Former Boston Mayor and U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Joins Board of Iowa Medical Research Organization
October 27, 2015
Raymond Flynn, former Mayor of Boston and U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican, is now on the board of directors of the John Paul II Medical Research Institute (JP2MRI).
Based in Iowa, JP2MRI is a secular non-profit that focuses on finding cures for cancer, neurological diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, and multiple sclerosis), rare diseases, and chronic diseases affecting adults globally. JP2MRI is unique in that it has applied a strict, pro-life approach to create a variety of adult stem cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem (IPS) cells to find cures for a variety of diseases. JP2MRI is one of only a few research organizations in the country who refuses to conduct medical research using embryonic stem cells and aborted fetal tissue. Additionally, JP2MRI prides itself in applying the majority of the dollars they receive through donations directly towards ethical medical research efforts, as opposed to administrative expenses or marketing.
Flynn first came into contact with JP2MRI in March 2015 when he was conducting a search to locate medical centers that could help his 7-year-old grandson. Flynn’s grandson suffers from a neurological disease so rare that it only affects 7 other people worldwide. As finding cures for rare diseases is part of JP2MRI’s mission, the Institute is working with Flynn to try and improve current therapies for this condition and other neurodegenerative disorders through the use of stem cells. Jay Kamath, CEO of JP2MRI, said "We are thrilled to have Ray join our Board. Through his personal experiences, Ray knows how challenging it is to currently find effective therapies or cures for a variety of rare diseases that impact families globally. Ray wants to use his expertise and contacts to bring more attention and funding for JP2MRI’s rare disease research program." Stem cell therapies offer a new and valuable treatment option for a variety of diseases that currently have few, if any, viable medical treatment options. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs that primarily only treat or mask symptoms, stem cells hold the promise of repairing or regenerating damaged tissue and organs to offer patients a permanent cure. To learn more about the Institute and its research programs, please visit jp2mri.org.