2024 HCU Hero Award: James Weisfeld-Adams
2022 HCU Hero Award: Dr. Harvey Mudd
2019 HCU Hero Award: Jan Kraus
The second HCU Hero Award was presented posthumously in memory of Dr. Jan Kraus.
Jan Kraus was a Professor in Pediatric Clinical Genetics and Metabolism at the University of Colorado. Jan, considered by
many as the “Father of Homoycstinuria”, dedicated his life’s work to the understanding and diagnosis and treatment of Homocystinuria (HCU) and Proprionic Acidemia (PA). Since the 1960’s Jan authored and co-authored over 160 publications regarding HCU and PA. Jan’s career highlights include building a database of all the genetic mutations associated with Homocystinuria, as well as being the inventor of the OT-58 product (a pegylated version of the CBS enzyme) that is in human trials for Classical Homocystinuria patients. The community will never forget Jan and his commitment to patients and families suffering from these diseases, and we send our sincere condolences to his wife Eva and family.
2018 HCU Hero Award: Dr. Harvey Levy
The first ever HCU Hero Award was presented to Dr. Harvey Levy, and is intended to be awarded at each patient/family meeting.
Following graduation from the Medical College of Georgia, Dr. Levy trained in pediatrics in Boston, New York, and Baltimore. Following pediatric training, Dr. Levy then completed a fellowship in metabolic disorders at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) under Dr. Mary Efron, a pioneer in metabolism. After completing this training, Dr. Levy joined the faculty of the MGH and Harvard and also served as
Consultant in Metabolism to the Massachusetts Newborn Screening Program. In 1978, Dr. Levy moved to Boston Children’s Hospital to found and serve as Director of the Metabolic Program, now the Biochemical Genetics section of the Division of Genetics.
Dr. Levy developed a specific interest in homocystinuria during his fellowship when he identified the first case diagnosed from newborn screening. Shortly thereafter he and Dr. Harvey Mudd discovered the first example of increased homocysteine due to a non-homocystinuria disorder, now known as cobalamin C defect. This was also the first example of a human disorder of vitamin B12 metabolism. Disorders of sulfur metabolism have continued to be a major interest of Dr. Levy throughout his career. He has authored over 400 medical articles and book chapters on metabolic disorders, including many on the homocystinemias, and has received a number of national and international awards for his achievements. The HCU Community congratulates and thanks Dr. Levy for his dedication and contributions!
