Jason Grier Elected to Board of Directors

June 16, 2009

Software executive Jason Grier has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Cystinosis Research Foundation of Irvine, Calif., the largest non-profit provider of funds for research to develop a cure for cystinosis, a deadly metabolic disease that afflicts about 500 persons, mostly children, in North America.

“Jason and his wife, Christine, have a 3-year-old son, Holt, with cystinosis. They created the Hope for Holt Foundation to partner with CRF because they appreciate the significant progress made by CRF-funded researchers. In the last two years Hope for Holt has contributed $173,000 to help fund cystinosis research. They believe, as we do, that we’re close to finding a cure if we continue funding research at current levels,” said CRF President Nancy Stack.

Cystinosis is a rare genetic disease. In patients with cystinosis, the amino acid cystine accumulates in the tissue due to the inability of the body to transport cystine out of the cell. This causes development of crystals, resulting in early cell death.

Cystinosis slowly destroys every organ in the body, including the liver, kidneys, eyes, muscles, thyroid and brain. There is a medicine that prolongs the patients’ lives, but there is no cure. Almost all sufferers succumb before 40 years old.

Grier of Huntersville, N.C., is vice president of worldwide consumer support for McAfee Inc. He also serves on the Levine Children’s Hospital Family Board of Advisors. His election to the CRF board brings the number of foundation directors to 13.

Other board members are: Real estate executive Geoffrey Stack, president and trustee; attorney Nancy Stack, secretary and trustee; bank executive Donald Solsby of Irvine; Renee Carter of Coto de Caza, Calif.; communications executive David Christensen of Centennial, Colo.; real estate executive John Hagestad of Newport Beach, Calif.; real estate executive Michael Hayde and his wife, Lynette, of Newport Beach; marketing executive Kris Elftmann of Santa Ana, Calif., real estate executive Kevin Partington and his wife, Teresa, of Sacramento, Calif., and Dr. Jerry Schneider, a well-known cystinosis researcher and physician at the University of California at San Diego.

Because the cost of the foundation’s operations and fundraising activities is privately underwritten, 100 percent of all donations directly support medical research dedicated to finding a cure for cystinosis.

The Cystinosis Research Foundation was formed in 2003 and has raised $11.6 million. Currently, the CRF is funding 25 cystinosis research studies, including seven research fellows in six countries. The foundation recently issued its spring 2009 global call for research proposals and fellowship grants that will be funded with $1.2 million.