Community
20 September, 2024
Mantarray brings hope
THE Gillin boys dream of a world without Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) has taken another step closer to becoming a reality with the arrival of the ‘Mantarray.’
The ‘Mantarray’ (also known as the genie’s lamp) has been installed at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute thanks to substantial fundraising by the Gillin Boys Foundation with support from CuriBio (a biotechnology company based in Seattle).
This cutting-edge piece of 3D equipment will allow muscle disease researchers to undertake detailed disease simulations and potentially discover new drug treatments aimed at slowing down the progression of muscle diseases like DMD – a genetic condition caused by skeletal muscle wasting.
Chris Gillin, co-founder of the Gillin Boys Foundation, said he was proud to play a part in helping to further muscle disease research.
Chris has DMD and lost his brother Aaron and two cousins to the disease.
“We’ve raised a quarter of a million dollars for Australian-based research in just 18 months, which caught the attention of the CuriBio team,” Chris said.
“CurioBio has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure that the very best of their muscle tissue analysis technology has become available in Melbourne to make a difference now and in the future.
“I’m so proud to support MCRI’s muscle research group, who are determined to improve the quality of life for people with muscle diseases and one day hopefully even find a cure.”
The foundation made a $100,000 donation to the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in March this year, which went towards the cost of the Mantarray.
“This equipment is a real game changer in the fight to find a cure for DMD; it will certainly help speed up research which, hopefully, will lead to viable treatments,” Chris said.
“A scientist from the Murdoch Institute travelled to Seattle to learn how to use it.
“This is extremely exciting not only for our foundation but the entire Duchenne community. It is a dream come true for me.”
Chris said when he and his late brother Aaron began fundraising they wanted to make a real difference.
“We wanted to make a difference and we have, but this has the potential to make our dream of a world without Duchenne come true,” he said.
“We thank each and every single person who supports our fight for a cure; without the wonderful support all around the country from our amazing sponsors and the people who attend our events or purchase our merchandise, none of this would be possible.”
Dr Peter Houweling from MCRI said his team was grateful for the ongoing partnership with the foundation.
“The muscle research team continues to benefit from the Gillin Boys Foundation’s incredible fundraising efforts,” Dr Houweling said.
“To know this has been noticed and supported by CuriBio is very heartening.”
Dr Houweling said the Mantarray will be an enormous help in his team’s efforts to develop new treatments for DMD and other muscle diseases.
“The partnership with CuriBio will help us to slow down the damage caused by a number of devastating degenerative muscle diseases,” he said.
The Mantarray, which is gold in colour to represent the union between the three organisations, is also inscribed with words from Chris:
“If I had a genie, I’d wish for no more Duchene in the world. If that doesn’t include me, just to stop it from anyone else having to go through it. That’s a win for me. So if you can find that genie for me, send him my way.”