CSL Behring Foundation
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Grant Recipients - First Half 2009

The CSL Behring Foundation for Research and Advancement of Patient Health has awarded nearly $585,000 in funding for programs designed to benefit the bleeding disorders community. The grants will support a range of initiatives, including research projects and programs developed to educate and support patients. The Foundation awards grants on two occasions each year. In this cycle, eleven organizations received awards.

An independent Advisory Council, consisting of hematologists, other care-givers, patients and other members of the bleeding disorders community with the sole authority to award the grants, reviews all grant requests in the two areas of scientific exploration and patient care/support. The CSL Behring Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to charitable, scientific and educational purposes that advance the standard of care for people affected by bleeding disorders such as hemophilia and von Willebrand Disease (VWD). Since its inception in 2001, the CSL Behring Foundation has awarded millions of dollars in grants to the bleeding disorders community.

"CSL Behring is proud to support researchers and advocates who are dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with bleeding disorders," said Garrett E. Bergman, M.D., Executive Director of the CSL Behring Foundation. "We are committed to backing a range of patient and research programs that aim to achieve advancements in this community."

Puget Sound Blood Center in Seattle was awarded a research grant for nearly $100,000 to fund a project that will explore the immunogenicity of Factor VIII. Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) received a research grant for nearly $95,000. This grant will investigate the relationship between vitamin D levels and osteoporosis in people with hemophilia. Moreover, a grant for more than $95,000 was awarded to the University of Colorado Denver to support research that aims to help people with fibrinogen deficiency.

Patient grants were awarded to the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) and Hemophilia of Georgia (HoG). These grants will fund programs that aim to improve the quality of life for girls and women with a bleeding disorder, such as VWD.

Other CSL Behring Foundation grant recipients are:

  • Hemophilia Association of the Capital Area (HACA) (Fairfax, Va.)
  • Arizona Hemophilia Association (AHA) (Phoenix, Ariz.)
  • University Health Systems (Knoxville, Tenn.)
  • Hemophilia Foundation of Northern California (HFNC) (Emeryville, Calif.)
  • Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine (Dayton, Ohio)
  • Emory University and Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (Atlanta, Ga.)

About the CSL Behring Foundation

Founded in 2001 as an independent, non-profit corporation, the CSL Behring Foundation for Research and Advancement of Patient Health is the only corporate foundation dedicated exclusively to charitable, scientific and educational purposes designed to advance the standard of care for people affected by bleeding disorders. The CSL Behring Foundation is governed by an Advisory Council, consisting of patients, healthcare professionals and advocates who are renowned for their dedication to the bleeding disorders community. The Advisory Council has the sole authority to award all grants.

For more information on the Foundation, visit www.cslbehringfoundation.com.

About Hemophilia

Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder characterized by prolonged or spontaneous bleeding, especially into the muscles, joints, or internal organs. About 15,000 Americans have hemophilia. The disease is caused by deficient or defective blood coagulation proteins known as factor VIII or factor IX. The most common form of the disease is hemophilia A, or classic hemophilia, in which the clotting factor VIII is either deficient or defective. Hemophilia B is characterized by deficient or defective factor IX.

About von Willebrand Disease

Von Willebrand disease is caused by a deficiency or abnormality of the von Willebrand factor, a protein in the blood that is necessary for normal blood clotting. Men and women are equally likely to be affected by VWD. VWD is classified by types, ranging from Type I (the most common and mild) to Type III (the most severe).

Women with VWD are more likely to experience heavy, prolonged menstruation. Other common symptoms of VWD include frequent nosebleeds and easy bruising. Bleeding can be mild or serious and can occur as a result of injury, or without any obvious cause. More serious symptoms include bleeding into joints and internal organs. The VWD patient may require special care during dental procedures, surgery and childbirth.

Treatments for VWD may include desmopressin acetate to release von Willebrand factor the patient has stored in their cells; von Willebrand factor replacement therapies, and oral contraceptives to reduce menstrual bleeding and raise von Willebrand factor in the bloodstream. Antifibrinolytic therapies are also used successfully to treat menorrhagia.