A doctor and a lawyer strengthen the CMT Research Foundation.
December 18, 2018 (Atlanta) CMT Research Foundation (CMTRF), a new, not-for-profit organization focused solely on delivering treatments and cures for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease has added Jeff Ellman to its Board of Directors and Charles Abrams MD, Ph.D, to its Scientific Advisory Board.
CMT is a progressive genetic nerve disease and can lead to severe disability or even death. CMT has over 90 known genetic causes and can be passed down through multiple generations. Onset can be at birth or later in life and is characterized by muscle atrophy and the loss of sensation in the feet, hands, legs and arms. Nearly three million people of every age, race and ethnicity are living with CMT. Currently there is no cure for and no effective treatments. Mr. Ellman’s son, Jaden, has CMT Type 1E.
Mr. Ellman, a partner in the global law firm Jones Day, has 25 years of experience working on large corporate and municipal restructurings, with a focus on debtor representations in bankruptcy. He served as counsel in the historic bankruptcy and sale of Chrysler at the peak of the financial crisis and represented the City of Detroit in the largest municipal bankruptcy in history. Mr. Ellman also has extensive experience representing asset purchasers, significant creditors, secured lenders, and equity sponsors in distressed situations.
Mr. Ellman is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and serves on the boards of the Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute and the Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal. He has served on other nonprofit boards for the arts, education, and greenspace issues and currently is on the board of GALEO (Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials). He is a 2014 graduate of Leadership Atlanta. Mr. Ellman holds a B.A. from University of Michigan and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Dr. Abrams is a Physician Scientist at the University of Illinois Medical School in Chicago where he is Head of the Neuromuscular Division. His laboratory focuses on elucidating the mechanisms of the X-linked form of CMT and other related disorders. Dr. Abrams received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and trained in Neurology at Cornell Medical Center and in Neuromuscular Medicine at Johns Hopkins University.
“Jeff brings a wealth of knowledge and experience which will help us not only raise money for research, but can help us structure partnerships to ensure CMTRF receives a sustained financial benefit that will go towards yet more research, until a cure is found,” says Patrick Livney, CMTRF Chairman of the Board. “Charles is one of the nation’s leading CMT scientist/physicians and will help us review and decide which new research projects to fund. We are very pleased to have both affiliated with CMTRF.”
“Everyone on the Board of CMTRF has been directly impacted by this challenging condition and I look forwarding to helping be a part of a solution that helps not just my son, but the millions of others around the world with CMT,” says Mr. Ellman.
The CMT Research Foundation (CMTRF) is the only organization focused solely on delivering treatments and cures for CMT. Founded by two patients who are driven to expedite drug delivery to people who live with CMT globally, the organization funds research and drug development. The 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt organization is supported by personal and corporate financial gifts.
