Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards $5 Million for Marfan Syndrome Research
Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards $5 Million for Marfan Syndrome Research
The National Marfan Foundation has announced a five-year, $5 million commitment from Bloomberg Philanthropies in support of its Drug Therapies for Longer and Healthier Lives campaign.
The grant will enable NMF to encourage and fund physicians and scientists to pursue research on Marfan syndrome and related disorders; sustain support for critical research resources, including the Marfan animal colony at Johns Hopkins University, which will provide translational research; convene leading researchers at international symposia and workshops; plan a critical trial network to build capacity for future studies and help inform the patient community; and continue developing research partnerships.
Approximately two hundred thousand people in the United States have Marfan syndrome or a related connective tissue disorder that affects the heart, blood vessels, eyes, bones, joints, and lungs. In most cases, the condition is inherited; one-quarter of Marfan syndrome sufferers are the first in their family to be affected.
"The NMF is grateful to Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies for its commitment to research that will enhance the lives of people with Marfan syndrome and related disorders," said NMF president and CEO Carolyn Levering. "We are at a crucial juncture in research as new pathways and new targets have been identified that have the potential to lead to new life-saving treatments for affected people. The gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies ensures that we will be able to build upon past successes, leverage previous investments, anticipate new frontiers of science, and secure core resources and forums to advance research globally."
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