Remi Pereszczak, is preparing to start a law degree at the University of Winchester after being the first patient in the world to receive revolutionary gene therapy treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) to reverse the effects of a life-threatening condition.
Remi, 19, received the pioneering treatment for the condition p47 Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) which leaves patients vulnerable to severe infection and inflammation.
CGD is inherited disorder which affects just one in a million, impairing their immune system’s ability to fight off infections.
Remi undergoing treatment at GOSH with nurses Jinhua and Rima (Photo courtesy of GOSH)
Doctors at GOSH harvested stem cells from Remi’s bone marrow and employed a modified HIV virus – rendered harmless – to deliver healthy genetic code to his cells, correcting the defective genes responsible for CGD.
When Remi was born his parents had no idea that he had a serious disease, but their son would cry non-stop, suffer recurring fevers and had trouble eating.
He was eventually referred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool where he was diagnosed with CGD in 2007 and referred to GOSH.
Remi’s childhood was dominated by recurrent infections and reliance on antibiotics. In 2020 a severe infection caused one of his lungs to collapse. Prior to embarking on the lifechanging treatment, Remi was unable to eat normally and was receiving nutrition intravenously.
“Having the gene therapy has completely changed my life,” said Remi (pictured top on a recent holiday to Wales). “I can go out and about now without worrying, help my family out and I’m excited to start university and start the next stage of my life.”
Although Remi was able to take his GCSEs in school, his illness meant he studied for his A-levels online at home.
“I could study when and where I wanted to, but I wouldn’t recommend it – it involved sending a lot of emails back and forth,” said Remi.
“After three years I’m looking forward to coming back into a physical classroom.”
Remi chose Winchester after attending open days and sessions run by members of the faculty of Law Crime and Justice as part of the university’s Pathways Programme.
“Winchester really stood out for me, the campus and the city are beautiful,” said Remi.
“I attended two sessions on the pathways programme, which were every informative. The Law department staff were very friendly and able to answer all the students’ questions.”
He’s following in the footsteps of his sister who has just complete in a law degree and his father who studied law in his native Poland.
“I’m really like to become a commercial or corporate lawyer but I’m also interested in medical law – which isn’t surprising given the time I’ve spent in hospital.”
Remi with his pass certificate after taking his driving test
Remi plans to commute to Winchester from his home in Denham on the outskirts of London. “I looked at some universities in London and it will be just as quick for me to drive to Winchester as it will to travel into the centre of the city.”
Car fan Remi passed his driving test just before starting his gene therapy. “That gave me the motivation to get my act together and get well.”
Bill Davies, Dean of the Faculty of Law Crime and Justice at the University of Winchester, said: “I am delighted to welcome Remi to Winchester for September. He has demonstrated great determination and perseverance to get to this stage. I am also really pleased to see that our pathways to Law, Crime and Justice programme helped him on his journey.”
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