Foundation Pledges $2M To Rady For Kawasaki Disease Research

SAN DIEGO, CA — The Gordon and Marilyn Macklin Foundation has pledged $2 million to Rady Children's Hospital to research and treat Kawasaki Disease, the hospital announced Tuesday.

Kawasaki disease is a rare condition that typically affects children ages 5 and younger. Symptoms include high fever, rash and inflammation of the blood vessels and heart. The disease can be life-threatening if not treated quickly. The cause is unknown.

The Kawasaki Disease Clinic at Rady Children's Hospital and the Kawasaki Disease Research Center at UC San Diego are working to further understanding of the disease and treatment.

"All of us at Rady Children's are proud of our premier team of Kawasaki disease clinicians and researchers," said Dr. Patrick Frias, president and CEO of Rady Children's Hospital. "This extraordinary investment from the Macklin Foundation will further our understanding of this disease and ultimately will benefit countless children here in San Diego and around the world."

The funding will establish the Gordon and Marilyn Macklin Foundation Endowed Chair in Kawasaki Disease Care and Research.

The hospital selected Dr. Jane Burns, director of the Kawasaki Disease Clinic and Kawasaki Disease Research Center, as the inaugural Macklin Foundation Chair.

"I'm honored to be the first Macklin Foundation Chair at Rady Children's and grateful for the foundation's ongoing support of our work," Burns said.

"We care for about 90 new KD patients each year and 1,300 survivors across San Diego, including children with cardiac complications," she added. "Our team is composed of leading experts in this disease who provide excellent care for our patients. I'm excited to see the progress we will make on behalf of our young patients with this generous support."

The Virginia-based Macklin Foundation has been the largest single funder of KD research at Rady Children's Hospital. The foundation is named for the late Gordon Macklin, the first president and CEO of NASDAQ, and his wife, the late Marilyn Macklin.

The chair is being endowed in honor of Brooke Dawn who survived a battle with Kawasaki disease at 4 years old and is now an ambassador for KD awareness, according to the foundation. She is the daughter of Donald Dawn, nephew of the Macklins and the foundation's president.

"The Macklin Foundation is endowing the KD care and research chair in order to help ensure that KD research and care remains a priority into the future," Donald Dawn said. "Although much has been accomplished, much is left to do.

"We've worked for many years with Dr. Burns and her team and are convinced that they will continue to make great strides in improving diagnosis and therapies," he added. "Rady Children's was the right place to make this further investment in KD research and treatment."