The David Ashwell Foundation

Since David died, in March 2011, The David Ashwell Foundation has raised over £200,000 for research into the rare disease that so cruelly robbed David of his life.

Our fundraising has, along with the Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia Association (US registered charity), funded eleven research grants into Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia (ACD) (see here for more details)

These studies are exploring the little known genetics around this rare disease & will provide answers about the causes as well as potential treatments of ACD. 

Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia is a very rare congenital malformation involving abnormal development of the capillary vascular system around the alveoli of the lungs. Babies with ACD may appear normal at birth but within minutes, hours, days or even months, they develop incurable respiratory distress.

There is no treatment for ACD and as it is so rare, there has been little research into this devastating and usually fatal illness.

These funds will only be used to support research into this rare and fatal disease. For further information on ACD please see the Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia Association (ACDA) website.

The David Ashwell Foundation was set up in memory of Brian David Ashwell. In March 2011 his first grandson, named David Fazlollah Upeska Ashwell, was born and 48 hours after birth became seriously ill. David died aged only 15 days old from ACD.