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Two-Year-Old Laia With Ultra-Rare KARS Syndrome Dies as Brussels Funeral Is Set for Saturday

Her parents responded by founding the Cure KARS‑Laia Foundation, channeling community donations to gene therapy research at Spain's Instituto de Salud Carlos III.

Overview

  • The municipality of l'Alcúdia de Crespins announced her death and conveyed condolences to the Garrigós‑Velasco family.
  • A funeral is scheduled for Saturday, 3 January, in Brussels, where the family resides.
  • Parents Pablo Garrigós and Almudena Velasco created the Cure KARS‑Laia Foundation to drive research into treatments for KARS-related disorders.
  • A solidarity march in May 2025 in l'Alcúdia de Crespins raised more than €16,000 for a gene therapy project at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III.
  • KARS syndrome is an ultra-rare, progressive genetic disease with roughly 50 documented cases worldwide and no curative therapy.