Progeria is an extremely rare condition, 15 years ago almost nothing was known about it. Then Leslie Gordon and Scott Berns, both physicians, had a son who was diagnosed with it at 2 years old. They were able to find the cause, isolate the genes responsible, and adapt a drug to combat many of the more fatal symptoms. They had help, and luck. But they are doing the impossible.
Shutting up and doing the impossible: Leslie Gordon
Progeria is an extremely rare condition, 15 years ago almost nothing was known about it. Then Leslie Gordon and Scott Berns, both physicians, had a son who was diagnosed with it at 2 years old. They were able to find the cause, isolate the genes responsible, and adapt a drug to combat many of the more fatal symptoms. They had help, and luck. But they are doing the impossible.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/09/25/161691083/experimental-drug-is-first-to-help-kids-with-premature-aging-disease
Bonus: the drug may help slow aging in healthy humans as well.
Also: this has been mentioned on LW before, but without the awesome Do The Impossible narrative. I blame the BBC.