Mark your calendars for Friday, August 2nd, as Gerringong gears up for Jeans for Genes Day with an exciting Trivia Night and Denim Quilt Raffle. Hosted by the Children’s Medical Research

Institute Gerringong Committee, this event aims to raise crucial funds for research into genetic diseases affecting 1 in 20 children. Enjoy a lively evening of trivia, music, and community spirit.

Don’t miss your chance to win fantastic prizes in the multi-draw raffle, including a stunning denim quilt crafted by the Kiama Quilters Guild and quilted by Carol Tabone of Shoalhaven Quilting, generously donated to CMRI.

Supporters can also purchase Jeans for Genes pens, badges, and quilt raffle tickets at IGA Gerringong on July 26th, 27th, August 1st, and 2nd.

Local students from Gerringong Public School and Kiama High are pitching in with a mufti day and gold coin donations. Additionally, businesses throughout the community are contributing to the cause through raffle donations and merchandise sales.

Gerringong Public School students supporting the campaign. Standing Sienna Woolley, from left Teddy Brierty, Wally Brierty and Spencer Woolley

This event isn’t just about fun and games—it’s about funding research that could lead to cures for devastating genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and metabolic disorders, among others.

Learn more about the science behind genetic diseases and the promising advancements in gene therapy, which aims to correct DNA errors and restore normal cellular function.

Researchers at CMRI are at the forefront, pioneering gene therapy treatments that could revolutionize medical care worldwide.

Gerringong Public School students supporting the campaign . From left Teddy Brierty, Sienna Woolley, Spencer Woolley and Wally Brierty

Your participation and support at the Jeans for Genes Trivia Night make a direct impact on ongoing research efforts. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of children facing genetic diseases.

Details: Gerroa Boat Fisherman’s Club –Tickets are available at

http://www.trybooking.com/CSVVD for $30 per person. Enjoy nibbles, drinks at bar prices, and

take advantage of the courtesy bus service (book through the club).

Jeans for Genes Trivia Night & Denim Quilt Raffle

Friday 2nd August is Jeans for Genes Day and all funds raised by Children’s Medical Research Institute Gerringong Committee will support the research that is finding cures for genetic diseases that impact on 1 in 20 children who face a birth defect or genetic disease.

Tickets for the Trivia Night at the Gerroa Boat Fisherman’s Club are on sale at http://www.trybooking.com/CSVVD

$30 per person, nibblies provided, drinks at bar prices, courtesy bus (book through the club). There will be a multi draw raffle and denim quilt raffle tickets for sale and drawn on the night. The quilt was created by the Kiama Quilters Guild, quilted by Carol Tabone of Shoalhaven Quilting and donated to CMRI.

Jeans for Genes pens and badges as well as quilt raffle tickets will be sold at IGA Gerringong on 26th, 27th July, 1st & 2nd August.

Students at Gerringong Public School and Kiama High will be helping us to raise funds by having a mufti day and gold coin donation. Local businesses also support the cause with donations for the raffle and by selling merchandise.

Come to the Trivia Night and enjoy a fast game with music trivia included and comperes Glen Isemonger and Dave Peade keeping the fun and the questions moving! It’s all about raising funds for research that gives us the cures.

What Causes A Genetic Disease?

Genetic diseases are caused by errors in our DNA, the instructions for making ‘us’. DNA is the source of information for all the cells in our body, telling them what to do every second of every day.

When something goes wrong with those instructions, it means some part of our body doesn’t function properly, leading to a life-threatening genetic disease like cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, metabolic disorders or even cancer.

The best way to treat or cure many of these conditions is to correct the problem at the source, to correct the DNA. That’s what gene therapy does.

How Does Gene Therapy Work?

A gene with the correct DNA information is inserted into a vector (usually one called AAV), which is harmless but functions as a delivery vehicle that can go into the cells of a patient to correct the DNA information and restore normal function. This is already being used to treat diseases

like haemophilia and spinal muscular atrophy.

More advanced technology being developed goes a step further, equipping these AAV vectors with the ability to scan billions of letters of the genetic code, find the single error causing a genetic disease, and precisely correct it in the patient’s DNA. In this case, instead of just being a delivery vehicle, the AAV acts like a microscopic scalpel, performing surgery on the DNA to cure a genetic disease.

How Are We Making A Difference?

Currently, AAV works well with blood and liver diseases, but Dr Lisowski’s team at CMRI is advancing AAV technology, developing vectors that work in muscle, brain, retina and other organs to cure even more types of genetic diseases.

The scientists and clinicians at Children’s Medical Research Institute conducted the first ever clinical trial to correct a genetic disease using gene therapy in Australia (SCID-X1 deficiency or "boy in the bubble disease"). They were also the first outside North America to trial a cure for spinal muscular atrophy, and a gene therapy we’ve developed in Australia for metabolic liver disease is entering clinical trials in the UK. Right now, we are working on a cure for Propionic Acidemia and other previously incurable genetic diseases.