2011 Exemplar Genetics Make-a-Difference Day

June 24, 2011

Dear Exemplar Folk,

It’s still hard for me to believe that the 21st of June happened at our home! It just seemed like dream when the MDA office called and asked if we would like to have help in our home and yard!

After talking to Karen about all of the different jobs you guys would do, I was so excited and talked to Ann. It was hard to think about, I feared something would come up and it would never happen!

Every one of you were so great! It was so good to see all your smiling faces and out-stretched hands! At that moment I could see all your big hearts filled with love.

All the work that was accomplished in that afternoon! WOW! The weeding at both houses, Ann was so happy to have her stove pulled out so she could clean around and behind it. Karen and Amy really cleaned and scrubbed and dusted and polished and left everything shining. A million thanks to everyone for tearing up the carpet and hauling it out, moving the bookcases and finding the mold and taking care of it and pulling the staples out of the floor.

Karen, when I heard you call and ask for more help, I thought, “Oh, no!” I didn’t mean you had to do everything on our list. I thought you could pick and choose. Any of those jobs would have been great. You guys did all of them and then some!

We are so grateful for all that you have done for us! This is one of the best days of our lives! John, what a wonderful company you run. Good luck this year on the genetic research you are doing on pigs for Muscular Dystrophy.

You have good people working for you! God bless each and every one of you.

Thanks so much,

Ann, Bill and Sandy

Our Inspiration

In the pursuit of discoveries to change the world, sometimes the greatest inspiration can be found right around the corner.

For us, that inspiration comes from the courage and unbreakable faith of Matt and Karen Van Schouwen and their young daughter, Kyra.

Matt and Karen have reveled in the joys of parenthood – and felt the anguish, uncertainty and concern that few others ever know.  Kyra was born with cystic fibrosis, a debilitating and life-threatening disorder that all too often leads to severe lung damage, respiratory failure and death.  The expected life-span of a person diagnosed with cystic fibrosis today is about 35.

Recognizing the journey ahead will be filled with challenges and dangers, the young Sioux Center, Iowa couple knows it will take extraordinary measures for Kyra to live an ordinary, care-free life.  Their desire if for Kyra’s life to be highlighted with dances, graduations and a someday a proud father walking his daughter down the church aisle on her wedding day.  At Exemplar Genetics our hope is to assist in the discovery of means and help those wonderful memories happen.

Our technology, services, products, energy and intellectual property are all geared to enable world-class researchers to discover the paths to new and effective treatments and cures – and give new hope to families like the Van Schouwens.

Before Exemplar Genetics was founded, cystic fibrosis researchers were largely forced to rely on laboratory mice to conduct their research. Unfortunately, those mice have offered limited research value – and they always will – because their genetic differences with humans are substantial.

Today, Exemplar Genetics capitalizes on the amazing anatomical, physiologic, biochemical and histological similarities between pigs and humans as well as expertise in specific gene modification to deliver a reliable model of human disease. Academic scientists, disease foundations, pharmaceutical companies and others in search of solutions to debilitating diseases now have a resource available nowhere else.

At Exemplar Genetics, Matt, Karen and Kyra provide inspiration.  With courage like that so close to our home and hearts, we couldn’t give anything less than our very best.