Jack McGovern Coats' Disease Foundation

09/08/2026

✨ 20 Years of Hope. One Vision: A Cure. ✨

On August 28, we gathered at the City Club of San Francisco to celebrate an incredible milestone — 20 years of the Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation.

The evening was more than a celebration. It was a thank you to the countless families, physicians, researchers, donors, volunteers, and supporters who have helped make the Foundation’s journey possible.

We were honored to recognize Dr. Mike Jumper, our Founding Physician, and grateful to have renowned broadcaster Joe Fonzi emcee an unforgettable evening of stories, gratitude, and hope.

From cocktails and dinner to dancing and music by DJ Niall of Four Leaf Entertainment, it was a night we won't soon forget. ❤️

Most importantly, we celebrated how far we've come — and looked ahead to the work still to be done.

Thank you for being part of our Coats' Community!



Open Homes

09/08/2026

08/26/2026

Thank you, Ophthalmology Times, for highlighting this important research project!

The Jack McGovern Coats' Disease Foundation has announced the initiation of new research to develop the first validated animal model of Coats' Disease, a rare eye disorder that primarily affects children.

08/24/2026

⛳️ What a way to kick off our 20th Anniversary Celebration Week! 🎉

We had an incredible afternoon at Topgolf, bringing together family and friends for some friendly competition, plenty of laughs, and a whole lot of fun—all while raising funds to support the Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation and our mission to find a cure for Coats’ Disease. 💙

We love that this is an event that can be replicated at any Topgolf location across the country! It’s an easy, fun way to bring your community together while making a meaningful impact.

Here’s to 20 Years of Hope. One Vision: A Cure. 💙

08/23/2026

Shout out to Kellan, a Coats' patient, who was able to secure a Coats' Disease Awareness Day proclamation for the town of town of Apex NC! Way to go, Kellan!

08/18/2026

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩.

Today, on Coats’ Disease Awareness Day, we announced a research opportunity that could change the future of Coats’ Disease.

But groundbreaking research doesn’t happen without people willing to believe in what’s possible.

That’s why we’re asking you to support the Weiss Family and Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Research Fund.

Your support can help Dr. Leo Kim and his team pursue the development of the first validated animal model for Coats’ Disease—a tool that could help researchers better understand the disease, identify potential treatments, and accelerate future discoveries.

You’re not simply funding a research project. You’re helping build something that doesn’t exist yet. You’re helping create the foundation for the next discovery. You’re helping give families something they’ve been waiting for:
Hope.

💙 Help us take the first step toward a cure.

👉 Support the Weiss Family and Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Research Fund:
https://bit.ly/NewHopeForCoats

Every breakthrough starts with a first step.

08/17/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐟 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐬’ 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞?

For decades, one of the biggest barriers to Coats’ Disease research has been something surprisingly fundamental:

Researchers don’t have a validated disease model.

A validated model could allow scientists to investigate questions that have remained unanswered:

🔬 What causes the abnormal blood vessels?
🔬 How does Coats’ Disease develop and progress?
🔬 What biological pathways could be targeted?
🔬 Could new therapies help preserve vision?

That’s why the research led by Dr. Leo Kim is so important.

His team will investigate an IGFBP7 genetic mouse model to determine whether it can reproduce key characteristics of Coats’ Disease. The research will incorporate advanced retinal imaging, tissue analysis, and machine-learning tools to better understand the disease.

If successful, this could create a research platform for future discoveries and treatment development.

This isn't simply about creating a new model. It’s about creating the scientific foundation for what comes next.

And for families affected by Coats’ Disease, what comes next matters.

💙 Learn more: https://www.coatsdiseasefoundation.org/crackingthecode

08/17/2026

We are so proud of Payton! Thank you for being willing to talk about your journey and help others understand what living with Coats’ Disease can mean 💙

Payton Bryan has Coats' disease — a rare condition that has left him legally blind in his left eye — but that hasn't stopped him from earning a baseball scholarship to Ottawa University in Arizona.