Finding Our Village: Our Journey with Alexander Disease
Finding Our Village: Our Journey with Alexander Disease My name is Deb, and together with my husband, Jim, we are the proud parents of Daniel. From the very beginning, I sensed something was not right during my pregnancy. Despite being reassured repeatedly that everything was fine, I trusted my instincts…
ULF Awards $33,000 Research Grant to Advance Gene Therapy for H-ABC
The United Leukodystrophy Foundation (ULF) is proud to announce the award of a $33,000 research grant to Dr. Jun Xie, PhD, of UMass Chan Medical School, to support an innovative preclinical gene therapy project focused on Hypomyelination with Atrophy of the Basal Ganglia and Cerebellum (H-ABC). About the Funded Project…
Historic Expansion of Newborn Screening Includes MLD
Historic Expansion of Newborn Screening Includes Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) We are encouraged to share that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has officially added Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) — along with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) — to the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) for newborn screening. This…
Eden’s Story: Helping Families and Supporting Research Through Her Legacy
Eden’s Story: Helping Families and Supporting Research Through Her Legacy https://ulf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Eden.mp4 We are the Murphy Family, and our daughter, Eden Alexandra, was born on January 10, 2025. She was not breathing at birth, and that was the start of her short but complicated journey. She was in the NICU for…
Hope in Action: ULF Board Member’s Son Receives World’s First SLC6A1 Treatment
We are excited to share a powerful new People Magazine feature highlighting our ULF Board Member Amber Freed and her son Maxwell, and the extraordinary journey that led to a groundbreaking milestone in rare disease history. In the article, Amber’s son Maxwell is described as having a neurodevelopmental condition known…
Strength for Today, Hope for Tomorrow: Laila’s Story
Strength for Today, Hope for Tomorrow: Laila’s Story https://ulf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Laila-2.mp4 We are Sam and Angela, and this is the story of our daughter, Laila. Our journey with leukodystrophy began when our daughter, Laila, was diagnosed with MLC1 with subcortical cysts at just 2 years old. Today, she is 14. She began…
A Family’s Journey with ALD – Robert & Nancy
Robert & Nancy: A Family’s journey with ALD When a family faces a leukodystrophy diagnosis, the journey can feel overwhelming and isolating. That’s where the United Leukodystrophy Foundation (ULF) comes in. Since 1982, ULF has provided families with life-changing information and resources, access to expert care, and a compassionate, connected…
New Global Guidelines Issued for Vanishing White Matter (VWM)
New Global Guidelines Issued for Vanishing White Matter (VWM) — A Significant Step Forward for Families and Care Teams We’re pleased to share a major advancement in the care of VWM. A new international consensus document has just been published, offering evidence- and expert-based recommendations for the diagnosis and clinical…
New Global Patient Registry for MicrogliopathiesGlia
GliaConnect has launched a new global patient registry for individuals and families affected by microgliopathies such as ALSP, BANDDOS, and Nasu-Hakola Disease. In partnership with Sanford CoRDS, this registry helps bring together patients, families, and researchers to advance understanding and treatment of these rare disorders. The data collected will help…
In Memorial and Honor: May – September 2025
ULF received donations in memorial or honorarium for the following during May through September 2025. We apologize for any inadvertent omittance or misspellings. Please notify us if we have made a mistake at office@ulf.org Honoring Loved Ones Through Generosity We are deeply grateful for the generous donations made in honor…
Teagan’s Story
A Mother’s Love, A Child’s Legacy: Teagan’s Story Our daughter, Teagan Ann, will forever be the strongest person I have ever known. She was born on November 13th, 2016. A perfectly healthy, beautiful baby girl. Ten fingers and ten toes. Our little miracle. Time went by so quickly, and Teagan…
Positive Results Announced for Alexander Disease Clinical Trial
Ionis anounces positive topline results from pivotal study of zilganersen in Alexander disease The Ionis Zilganersen Team shared a message with the Alexander disease community: September 22, 2025 Dear Alexander disease community, Ionis announced today positive initial results from the pivotal clinical trial (NCT: 04849741)1 of zilganersen (ION373) in people…
Kim’s Story
