B . C . teen first in world to be cured of rare disease through gene editing treatment

theprovince.com · Feb 26, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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'We're definitely at a turning point in medicine'Published Feb 25, 2026 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 3 minute read You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Ty Sperle, 18, is the first person to receive and be cured by a gene modification treatment for a rare disease called chronic granulomatous disease. Photo by Courtesy of the Sperle familyTo be the first person in the world cured of chronic granulomatous disease, a rare genetic condition, feels a little surreal to Ty Sperle.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorGone is the fear of infection, the canker sores, and the daily regime of pills. But being “Participant 1” in a paper recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which describes the gene editing process that led to the cure, hasn’t significantly altered his life.“I feel pretty similar to before,” said the 18-year-old UBC Okanagan student.Sperle was diagnosed with CGD when he was five. The disease impacts the immune system, specifically the white blood cells that engulf and destroy bacteria by releasing a substance similar to bleach. In someone with CGD, the cells don’t make the chemical, severely reducing the body’s ability to fight infection.“You can think of it like there was a big hole in his protective armour,” said Dr. Stuart Turvey, a pediatric immunologist at B.C. Children’s Hospital and a clinician at the B.C. Children’s Hospital Research Institute who has been Sperle’s doctor since he was young. “There was always this fear that a bacteria would slip in and infect him.”Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Canucks Report will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againDespite preventative care, including long-term antibiotics and anti-fungal medication, Sperle had been hospitalized several times. A severe bacterial lung infection when he was very young led to his diagnosis, while an infection in the bones of his skull when he was in Grade 6 took about two years to bring under control. For some patients, infections can be fatal.Turvey said in recent years, a standard treatment for CGD has become a bone marrow transplant, but in Sperle’s case that wasn’t an option because they couldn’t find an optimal match.The immunologist had been keeping up on advances in gene editing, so when American company Prime Medicine announced a clinical trial that was being run out of CHU Sainte-Justine in Montreal, he spoke to Dr. Élie Haddad, the lead doctor and a friend and colleague, to say he had a perfect candidate. Dr. Stuart Turvey, an investigator and clinician at B.C. Children’s Hospital Research Institute. Photo by BC Children's Hospital ResearchSperle said the toughest part of the process was the uncertainty of the transplant itself.“I was kind of nervous about it,” he said.While he had heard of gene editing, he didn’t think it would happen so soon. But he trusted Turvey.“He’s been my doctor for as long as I’ve known,” he said. “He’s a smart guy and he knows what he’s talking about. And his confidence in the cure helped me.”Gene editing is widely believed to be on the cusp of revolutionizing medicine, with basic research on targeting and repairing the genes that cause various diseases beginning to move into clinical applications.Turvey said blood stem cells from Sperle were enriched and treated with a gene editing product that targeted and corrected the mutation in the gene responsible for CGD. As a result, his white blood cells can now make the chemical that fights infections.The cure provides hope that gene editing can be used to cure other rare diseases, he said. Although by themselves, many genetic diseases are rare, together children who are admitted to B.C. Children’s Hospital with a rare disease make up about one in three patients.“No one jurisdiction can do it alone,” he said. “This work relies on collaboration.”In a statement, B.C. Minister of Health Josie Osborne said Sperle’s story shows the “power of public health care, research, and global collaboration.”“It’s amazing to see a young person from B.C. cured of a life-threatening genetic disease through innovation from clinical teams,” she said. “This gives hope to families facing rare conditions and shows how smart investment in science can lead to life-changing care.”Sperle said he isn’t sure how to feel about being part of a groundbreaking moment in medicine. He is in his second year at UBC after taking half of last year off to travel to Montreal for the treatment. After several weeks in isolation, he has returned to campus. He is majoring in science, but thinking about switching to engineering. He continues to be careful of his health, but said this year doesn’t feel too different from last.“It is really crazy to think about,” he said. “We’re definitely at a turning point in medicine, and to be cured through gene editing is amazing. But I’m not sure what to say.”gluymes@postmedia.com How a team of doctors saved the life of B.C. teen nearly killed by avian flu This B.C. baby is alive today thanks to historic surgery For more health news and content around diseases, conditions, wellness, healthy living, drugs, treatments and more, head to Healthing.ca – a member of the Postmedia Network. Join the Conversation Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks News Vancouver Canucks High School This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.