Progeria Research Foundation

Established in 1999, the mission of The Progeria Research Foundation (PRF) is to discover a cure and effective treatment for Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (Progeria or HGPS) and its aging related disorders by funding medical research, providing research-related programs, and educating the families, their physicians, scientists and the general public. Progeria (a word that comes from the Greek meaning “prematurely old”) is a fatal medical disorder with a life expectancy of about 13 years. Within the first 2 years of life, children afflicted with progeria fail to develop properly; they begin to display physiological characteristics typically associated with advanced age: loss of body fat and hair, joint stiffness, hip dislocation, and rapid progression of atherosclerosis. Research on progeria, particularly on its fatal outcome, heart disease, will benefit not only these special children, but also millions of people who suffer from heart disease and other aging related conditions. PRF is a leading resource for information and resources on progeria. PRF runs its own cell & tissue bank, medical & research database, and diagnostic testing program, and provides funding for research. Additionally, PRF runs an international patient registry and holds scientific workshops jointly with the National Institutes of Health.