Make-A-Wish^® Massachusetts and Rhode Island

10-year-old Alex learns about breakthrough genomic science

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Make-A-Wish:  Heather Davidson, [email protected]
HC Bioscience/Ten Bridge Communications: Lauren Crociati, [email protected]
 

BOSTON, MA (September 5, 2024) – For 10-year-old Alex Guo, there was one wish that was worth waiting for, and recently, that wish was fulfilled. Alex, from Parker, TX, wished to be a scientist for a day. But not just any opportunity would do; Alex specifically wished to “work” for HC Bioscience, based out of Boston, MA, as the company is developing a therapy for Alex’s specific form of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Alex has a particular passion for science and his parents describe him as having a mind that is a “treasure trove of questions” and an eagerness for exploring new ideas. Diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy when he was in the second grade, he and his family had to quickly learn about the disease and treatment options and become advocates in the patient community.

When the mission team at Make-A-Wish^® Massachusetts and Rhode Island started working on Alex’s wish, it was evident that Alex’s vision was clear. Once the local charity got in contact with President, CEO, and Co-Founder of HC Bioscience, Leslie Williams, planning immediately commenced. After many months and two rescheduled trips due to Alex’s opportunities to participate in treatment programs, the budding science enthusiast finally traveled to Boston with his family this month and spent the day at HC Bio’s headquarters, interacting with the team and participating in hands-on experiments in the company’s lab.

“Hearing that Alex’s wish was to work with us was deeply moving,” said Williams, who was heavily involved in planning Alex’s wish. “Meeting a child who finds our work so meaningful in his life is incredibly gratifying and reinforces our purpose and commitment to bringing groundbreaking therapies to patients. What made this experience even more special was the opportunity to inspire both Alex and his brother Eric. Knowing that we might have played a part in encouraging them to pursue a future in science—where they can not only change their own lives but also impact others—is incredibly fulfilling.”

Even before Alex’s wish was granted, Williams and her team showed their support by sending him monthly science kits and a special birthday video message. And, to ensure that their ideas for Alex's hands-on experience were just right, they invited children of employees in to try out some of the planned activities.

For Alex’s wish day, the entire HC Bioscience team was involved in making his experience unforgettable. This included creating opportunities for Alex to engage directly, hands-on, with the scientific processes behind the development of HC Bio’s medicines for genetic diseases including Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

“Alex’s wish has been a beacon of hope for us during a challenging journey,” shared Alex’s mother, Lisa Quan. “Knowing this special moment was on the horizon provided immense joy and encouragement for our entire family and it’s been a source of strength. And now, to have been able to visit HC Bio and do experiments and have his wish come true, it’s going to be a lifetime impact on Alex and all of us. We cannot express how much gratitude we have for Make-A-Wish and HC Bio.”

At the conclusion of Alex’s wish experience, Alex and Sara Evke, PhD, Scientist II, In Vivo Pharmacology Discovery, with the support of the scientific team, presented their experimental results—“Restoration of full-length dystrophin proteins with ACE-tRNA medicine” —to the entire HC Bio team; the Guo family; members of the Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island staff; and prominent members of the Boston Biotech and life science community.  The day culminated with Alex and his brother, Eric, 12, receiving Rising Science Superstar Certificates, recognizing their outstanding work as scientists at HC Bioscience. 

“There is a strong synergy between what we do at Make-A-Wish and what our friends in the biotech space are doing,” said Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island CEO Sean Holleran. “We are all working toward improving the quality of life and health outcomes for children battling critical illnesses. Many of the scientists at HC Bio commented on how meaningful it was to meet a child who is living with the exact condition that they work, day-in and day-out, to treat. The entire day was marked by a tremendous feeling of hope for the progress that is being made in this space, and we are so grateful for this partnership and the commitment of the HC Bio team to supporting Alex’s wish and our mission.”

Alex’s wish was granted by Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island in partnership with Make-A-Wish Southern Florida and Make-A-Wish North Texas.

To learn more about Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island and how businesses, organizations, and individuals can support the organization as it works to fulfill the wishes of over 650 local children with critical illnesses who are awaiting their wishes, visit www.massri.wish.org/together.

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About Make-A-Wish^® Massachusetts and Rhode Island  
Make-A-Wish^® Massachusetts and Rhode Island creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. A wish can be a spark that helps a child believe anything is possible. In the face of life-threatening medical conditions, wishes enable children to experience profound joy, renewed strength and resiliency, and lasting hope to keep striving and dreaming for the future. Together with generous supporters and 500+ volunteers, the organization has granted the wishes of over 10,000 children in Massachusetts and Rhode Island since its founding 40 years ago, and its vision is to grant the wish of every medically eligible child. For more information, visit www.massri.wish.org.

About HC Bioscience, Inc.
HC Bioscience is dedicated to improving the lives of patients through the development of first-in-class tRNA-based therapeutics that address a broad spectrum of genetically defined diseases and cancer. Our anticodon engineered tRNAs overwrite nonsense mutations that would otherwise result in truncated, nonfunctional proteins. This gene-agnostic approach is the foundation for a universal drug platform with the potential to treat many mutated genes using the same therapy. Our pipeline comprises a lead program for severe hemophilia A as well as programs for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and cancer. For more information, visit www.hcbioscience.com/.

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