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 M J.-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.