CDKL 5 – To Be Seizure Free

The Mice Could Be Seizure Free

RESEARCH HAS ALREADY BEGUN AND THERE IS SOME INTERESTING NEWS THAT IMPACTS THE DIRECTION OUR SEIZURE RESEARCH PROJECT.

A knock-out mouse model of CDKL5 (meaning the CDKL5 gene is disrupted in the mouse’s DNA) was created by Dr. Zhaolan (Joe) Zhou at the University of Pennsylvania. Read more details on (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23236174).

The CDKL5 knock-out mouse model (meaning the entire CDKL5 gene is removed in the mouse’s DNA) created by DR ZHAOLAN (JOE) ZHOU, PH.D., ASST. PROFESSOR DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS is SEIZURE FREE!

How Hope4Harper’s CDKL5 Seizure Research Began

In the summer of 2011 we approached Dr Francis Jensen (world-renowned Epileptologist specializing in seizures and infants) about Harper’s patterned seizures. Dr. Jensen had a research opportunity opening in her laboratory starting January 2011, but in order to secure the spot we would have to put down half of the $200,000 cost of the project. Thanks to the generosity of supporters such as you, and with only 4 months to do it, we were able to raise $100,000 and successfully begin the CDKL5 Seizure Research Project. The remaining $100,000.00 was due December 31, 2012. Unfortunately, we were and still are $63,000.00 short of this goal.

The Risk of Delay When our CDKL5 Research Funds Run Out

The lack of seizures in the mice could be because CDKL5 is not the culprit of the seizures OR it could be because mice are simply different than humans. Continued research will help us discover the issue. Despite the fact that we did not raise all the funds for our project, our research will continue. The risk of delay arises when the money runs out. In order to help prevent that we are very busy organizing our three main fundraisers for the year:

1) Hoarding 4 Hope

Our annual thrift sale of donated items benefiting seizure research. If you have items you would like to donate to this years hoarding sale please contact us at hope@hope4harper.com Sale anticipated for May 2013.

2) Run 4 Hope

A 5K family fun run, walkers welcome, with Men and Women 1st, 2nd, 3rd place prizes! Coming again This Fall 2013!

3) Hams 4 Hope

PURCHASE A LARGE Christmas Ham smoked by the High Voltage BBQ team available for pick up the morning of Christmas Eve 2013. Limited Quantity Available. Feeds approximately 15 people!