CHICAGO, July 31, 2008 – Today Children’s Memorial Hospital announced the celebration of the opening of a Jeffrey Modell Foundation Diagnostic Center for Primary Immunodeficiencies, one of only 40 of its kind in the world and only 22 in North America, in ceremonies to be held at Wolfson Lecture Hall in the Children’s Memorial Research Center. The diagnostic center aims to focus on the diagnosis, care, and treatment of children suffering with Primary Immunodeficiency Disorders (PID). Primary Immuno-Deficiency is a term that encompasses more than 120 inherited diseases caused by an immune system that does not function properly. The center is sponsored in part by Chicagoland-based Baxter Healthcare Corporation, a leading provider of life-saving therapies that develops, manufactures and markets treatments for PID.

 

The goal of the new center is to raise awareness of PID and ensure that children in the Chicago region have access to the highest levels of treatment. The center will be led by Ramsay Fuleihan, MD, a renowned expert in the field of Primary Immunodeficiency research and care. Fuleihan is attending physician, Allergy and Immunology; and Director, Primary Immunodeficiency Clinical Services at Children’s Memorial Hospital.

 

“We are truly grateful for the generous gift that will allow us to continue researching the genetic causes of primary deficiency diseases and promoting the early diagnosis and treatment," said Ramsay Fuleihan, M.D. “The educational and diagnostic programs made possible through this support will be vital to furthering Children’s Memorial Hospital’s reputation as a center of excellence for diagnosis and treatment of patients with PID.” Jacqueline Pongracic, M.D., Head of the Allergy and Immunology Division at Children’s Memorial also shared that there is great excitement within the hospital to work with the Jeffrey Modell Foundation, “because the collaboration will strengthen our ability to diagnose and treat more children with PID."

 

PID can often present in the form of recurring common illnesses such as sinus infections, pneumonia, ear infections and bronchitis. For this reason, families and doctors are often unaware that the troubling conditions that they are dealing with are actually rooted in a defect in the immune system and treat the symptoms rather than addressing the underlying cause. Failure to diagnose and treat PID can lead to serious chronic illness, permanent organ damage or even death.

 

In attendance at the ceremonies will be the center’s benefactors, Vicki and Fred Modell, co-founders of the Jeffrey Modell Foundation, which is named after their son, who passed away in 1986 of a primary immune disorder at the age of 15.

 

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Children’s Memorial Hospital,” said Fred Modell, Co-founder of the JMF. “Experts have estimated that as many as 500,000 cases of PID remain undiagnosed in the United States, and our goal is to give every child a chance to lead a healthy, normal life.”

 

“There is a large undiagnosed population of children and young adults suffering with these diseases, keeping them from enjoying a full life, as they often miss 30 or 40 days of school every year,” said Vicki Modell, Co-founder of the JMF. “Their illness interrupts their activities, detours their plans and shatters their dreams.”

 

Children’s Memorial Hospital is uniquely positioned to address the causes of PID with a sophisticated diagnostic laboratory directed by Maurice O’Gorman, Ph.D., that has developed novel tests to diagnose primary immunodeficiency diseases, and an innovative severe immunodeficiency program to treat severe forms of immunodeficiency with stem cell transplantation under the leadership of Morris Kletzel, M.D., Hematology/Oncology Transplant Division. The support of the Jeffrey Modell Foundation will allow Children’s Memorial to advocate for this patient population and provide treatments that are both supportive and curative.

 

“Baxter Healthcare is proud to partner with the Jeffrey Modell Foundation and Children’s Memorial Hospital to help provide treatment and raise awareness for Primary Immunodeficiency,” said Larry Guiheen, president of Biopharmaceuticals for Baxter’s BioScience business. “This center will help improve the lives of so many young patients living with PID.”

 

Baxter Healthcare Corporation and the Jeffrey Modell Foundation are long-standing partners in the effort to raise awareness and increase diagnosis of PID on a global scale. In addition to establishing diagnostic centers around the world, Baxter and JMF have in the past collaborated to raise PID awareness in the U.S. and Europe.

 

About Jeffrey Modell Foundation

 

The Jeffrey Modell Foundation was established in 1987 by Vicki and Fred Modell in memory of their son Jeffrey, who died at the age of 15 of a PI disease. The Foundation is dedicated to early and precise diagnosis, meaningful treatments and ultimately cures of primary immunodeficiencies. More information on PI can be found at www.info4pi.org or by calling the JMF hotline at 1-866-INFO-4-PI.

 

About Children’s Memorial Hospital

 

Children's Memorial Hospital is dedicated to the health and well-being of all children. As the pediatric teaching facility of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, this commitment drives the institution to be a leader in pediatric healthcare delivery; research into the prevention, causes and treatment of diseases that affect children; education for physicians, nurses and allied health professionals; and advocacy for the general well-being of all children. More information can be found at www.childrensmemorial.org.

 

About Baxter

 

Baxter Healthcare Corporation is the principal U.S. operating subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX). Baxter International Inc. develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with hemophilia, immune disorders, cancer, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. As a global, diversified healthcare company, Baxter applies a unique combination of expertise in medical devices; pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to create products that advance patient care worldwide. For more information about Baxter, please visit www.baxter.com.