Story
Maddie’s Spark: Fueling the Future for VLCAD Deficiency Research
Maddie’s Spark Foundation is a parent-led nonprofit organization created by families of children living with Very Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase (VLCAD) Deficiency. United by shared experiences, challenges, and hope, our mission is to accelerate life-changing research and bring us closer to a cure.
We are proud to partner with UPMC Children's Hospital Foundation to directly support groundbreaking research led by Dr. Jerry Vockley at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
🔬 Fueling the Future: Advancing Toward a Cure
Maddie’s Spark Foundation is dedicated to funding the next frontier in VLCAD treatment: gene therapy.
Dr. Vockley and his team are leading efforts to develop the first-ever gene therapy clinical trials for VLCAD at UPMC Children’s. This innovative approach aims to correct the underlying genetic cause of the disease, offering the potential for a true, lasting cure.
💖 Why Your Support Matters
Every dollar raised goes directly toward advancing VLCAD research and clinical trial readiness. Your support helps:
🔷 Drive gene therapy development and launch clinical trials
🔷 Expand access to specialized, cutting-edge care
🔷 Support families navigating life with metabolic disorders
🔷 Bring us closer to a cure for children like Maddie
🌈 Join the Movement
Maddie’s laughter, courage, and resilience are the spark behind everything we do. Her story represents not just one child but a community of families fighting for a better future.
Together, we can transform hope into action.
Join us. Support the mission. Help fuel the future.