Kim’s Story: A Family Bond with ALSP In 2019, my brother Jeffrey Cade was 42 when he awoke one morning unable to speak clearly. Jeffrey immediately called our family, and we urged him to drive to the hospital. After an overnight stay, the doctors assumed Jeffrey had a minor stroke and…
Moa’s Story
Moa’s Story Moa is a fantastic girl with a big, bright smile that charms every soul she meets. A girl with her heart in the right place and a twinkle in her eyes. She leaves no one untouched. We are from Sweden and live in Malmö. Moa is nine years…
The Hidden Impact of Vanishing White Matter (VWM) on Families
New Research Sheds Light on the Burden for Parents, Siblings, and Partners A groundbreaking international study has revealed something our community has long known: Vanishing White Matter (VWM) doesn’t just affect patients. It deeply impacts their families too. A new study, “The impact of vanishing white matter on unaffected family…
Johana’s and Ella’s Story
Johana and ella In 2015, the teachers at our eldest’s daughter’s high school noticed she was struggling with remembering things. Johana was 16 and had always experienced learning difficulties. However, the teachers were concerned, so we took her to see a pediatric neurologist. In early January 2016, after an MRI…
Minoryx’s Leriglitazone MAA for cALD Validated by EMA
EMA Validates Minoryx’s Marketing Application for Leriglitazone to Treat cALD Minoryx Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company focused on orphan central nervous system (CNS) diseases, has announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has validated its Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for leriglitazone (NEZGLYAL®). This milestone marks an important regulatory step toward…
In Memorial and Honor: March and April 2025
ULF received donations in memorial or honorarium for the following during the months of March and April 2025. We apologize for any inadvertent omittance or misspellings. Please notify us if we have made a mistake at office@ulf.org Honoring Loved Ones Through Generosity We are deeply grateful for the generous donations…
ALEXANDER DISEASE CAREGIVER Information
Just Worldwide is conducting a market research study on behalf of a pharmaceutical company. The study aims to gather insights from caregivers of people with Alexander Disease to better understand their experiences and opinions. The research involves a 40-minute online survey. Participants who complete the survey will receive $100 as…
In Memorial and Honor: February 2025
ULF received donations in memorial or honorarium for the following during the month of February 2025. We apologize for any inadvertent omittance or misspellings. Please notify us if we have made a mistake at office@ulf.org or by calling 815-748-3211 In honor of Daniel Nathan Horton In Loving Memory of Daniel….
FDA Approves Ctexli (Chenodiol) for Treatment of Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis (CTX)
Mirum’s CTEXLI™ (chenodiol) Tablets Receives FDA Approval for Treatment of Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis (CTX) Mirum Pharmaceuticals has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ctexli (chenodiol) tablets as the first treatment for cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX), a rare and progressive genetic disorder that affects cholesterol metabolism. CTX leads…
The ULF Board of Directors’ statement regarding the changes to healthcare and research because of reduced NIH funding.
The United Leukodystrophy Foundation Board of Directors’ statement regarding the changes to healthcare and research because of reduced NIH funding. February 24, 2025 “The United Leukodystrophy Foundation (ULF) is deeply concerned about proposed changes in healthcare and research. These changes may limit patient access to life-saving treatments; may impact the…
STUDY: Rescue of in vitro models of CSF1R-related adult-onset leukodystrophy by iluzanebart: mechanisms and therapeutic implications of TREM2 agonism
Understanding CSF1R-Related Leukodystrophy and a Potential New Treatment: Iluzanebart This study titled Rescue of in vitro models of CSF1R-related adult-onset leukodystrophy by iluzanebart: mechanisms and therapeutic implications of TREM2 agonism and published by Journal of Neuroinflammation, explores CSF1R-related adult-onset leukodystrophy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (CSF1R-ALSP), a rare neurodegenerative…
FDA Approves First Treatment for CTX, a Rare Lipid Storage Disease
PRESS RELEASE: FDA Approves First Treatment for Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis, a Rare Lipid Storage Disease The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ctexli (chenodiol) as the first treatment for cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX), a rare lipid storage disorder. CTX is a genetic condition caused by mutations in the CYP27A1 gene,…