The fight against NF

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow along the brainstem and spinal cord. Zac battled NF and cancer until he was 11 years old. Today we continue the fight in his honor.

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#zacstrong

SUPPORTERS

"CatSci's purpose is to get new medicines into the hands of patients in need and partnering the game changing siRNA drug development potential at Argonaute is a collaboration we are very excited about. Together we are exploring solutions for the manufacture of high-quality siRNA drug substance to enable robust preclinical studies and at scale for clinical trials."

- Dr Ross Burn (CEO, CatSci)

“Our businesses interact seamlessly to ensure IP generation and business objectives are robust, enforceable and value generating.”

- Rob Docherty PhD EPA MBA (Director, Symbiosis IP)

“At Carbometrics we specialise in the synthesis and bioconjugation of synthetic molecular recognition agents. Our collaboration with Argonaute is an excellent fusion of competencies and an exciting opportunity for us to use our chemistry expertise to augment what is already a paradigm shifting siRNA platform to create revolutionary therapeutics”

- Andy Chapman (CEO and Co-founder, Carbometrics)

What We Do
We raise money to help find a cure for Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).

All proceeds are donated to the University
of Minnesota's NF Research Lab. The
Researchers use these donations to
support ground breaking research for neurofibromatosis and cancer treatments.

The Zachary NF Research Fund is in the
works of expanding the fund to support community projects that will help those
who are affected by a disability or illness.
Facts about NF
Find a cure
Did You Know?

1 in 3000

It's estimated that 1 in 3,000 people are affected by Neurofibromatosis. Although it is a genetic disorder, 50% of NF cases are de novo, meaning that it is a new mutation.

Ranging Symptoms

Some people may only have a few tumors, while others may experience more severe complications such as cancer, hearing loss, vision problems, and developmental delays.

Diagnosis

Neurofibromatosis is usually diagnosed in childhood. The appearance of small bumps or nodules on the skin, called neurofibromas, are often the first sign of the genetic disorder.

No known cure

While there are treatments available to manage symptoms and slow the growth of tumors, there is currently no cure for this condition. Ongoing research is focused on developing new therapies that could improve outcomes for people with Neurofibromatosis and other cancers.

Neurofibromatosis

What is it?

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a condition that causes tumors to develop along the brainstem and spinal cord. Often times, the tumors that develop in NF patients metastasize and form cancer. NF patients also may experience skin abnormalities such as skin freckling and cafe au lait spots, developmental delays, bone deformities, and vision loss due to tumor growth along the optic nerve.

NF1 is cause by a mutation in one copy of the tumor suppressor gene known as the NF1 gene. This gene controls the production of a protein known as neurofibromin, and when lost, the cell is unable to regulate cell growth. While it is a genetic condition, half of NF cases are not inherited but rather caused by a spontaneous mutation.

There are two types of NF known as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). Additionally, a third condition sharing many symptoms of NF has been recognized and is known as schwannomatosis. Zac had NF1, the most common type of neurofibromatosis.
Meet the team ↗

Join the fight against NF1 and cancer

ZacStrong

Zac never gave up throughout his battle with NF. In honor of Zac, we will continue the fight against NF and cancer. We are asking for your help today in finding a cure.
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