Fighting leukodystrophies with patients and their families
Emma Navarro, Vice-President of the EIB, the European Investment Bank, received Mr Guy Alba, founder of ELA, (European Leukodystrophy Association) and President of ELA International, at the EIB headquarters in Luxembourg on 6 May 2019.
The ceremony officially marked the presentation of €26,200 from the EIB Group to support ELA in its activities.
The funds raised from EIB staff, together with a grant from the EIB Institute and a donation from the EIB Management Committee, will be used to support a medical research project on a particular form of leukodystrophy called CACH (Childhood Ataxia with Central Hypomyelination) syndrome.
Research and gene therapy on leukodystrophies could have a significant impact on other genetic and neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, thus broadening their scope.
Photo: In the centre, Ms E. Navarro, Vice-President of the EIB and Mr G. Alba, President of ELA International, with Messrs J.-J.-P. K. K., President of the European Investment Bank, and Mr G. Alba, President of ELA International. L. Corti, Secretary General of ELA International, F. de Paulha Coelho, Dean of the EIB Institute, Simon Barnes, EIB Director, surrounded by EIB staff members at the “Fun 4 Purpose” initiative launched during the games organised to mark the institution’s 60th anniversary, which, as well as providing information about ELA and its activities, raised the first donations for ELA.
