I wanted to take this opportunity to catch everyone up on the latest developments with the foundation.  Our fund raising event at Harvard University was a tremendous success.  The event was well attended and provided a great deal of benefit to everyone involved.  We are looking forward to future endeavors to be held in Cambridge and are thankful for our partnership with Team AJ, some of the best people I have ever worked with.

Last year Dr. Patrick Aubourg in Paris introduced findings related to a gene therapy protocol he recently completed.  This therapy used bone marrow from two ALD positive boys, their own marrow.  Once extracted, the stemm cells were seperated from the marrow.  They were then put through a gene therapy wash, attached to a vector, and redelivered into their bodies.  My understanding is that to date, the process of ALD has been halted in both boys.  As more information becomes available, I will keep all well informed.

Lastly, we are looking forward to the development of new therapies in 2008.  It looks to be a tremendous year and we all hope and pray that it will be a time for solutions.

Thanks to everyone for all of your support!

David A. Cry

Chief Executive Officer

The Adrenoleukodystrophy Foundation

Dear Friends,

 I wanted to post a quick update related to a previous post.  My wife Jaymee and I are expecting a son, Brennan, to be delivered in just three short weeks.  In that mine and Jaymee's families are both affected by ALD, we decided to conceive in quite an unconventional way.  We utilized the process of Pre-Genetic Diagnosis, or PGD, to ensure that Brennan arrives ALD free. 

While going through the process of IVF, cell analysis was done, comparing the DNA of each developed blastocyst to the DNA provided by myself and Jaymee.  This allowed genetics experts the opportunity to see whether ALD would be likely or not.  Of the four we had to chose from, two had ALD while two did not.  Brennan is the one that took, and we are both pleased to be welcoming him soon.

If anyone is in a similar situation and would like more information regarding PGD, please e-mail me at davidcry@aldfoundation.org

Thanks!

David