Research Association
Principal Scientist | Beyond Batten Disease Foundation
info@beyondbatten.org
202-812-6462
www.bdsra.org
www.beyondbatten.org

AUSTIN, TX — Austin-area golfers are getting ready to take a swing at juvenile Batten disease during the Fourth Annual Brake Specialists Plus “HOPE on the Green” Charity Golf Tournament on Friday, October 19 at Grey Rock Golf Club.

The popular tournament will help raise critically needed funds for Beyond Batten Disease Foundation which works to eradicate juvenile Batten disease, a rare, inherited and fatal neurodegenerative disorder that occurs in young children.

“Hope on the Green is a great way for Central Texas golfers to enjoy a round of golf while also helping to save children’s lives,” said Jamey Whitlock, Executive Vice President, Brake Specialists Plus Total Car Care, title sponsor of the tournament. “Proceeds from the event help the foundation to continue funding live-saving research around the world to treat, cure and prevent this devastating illness.”

Although the tournament is expected to sell out again this year, registration currently remains open for foursomes as well as individual players. Participants will enjoy a fun-packed afternoon and evening at one of the region’s best golf facilities. Activities will include: lunch catered by Benji’s Cantina and dinner provided by Grey Rock Golf Club; 18 holes of golf on a stunning Texas Hill Country course designed by renowned golf architect Jay Moorish; putting, chipping, longest drive and hole-in-one contests for prizes such as TaylorMade and Titleist clubs and bags; a live auction, including memorabilia autographed by well-known sports and music personalities; and live music following tournament play.

Juvenile Batten disease occurs when parents who unknowingly carry the gene mutation for the disorder both pass it onto their offspring. Children are diagnosed when they become symptomatic, usually between the ages of 5 and 9. The illness causes seizures and progressive vision loss leading to blindness. The condition eventually becomes mentally and physically incapacitating and is fatal by the late teens or early 20s.

Because Batten disease is so uncommon, there is very little government support for research. Beyond Batten Disease Foundation funds a growing number of research initiatives in the United States and abroad to develop a treatment and cure. The foundation also has led development of a rare disease genetic test to diagnose and prevent not only Batten disease, but also more than 600 other serious – often fatal – inherited, childhood illnesses.

“All of us fighting Batten disease greatly appreciate everyone who participates in Austin’s Hope on the Green tournament – Jamey, the Brake Specialists’ team and, of course, all the golfers who come out to play,” said Craig Benson, who co-founded the foundation with his wife in 2008 after their young daughter was diagnosed with Batten disease. “The event is an important fundraiser and also helps us raise awareness of and galvanize ongoing support for our cause.”-

In recent years, the foundation has underwritten some of the world’s most promising juvenile Batten disease research. This includes funding a team of researchers at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Houston’s renowned Texas Children’s Hospital. The team has identified drug compounds that may improve brain function in children with Batten disease and currently is analyzing disease models to study long-term effects on progression of the illness. The foundation also has brought in regulatory consultants to partner with the researchers at Texas Children’s Hospital in developing a path to FDA approval for a human clinical trial of the drugs.

Other foundation-funded projects include a partnership with the American Brain Foundation to create the first clinical research fellowship in juvenile Batten disease; research support at Italy’s Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine using robotic technology to screen hundreds of drugs for their potential to treat Batten disease; and additional research at London’s King’s College and the University of Iowa to learn more about Batten disease cell function.

THE WOODLANDS, TX — Nearly 700 people are expected to attend one of the Houston area’s most important fundraisers on September 15, the 4th annual HOPE Under the Stars Gala benefiting the Will Herndon Fund for Juvenile Batten Disease Research (WHF).

The evening event at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center will generate critically needed funds for research to develop a treatment and cure for juvenile Batten disease, a rare, fatal, neurodegenerative disorder that affects children.

Attendees of the “Texas chic”-themed party will enjoy a night of great entertainment including mechanical bull riding, professional artist sketches, dancing and live music by The Buck Town All-Stars, the nine-piece, New Orleans-based band famous for its energizing mix of rock, soul, funk, R&B and Crescent City classics. Additionally, there will be a photo booth, casino tables, a raffle, and both live and silent auctions for fabulous items. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are still available through the WHF website or by calling 409.454.9330.

Juvenile Batten disease is a rare but devastating illness that typically appears between the ages of five and 10. Early symptoms include vision loss leading to total blindness and also seizures. As the disease progresses, it diminishes cognitive and motor capacities – to the point where affected youngsters require 24-hour care – and ultimately causes death during the late teen years or early 20s.

Because juvenile Batten disease is uncommon – it occurs in two to four of every 100,000 children born in the United States – there is very little government funding for research to find a treatment and cure. So in August 2009, after learning that their then six-year-old son, Will, had Batten disease, Missy and Wayne Herndon of The Woodlands started the Will Herndon Fund. WHF is a directed fund of Beyond Batten Disease Foundation, launched a year earlier to raise awareness of and support research to eradicate the malady. The foundation also has been leading development of a test to detect the gene mutations that cause Batten disease as well as 600-plus other serious, often fatal, childhood conditions.

“As we approach this year’s gala, which is drawing a record number of attendees, we are more heartened than ever by the ongoing support of our friends and neighbors in the Greater Woodlands community,” said Missy Herndon. “Every dollar we raise advances the foundation’s life-saving work and gives new hope to families affected by Batten disease.”

In recent years, WHF has helped fund many of the world’s most promising research initiatives focused on juvenile Batten disease. This includes funding a team of researchers at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Houston’s renowned Texas Children’s Hospital. The team has identified a drug combination that may improve brain function in children with Batten disease and currently is analyzing disease models to study long-term effects on progression of the illness. This includes funding a team of researchers at Houston’s renowned Texas Children’s Hospital which has identified a drug combination that may improve brain function in children with Batten disease. Currently, the team is analyzing disease models to study the long-term effects of this drug on the progression of the disease. Additionally, with funds raised from last year’s HOPE Under the Stars gala, WHF recently brought in regulatory consultants to partner with the researchers in developing a path to FDA approval for a human clinical trial of the drug.

Other WHF-funded projects include a partnership with the American Brain Foundation to create the first clinical research fellowship in juvenile Batten disease; research support at Italy’s Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine using robotic technology to screen hundreds of drugs for their potential to treat Batten disease; and additional research at London’s King’s College and the University of Iowa to learn more about Batten disease cell function. Each of these projects is part of WHF’s strategic plan to accelerate research for developing treatments and a cure for juvenile Batten disease.

About The Will Herndon Fund and Beyond Batten Disease Foundation

The Will Herndon Fund is a directed fund of the Beyond Batten Disease Foundation which works to cure and prevent Batten disease, a rare, inherited neurological disorder that strikes young children, first causing vision loss and seizures, then cognitive and motor impairment, and ultimately death during the late teen years or early 20s. The foundation raises funds for research and is leading development of an easy and inexpensive, groundbreaking blood test to detect the gene mutations that cause Batten disease as well as over 600 other rare but serious and often fatal childhood ailments. For more information, visit www.beyondbatten.org.

Photos: Above–Will Herndon, age 9, was diagnosed with juvenile Batten disease in 2009; Below–The Will Herndon Fund supports important juvenile Batten disease research at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Houston’s renowned Texas Children’s Hospital.