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Although my giving page is no longer active, you can still donate. If you would like to provide any additional support, please make a gift here.
Although my giving page is no longer active, you can still donate. If you would like to provide any additional support, please make a gift here.
Hello everyone! My name is Anitvir Singh Taunque, and I am a senior majoring in Biomedical Science at The Ohio State University. I’m originally from West Chester, OH, a suburb of Cincinnati. During my time at Ohio State, I've had the opportunity to be involved in many incredible organizations and experiences, including the Buckeye Leadership Fellows Program, Red Saree and the Stamps Eminence Scholars Program. Among the most impactful experiences has been my work in the Samaranch Lab within the Department of Neurosurgery.
One of my most vivid memories after joining the lab was watching videos of young children afflicted with AADC enzyme deficiency—a rare genetic condition that leaves them unable to metabolize vital neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, resulting in complete motor dysfunction. In these videos, the children were confined to wheelchairs, unable to move, communicate or even swallow. Yet, through our lab's clinical trial for AADC deficiency, these same children experienced a profound transformation. Just nine months after receiving the gene therapy, they were running, laughing and jumping—able to return to school, play and even start swimming lessons. The improvement was so dramatic that many families now celebrate two birthdays for their children: one for the day they were born and another for the day they received the life-changing treatment.
In the lab, I’ve been working on refining these groundbreaking gene therapy treatments for children with genetic disorders. Currently, gene therapy is seen as a one-time solution, but our lab is pioneering a method involving direct brain injections, which could enable multiple doses. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of genetic conditions.
However, these advances come at a high cost. There's a critical need to not only improve gene therapy technology but also make these life-saving treatments accessible to people worldwide. I invite you to join me in supporting the Neurosurgery Gene Therapy Fund as we work toward advancing research and expanding the accessibility of these remarkable treatments.
