International medical experts are studying the progress of a teenage CJD victim who is undergoing radical treatment in Belfast.
Scientists and neurologists from as far away as Japan have travelled to Northern Ireland for the special case conference on Mr Jonathan Simms.
The 19-year-old from west Belfast is having drugs injected directly into his brain in a world-first attempt to halt the spread of the ravaging disease. His father, Don, organised today's event to demonstrate how Jonathan had responded to the unprecedented treatment.
He said: "This young man has lived a year longer than predicted and 10 months over the average life expectancy of variant CJD victims. We have witnessed small but significant changes in his condition since going on to this treatment."
Jonathan was struck down by the human form of BSE two years ago. But it was only after his family won legal battles at the High Courts in London and Belfast last December that health chiefs agreed to let infusions of the blood-thinning compound Pentosan Polysulphate (PPS) be administered.
Eight months into the treatment Mr Simms cautioned against labelling the drug a new Penicillin, but he admitted the family was hoping for the best.
"What we hope to do is enable those who had doubts about this medicine and its safety to have a chance to address all the questions through these experts. We also want to aid other families who wish to go down the same route without having to jump the hurdles we had to," he said.
PA