About the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time. In people with cystic fibrosis, a defective gene causes a thick buildup of mucus in the lungs, pancreas and other organs. In the lungs, mucus clogs the airways and traps bacteria, leading to infections, extensive lung damage and respiratory failure.
The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with CF the opportunity to lead long, fulfilling lives by funding research and drug development, partnering with the CF community, and advancing high-quality, specialized care.
The CF Foundation has led the way in the fight against cystic fibrosis, fueling extraordinary medical and scientific progress. These advances have led to the life expectancy of someone born with CF doubling in the last 30 years. Despite this progress, children and adults with CF still face the sobering prospect of a shortened life span. Our vision is a cure for every person with cystic fibrosis and a life free from the burden of this disease. To win this fight we will need to work harder and faster.
Genetic therapies, our best hope for curing cystic fibrosis, are more complex than anything we have ever done and will require substantial investment. We must narrow the gap between promising scientific opportunities and the funds required to pursue them. The Foundation is currently supporting more than 40 studies focused on harnessing genetic-based therapies for CF. Five clinical trials for CF genetic-based therapies are underway or will begin soon, including mRNA therapies.
The Foundation’s highly successful venture philanthropy strategy will help accelerate the pace of progress in CF drug discovery and development and ultimately help end this disease. Today, we are investing more than $225 million a year in CF research and care. We are funding collaborations with leading biotech and venture capital firms, which has already resulted in over 50 industry research programs.
Working alongside the CF community, the Foundation drives extraordinary results. Because of you, we are driving scientific innovation forward. Thank you for being an important part of our progress. We will not rest until CF stands for Cure Found!
Founded in 1955, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the world’s leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis. The Foundation was started by parents desperate to save their children’s lives. Their drive and determination to prolong life has resulted in tremendous strides, accelerating innovative research and drug development, as well as advancing care and advocacy. People with CF are now reaching milestones once thought not possible. Yet not everyone can benefit from existing treatments. We believe every person with CF should have the chance to live a long, healthy life – a life free of cystic fibrosis. Together, we will make CF stand for Cure Found.
"We are driven by a dream that one day – every person with cystic fibrosis will have a chance to live a long, healthy life."
To learn more about CF or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, please visit cff.org.
