News

12/2005

Good news!! Dra. Martinez has recently been notified by the Director of the Stauros Clinic that the nuns who operate the clinic have approved construction of a laboratory for Dra. Martinez within the buildings on the grounds of the Stauros Clinic. This is wonderful news because it will enable Dra. Martinez through the Martinez Foundation to have a laboratory of sufficient size to house the personnel (such as post doctoral fellows or laboratory assistants) and equipment (such as gas cromatagraphs) necessary to continue essential research on proxisomal disorders afflicting her patients. In addition, the location adjacent to the clinic eleiminate the long drive across Barcelona to the very small lab she currently has at the University of Barcelona Medical School, thus permiting Dra. Martinez to spend more time with patinets and in the laboratory.

Details for renovation of the space are currently being negotiated. While we will not have to buy portable buildings as we had previously planned, we know that the Foundation will have to fund the installation of furnishings for the lab, and as soon as possible, hopefully have the expense of a post doctoral assistant and a part time laboratory assistant. While dramatically increasing the speed at which research can move forward, this means an increase in the operating costs of the Martinez Foundation. Initial estimates for outfitting the laboratory are in the range of 30-40,000 euros and the annual costs of lab personel other than Dra.Martinez could be upwards of 30,000 euros.

Funds are required to finish funding for the lab and to insure that funds are available for the necessary lab personel. While donors have been very supportive in the past, we are at a point where funding support for this support is critical to take advantage of this great opportunity. Your help in contributing and soliciting contributions from others is very important.