Glanzmann Thrombasthenia Support Group Marks 18 Years of Connection and Announces Next Chapter for the GRF

Today, the Glanzmann Thrombasthenia Support Group proudly celebrates its 18th anniversary, marking nearly two decades of compassion, connection, and shared purpose among patients and families affected by Glanzmann Thrombasthenia (GT). What began as a small online gathering of individuals seeking understanding has evolved into a global community where members exchange advice, share personal experiences, and offer support to one another through every challenge and success.

“As the group’s admin, I take great pride in maintaining a safe and supportive space for our community,” said Peter Zdziarski, Vice President of the Glanzmann’s Research Foundation (GRF). “The continued growth of this group shows how vital these connections are in our daily lives.”

Since 2023, the GRF has not had an active structure in place to continue its mission. Although the board has worked tirelessly to keep the foundation running, the time has come to take new steps toward ensuring lasting progress and a sustainable future for the GT community.

The GRF was originally founded on two guiding principles: to find a cure for Glanzmann Thrombasthenia and to build a supportive community for patients and families. These goals will remain at the heart of every effort moving forward. As interest in GT research expands, so does the need to amplify patient and caregiver voices, raise awareness, and fund groundbreaking gene therapy research aimed at improving lives.

To carry this mission forward, a new advocacy group is being formed with a focus on three priorities:

• Supporting gene therapy research for Glanzmann Thrombasthenia
• Strengthening community engagement and public awareness
• Expanding collaboration within the rare bleeding disorder community

This next chapter will be built on transparency, inclusion, and community participation. Every member’s voice matters, and feedback will help shape the direction of what comes next.

The coming months will bring more updates on this transition.

Please contact Peter Zdziarski at pzdziarski@curegt.org for more information.