With the start of its 50th year, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has launched a campaign to chronicle and recognize achievements in the field of cystic fibrosis (CF) research made since its founding in 1955. The CF Foundation, whose mission is to assure the development of the means to cure and control CF and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease, has been the catalyst for much of the progress made in treating CF, extending the life expectancy of those with the disease, and developing new, effective therapies.
Since 1955, the CF Foundation has remained true to its mission. While too many lives have been lost, the CF Foundation remains committed to ensuring a brighter future for those who continue to face this disease. The CF Foundation is taking the opportunity of its 50th year to reflect upon the accomplishments of its past, express gratitude for the present and share optimism for the future of all people with CF:
* In 1955, very little was known about CF; research was minimal, no specialized treatments existed and very few doctors and caregivers were familiar with the disease. As a result, children with CF usually did not live to attend elementary school.
* Today, thanks to caregivers, researchers, families, volunteers and donors, new treatments and specialty care have changed the face of CF. Forty percent of people with CF are adults and the median age of survival has risen to the mid 30s.
* The future of people with CF depends upon continued support from loyal volunteers, families and generous donors, and wise investments in science. With more than two-dozen potential therapies in the pipeline, people with CF are likely to enjoy long, healthy lives, while pursuing their goals and dreams to the fullest.
"When the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was established by a group of parents determined to save the lives of their children with CF, they had no idea of the long and challenging road ahead," said Robert J. Beall, Ph.D., president and CEO of the CF Foundation. "It is a testament to their efforts, and to all who have been involved in the fight against CF, that so much progress has been made against this disease. However, we grieve for the many thousands of lives we have lost and continue our unwavering commitment to defeat this disease in their memory. On behalf of the CF Foundation, I would like to express our gratitude to all those who have helped make the achievements of the past 50 years possible. It is our sincere hope that the next major event in CF Foundation history is not an anniversary, but rather the discovery of the cure for this disease."
Highlights of the past 50 years of CF research and care include:
* Establishment of 117 specialized CF care centers that set a high bar for the standards of care in CF;
* Discovery of the CF gene through the CF Foundation's Research Development Program;
* Establishment of the Therapeutics Development Program to bring new effective therapies to patients quickly and efficiently;
* Approval of several new, CF-specific drugs; and
* A pipeline of more than two-dozen potential therapies for CF, any one of which, if approved, could have a profound effect on the lives of those with this disease.
CF is a genetic disease affecting approximately tens of thousands of Americans. More than ten million Americans, or approximately one in 31 people, are unknowing carriers of the defective CF gene. This gene causes the body to produce abnormally thick, sticky mucus that leads to chronic and life- threatening lung-infections and impairs digestion.
Doris Tulcin, the mother of a 51-year-old woman with CF, was a founding parent of the CF Foundation and is chairman emeritus of its Board of Trustees. She currently is the executive director of the Greater New York Chapter. Tulcin's history with the CF Foundation and her many contributions give her a unique perspective on its history and accomplishments.
"When we founded the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, it was my hope, and that of the many others involved, that we could save the lives of the children with this disease," said Tulcin. "While our ultimate goal of curing this disease has not yet been achieved, we have indeed made great advances in understanding and treating CF. I am so pleased that my daughter and many others with CF are enjoying longer, healthier lives. This is due, in large part, to the establishment of the CF Foundation and the medical advances made since its founding."
The CF Foundation strongly believes that an investment in CF medical research is an investment in the future of all people with the disease.
Currently, there are more than two-dozen potential therapies for CF in the CF Foundation's drug development pipeline. The CF Foundation has created a historical timeline of the achievements made in CF research and care and will be paying tribute throughout the year to some of the most influential forces in the CF Foundation's history.
About The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
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. For more information on CF and the CF Foundation, call (800) FIGHT CF or visit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
