PEABODY, MA — The Progeria Research Foundation will honor gene-editing researcher David R. Liu, and Peabody supporters Cathy and Dave Gravel at its 2026 Night of Wonder Gala.
The Nov. 14 event at the Westin Boston Seaport Hotel in Boston is the foundation's signature fundraiser supporting the search for treatments and a cure for Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome — a rare genetic disease that causes rapid aging in children.
PRF said it will present two awards at the gala: the S.A.M. Award for Science & Medicine and the Amy Award for Spirit & Service.
The S.A.M. Award is named for Sam Berns, whose TEDx talk helped bring attention to Progeria and who inspired PRF's founding. The Amy Award is named for Amy Foose — a child with Progeria whose spirit continues to influence the organization's work.
"David Liu's groundbreaking work has put gene editing on the path to a cure for Progeria, turning what was once a distant hope into a real possibility for these special children and young adults," said Audrey Gordon, executive director of PRF. "And for over two decades, Cathy and Dave Gravel have shown up for them again and again with their time, talent and treasure.
"Honoring them all at Night of Wonder is a reminder that curing Progeria takes both breakthroughs in the lab and amazing people who refuse to let this community stand alone."
PRF said Liu developed base editing, a technology created in his lab that can correct the single genetic mutation that causes Progeria. He is part of PRF's Progeria Gene Team and has helped develop the SamPro-2 gene therapy, which is advancing toward human trials.
Liu is affiliated with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Harvard University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
"When you meet a child with Progeria, you understand immediately why this work can't wait," Liu said. "A single genetic mutation is stealing their time, and until recently we had no way to correct that at its source. It's been one of the privileges of my career to work alongside PRF on a precision editing approach designed to fix that mutation directly and permanently.
"This award means a great deal to me, and I look forward to the day a gene-editing therapy benefits every child with Progeria."
Cathy and Dave Gravel are the founders of the Peabody-based IT firm GraVoc, and have supported the organization since its inception. Cathy's involvement began in 2013, when she and fellow Peabody Rotarians organized a premiere of "Life According to Sam" at Peabody City Hall. Dave arranged a VIP Fenway Park experience for a young adult with Progeria visiting from Italy during a clinical trial trip last year.
"Dave and I have been supporting PRF events for over 20 years, and what keeps us engaged is the kids — their humor, their honesty, the way they take on things most adults couldn't — and the tremendous progress PRF is making," Cathy Gravel said. "Amy Foose embodies that kind of spirit and determination, and we are deeply honored to receive an award in her name ."
Ticket information for the Night of Wonder can be found here.
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