Jeffrey Modell Foundation and Talecris Biotherapeutics
Expand Diagnostic Services for Primary Immunodeficiencies
at Packard Hospital
Unrestricted Educational Grant Supports Diagnosis and
Patient Access to Care
March 3, 2008
Contact: José Gordon, director of development communications,
(650) 497-8489, jose.gordon@lpfch.org;
Ann Rose, director of foundations and corporate relations, (650) 497-8444,
ann.rose@lpfch.org
STANFORD, Calif. – The Jeffrey Modell Foundation (JMF) and Talecris
Biotherapeutics, Inc. have donated $150,000 to Lucile Packard Children's
Hospital at Stanford to expand clinical care and outreach for children
with primary immunodeficiency (PI), the two organizations announced today.
PI is a term that encompasses more than 150 diseases caused by an immune
system that does not function properly. Stanford's program, one of 37
worldwide supported by the JMF, focuses on the diagnosis, care, and treatment
of people suffering from PI.
"Early recognition and diagnosis of PI can save lives and improve
health outcomes for children," said David B. Lewis, M.D., professor
of pediatrics, immunology and transplantation biology. "The educational
and diagnostic programs made possible through this support will improve
care for patients with PI, and will also generate cutting edge research
opportunities," said Lewis, who also is director of the Jeffrey Modell
Center for Research and Comprehensive Care for Primary Immunodeficiencies
at Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's
Hospital.
"We are thrilled to support this important work at Packard Children's
Hospital, in collaboration with Talecris Biotherapeutics," said Fred
Modell, co-founder of the JMF. "Experts estimate that as many as
500,000 cases of PI remain undiagnosed in the United States, and our goal
is to give every child a chance to lead a healthy, normal life."
Vicki Modell, co-founder of the JMF, noted that "a large, undiagnosed
population of children and young adults continues to suffer from these
diseases, which keep them from enjoying a full life. For example, they
often miss 30 or 40 days of school every year. Their illness interrupts
their activities, detours their plans, and shatters their dreams."
PI affects males and females of all ages, but the most severe forms
are frequently detected in childhood. PI often can present in the form
of common illnesses such as sinus infections, pneumonia, ear infections,
and bronchitis. For this reason, families and doctors are often unaware
that the troubling conditions that they are dealing with are actually
rooted in a defect in the immune system, and may treat the symptoms rather
than addressing the underlying cause. Failure to diagnose and treat PI
can lead to serious chronic illness, permanent organ damage, or even death.
"The JMF's unwavering dedication to the early diagnosis and treatment
of PI is evident through its many very successful endeavors, the most
recent being the expansion of diagnostic services and outreach at Lucile
Packard Children's Hospital," said Larry Stern, chairman and CEO
of Talecris Biotherapeutics. "Talecris is proud to collaborate with
JMF and Packard -- an example of our ongoing commitment to improve the
lives of so many patients with PI."
Talecris and the JMF are long-standing partners in the effort to raise
awareness and increase diagnosis of PI globally. In addition to establishing
diagnostic centers around the world, Talecris and the JMF have collaborated
on programs to raise PI awareness in the U.S. and Europe.
About Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
Ranked as one of the nation's top 10 pediatric hospitals by U.S. News
& World Report, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford is
a 272-bed hospital devoted to the care of children and expectant mothers.
Providing pediatric and obstetric medical and surgical services and associated
with the Stanford University School of Medicine, Packard Children's offers
patients locally, regionally and nationally the full range of health care
programs and services, from preventive and routine care to the diagnosis
and treatment of serious illness and injury. For more information, visit
www.lpch.org.
About the Jeffrey Modell Foundation
The Jeffrey Modell Foundation (JMF) was established in 1987 by Vicki
and Fred Modell in memory of their son, Jeffrey, who died at the age of
15 of a PI disease. The Foundation is dedicated to early and precise diagnosis,
meaningful treatments, and ultimately cures of PI. Today there are 37
Jeffrey Modell Research and Diagnostic Centers and more than 200 Referral
Centers worldwide. The Jeffrey Modell Immunology Center at Harvard Medical
School was dedicated in November 2007, and serves as a unique graduate
facility for the study of immunology. More information about PI can be
found at www.info4pi.org,
or by contacting the JMF at (212) 819-0200 or info@jmfworld.org.
About Talecris
Talecris Biotherapeutics is a global biotherapeutic and biotechnology
company that discovers, develops, and produces critical care treatments
for people with life-threatening disorders in a variety of therapeutic
areas including immunology, pulmonology, and hemostasis. Talecris is proudly
building upon a 60-year legacy of innovation and a commitment to improving
the lives of people who rely on its therapeutic products. With an emphasis
on scientific inquiry and technological excellence, Talecris is expanding
its current portfolio of products, programs, and services through its
own world-class product development organization as well as through strategic
initiatives that leverage its strengths with those of its partners.
Talecris, with revenues of approximately $1.2 billion in 2007, is headquartered
in biotech hub Research Triangle Park, N.C., and employs more than 4,000
talented people worldwide. To learn more about Talecris and how our employees
are making a difference in the lives of patients and the healthcare community,
visit www.talecris.com.
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