Organization Details:

The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to assure the development of the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease.

Description and/or History:
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation:

Promotes high-quality, state-of-the-art, specialized care for individuals with CF by supporting and accrediting more than 115 care centers nationwide. These centers -- located at major teaching and community hospitals -- offer diagnosis services and comprehensive treatment for people with CF and their families.

Facilitates the advancement of CF research and care by providing grants to scientists to conduct CF research throughout the world. Grants include new investigator and clinical research, research and clinical fellowships, and student traineeships, among others.

Supports the advancement of CF laboratory science by funding its own Research Development Program network of 10 CF research centers at leading universities and medical schools throughout the United States. By applying state-of-the-art scientific techniques to targeted research opportunities, these centers are discovering new ways to find a cure. The CF Foundation was the first voluntary health agency to create and fund such a network.

Works in conjunction with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics (CFFT), the non-profit drug discovery and development affiliate of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. CFFT supports and governs the many stages of drug development and clinical evaluation of CF therapies. Total support of CFFT is provided by the CF Foundation.

Carries out an innovative Therapeutics Development Program, through CFFT, that supports the full spectrum of CF drug development -- from the discovery of a promising drug to clinical evaluation in patients. The dynamic program incorporates the latest in drug discovery technology and brings these potential drugs to the laboratory for further study. If successful, they are then evaluated in people with CF through clinical trials at the CF Foundation's centralized network of 14 centers known as the Therapeutics Development Network. The scope of this project is unrivaled by any other voluntary health organization.

Funds multiple clinical trials, including those to correct the basic defect in CF cells, fight respiratory infection, thin the CF mucus, reduce inflammation, and enhance digestion/absorption of food and nutrients, among others.

Supports its research and medical programs with the help of more than 300,000 volunteers. These volunteers are part of fund-raising efforts at 80 chapters and branch offices across the country.

Cystic Fibrosis Services, Inc. (CF Services) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. CF Services was established in 1988 as a specialty pharmacy in response to the needs of individuals with CF for quality pharmacy services. Today, CF Services continues this mission. More than just a pharmacy, CF Services' highly trained staff provides personalized service, patient advocacy, patient education and reimbursement support to the CF population. CF Services has been servicing the CF population for more than 15 years.


Established in 1955, the mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to assure the development of the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis (CF) and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease.

Since the defective CF gene and its protein product were discovered in 1989, the pace of CF research has greatly accelerated. Scientists are now addressing the root cause of CF through a variety of technologies including gene therapy

Contact person: MaryAnn Stack, Office Manager, (516) 827-1290, (email)

Address:

245 Main Street White Plains, NY 10601 (See a map)