James Allen Heywood
Original Web Site Creator
Original Web Site Creator
In 1999 the opportunity to participate in the creativity and family atmosphere of the circus had become very important in Jamie’s life. That year he created our original web site which was his gift to Circus Flora in recognition and thanks for the experiences he has had in their wonderful circus orbit.
Jamie, a graduate of MIT, is the founder and executive director of the Boston-based ALS Therapy Development Foundation. Here are the events that led to his founding of ALS TDF.
In December of 1998, Jamie’s brother, Stephen Heywood, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. The prognosis was devastating: Stephen would experience a rapidly progressive paralysis that doctors could neither explain nor cure, leaving him a prisoner in his own body. Unable to walk, speak, or even breathe independently, Stephen would probably die of respiratory failure within five years. He was 29 years old.
In a race against time to save his brother Stephen’s life Jamie left his position as Director of Technology Development at the Neuroscience Institute and, with the support of his family and friends, founded the world’s first ALS-focused nonprofit biotechnology company from his parent’s basement in a Boston suburb. Along with Jamie, Stephen’s long-time friend Robert Bonazoli and Melinda Marsh Heywood ALS TDF was founded and began offering hope to people living with ALS.
Four years later, one man’s personal tragedy now provides hope for thousands of people suffering from ALS and points to new possibilities for fighting other neurological disorders.
ALS TDF now operates out of a high-tech research facility where a dedicated team of researchers and staff search each day for a treatment and cure on behalf of Stephen and all of today’s ALS patients.
On March 19th, 2004, His Brother's Keeper: A Story from the Edge of Medicine was released by Harper Collins publishing, featuring ALS TDF’s Founder James Heywood and his brother Stephen. It tells the story of three epic lines of research that are coming together through the eyes of Jamie, a young entrepreneur, who gambles on a new model of therapy development to save his brother Stephen’s life. The story also profiles the Heywood family as they defiantly fight ALS.
For more information on the book please go to http://www.als.net/articles/articleDetail.asp?articleID=2009. If purchased through this link a percentage of the proceeds will go to the ALS Therapy Development Foundation.
Jamie, a graduate of MIT, is the founder and executive director of the Boston-based ALS Therapy Development Foundation. Here are the events that led to his founding of ALS TDF.
In December of 1998, Jamie’s brother, Stephen Heywood, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. The prognosis was devastating: Stephen would experience a rapidly progressive paralysis that doctors could neither explain nor cure, leaving him a prisoner in his own body. Unable to walk, speak, or even breathe independently, Stephen would probably die of respiratory failure within five years. He was 29 years old.
In a race against time to save his brother Stephen’s life Jamie left his position as Director of Technology Development at the Neuroscience Institute and, with the support of his family and friends, founded the world’s first ALS-focused nonprofit biotechnology company from his parent’s basement in a Boston suburb. Along with Jamie, Stephen’s long-time friend Robert Bonazoli and Melinda Marsh Heywood ALS TDF was founded and began offering hope to people living with ALS.
Four years later, one man’s personal tragedy now provides hope for thousands of people suffering from ALS and points to new possibilities for fighting other neurological disorders.
ALS TDF now operates out of a high-tech research facility where a dedicated team of researchers and staff search each day for a treatment and cure on behalf of Stephen and all of today’s ALS patients.
On March 19th, 2004, His Brother's Keeper: A Story from the Edge of Medicine was released by Harper Collins publishing, featuring ALS TDF’s Founder James Heywood and his brother Stephen. It tells the story of three epic lines of research that are coming together through the eyes of Jamie, a young entrepreneur, who gambles on a new model of therapy development to save his brother Stephen’s life. The story also profiles the Heywood family as they defiantly fight ALS.
For more information on the book please go to http://www.als.net/articles/articleDetail.asp?articleID=2009. If purchased through this link a percentage of the proceeds will go to the ALS Therapy Development Foundation.