DYSTROPHIC EPIDERMOLYSIS BULLOSA RESEARCH ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

DEBRA IS DEDICATED TO FINDING A CURE FOR EBIDERMOLYSIS BULLOSA " EB" WHICH EFFECTS 1 OUT OF EVERY 50,000 LIVE BIRTHS IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY. EB IS A GENETICALLY BASED DISEASE CHARACTERIZED BY CHRONIC, PAINFULL BLISTERING. THE SKIN AND MUCOUS MEMBRANES ARE SO FRAGILE THAT THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH CAN CAUSE SEVERE BLISTERING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE BODY. PRESENT AT BIRTH, EB EFFECTS MEN AND WOMEN OF ALL RACES AND ETHNIC GROUPS, AND SOMETIMES, WHEN THERE IS NO FAMILY HISTORY. IT OCCURS AS THE RESULT OF A SPONTANEOUS GENETIC MUTATION. TODAY, THERE IS NO CURE OR TREATMENT FOR EB, EXCEPT DAILY WOUND CARE AND BANDAGING. GENETIC RESEARCH IS MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS TREATMENTS AND A CURE.