Professor Maria Bitner-Glindzicz
Biography
‘Maria went out of her way to meet and listen with families to see how she could help each and every one of them’
The Norrie Disease Foundation was created with help, support and dedication from Professor Maria Bitner-Glindzicz who very sadly died in September 2018.
Maria was a clinical and molecular geneticist at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health with a special interest in childhood genetic deafness.
Maria became a firm advocate of the Norrie community after being approached by parents who asked for help to try and stop the Norrie disease progressive hearing loss. She went on to be the driving force behind the creation of the Norrie Disease Foundation and the formation of its Medical Advisory Board.
In 2017 Maria was responsible for initiating pioneering research at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health funded by Sparks and Newlife to find a way of treating the Norrie disease progressive hearing loss through gene therapy. This laboratory study is ongoing.
Maria was passionate about finding ways to help combat the isolation and loneliness that living with a rare disease causes and would join Norrie community events, talking with families to understand more about their lives. The Norrie Disease Foundation wouldn’t be where it is today without Maria’s incredible support and, along with the Norrie Disease Foundation’s Medical Advisory Board, remains committed and dedicated to continuing Maria’s work to the Norrie community