On Monday, Jaspers and Stephan Kemp were in Tytsjerk, Friesland, for the first presentation of the award. Jelte has become the face of 3FM Serious Request, the Metakids campaigns, and the BNNVARA documentary Voor de volgende Jelte (For the next Jelte) by Suzan Hilhorst. The film is about the fight against metabolic diseases. Jelte lives with MLD, an incurable metabolic disease. That day, he celebrated his fifth birthday — or, as his family called it, his 60th “monthiversary.” This was his last public appearance, which made the gathering even more meaningful. [Click to read more ▼]
The award supports young researchers who have recently graduated and are working on metabolic diseases. The prize is €320,000 for their projects. From 11 preliminary applications, three finalists were selected to submit a full proposal. Yorrick’s project, “ALD in 4D,” was unanimously rated excellent by international reviewers.
The project is developing a predictive test to determine which adrenoleukodystrophy patients, detected through early screening such as the heel prick test, will develop the fatal brain form so that life-saving treatment can start sooner and reduce uncertainty for families.
The impressive award ceremony was attended by Jelte’s family; parents of children with metabolic diseases; the mayor of Leeuwarden, Sybrand Buma; local media, including Omrop Fryslân, who interviewed Yorrick; the Metakids Scientific Advisory Board; and Metakids representatives.
The long drive back from Friesland could have been quiet and boring, but it was anything but. This recognition is wonderful for Yorrick, our Genetic Metabolic Diseases laboratory, and research into metabolic diseases.
Photos by Corien Steenstra