Jordan Smelski Foundation for Amoeba Awareness

We want to thank all of those that attended, participated in and presented at the Amoeba Summit 2019. We had over 30 Drs. Present, provide interviews and record answers to difficult questions during the 2 day Summit. For the first time, we had researchers from 10 universities meet for a scientific discussion around methods of identification and possible treatments for the 3 free living amoebas.

The Jordan Smelski Foundation began discussing the idea of a rapid point of care test with Drs. Jennifer Cope and Ibne Ali from the CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in October of 2017. Over the next 3 months, several discussions helped resolve questions on project time frames, type of test, field testing phase, licensing/ownership, time to market and final roll-out objectives. In January of 2018, the Jordan Smelski Foundation agreed to help fund the research project and provided funding for over 53% of the project costs. Another family foundation agreed to provide the remaining funds for the project.

At Amoeba Summit 2019, on Friday Sept. 13th, Rania Georgacopoulos, MSPH (CDC/DDID/NCEZID/DFWED) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, presented on the results of the research for a rapid detection test for PAM. The presentation, called “LAMP for detection of Naegleria fowleri at point of care” shared at the Summit was an early version. Here is the final version of the presentation for the point of care test.”