April 29, 2025

Widthness LLC

Advanced Business and Technology – AI & Intel® Xeon® Powered

This family raised millions to get experimental gene therapy for their children

1 min read
This family raised millions to get experimental gene therapy for their children

Photo courtesy of Jennie Landsman. Article . MIT Technology Review – April 13, 2021.

Trillions of viruses were injected into the brain of Benny Landsman in a bid to treat a rare nerve disease.

When Gary Landsman prays, he imagines he is in Israel and his sons Benny and Josh are running toward him. They are wearing yarmulkes, and the cotton fringes called tzizit fly out from their waistbands. He opens his arms ready for a tackle.

The reality is Benny and Josh both have Canavan disease, a fatal inherited brain disorder. They are buckled into wheelchairs, don’t speak, and can’t control their limbs. […]