We at UMDF wish to share our deepest condolences with the family of Prince Frederik, who passed away at age 22 from the mitochondrial disease POLG earlier this month.

As the founder of the POLG Foundation, Frederik’s journey was on full display to the world. Rather than let this terrible disease define him, he helped unite those in the mitochondrial disease community through the foundation’s efforts to unlock the research needed for POLG treatments and cures.

And while Frederik may be gone, his passion and purpose will live on, with an impact measured in breakthroughs discovered, lives improved, and families given hope.

UMDF is one of the organizations lucky enough to have worked alongside the POLG Foundation over the last few years. It’s very clear the foundation is a reflection of Frederik and his family — endlessly optimistic, always caring, and passionate for answers. Our most recent work together saw UMDF and POLG Foundation partner on a study to explore the use of remote video to assess improvement in mitochondrial disease patients. If proven successful, the study could drastically expand mito clinical trial participation, impacting patients worldwide.

With every loss, we mourn what could have been. But today, perhaps just this once, we ask “what could be?” thanks to Frederik.

— UMDF