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To bring top-notch scientists from varying disciplines at major universities together to pool their talent and address the challenges of cystic fibrosis, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation created the Research Development Program (RDP). This innovative network of research centers has evolved into research “hubs” around the country. The first RDP center was established in 1982 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Today, scientists at the 10 Foundation-supported research centers have significantly advanced our understanding of CF, uncovering many of the secrets of this disease. Thanks to their efforts, we now know more about the workings within the CF cell, for instance.
RDP centers not only pool the intellectual resources of scientists, they also serve as “core” supply centers that share tools with researchers around the world. To perform experiments, researchers need standardized tools like CF cells and the defective protein made by the CF gene. By sharing these resources, scientific teams move the advances ahead much faster than if they each worked independently.
In addition, scientists at research centers have the opportunity to communicate directly with medical teams at nearby CF Foundation-accredited care centers. Through this collaboration, scientists are able to better understand the complexity of the disease process, and learn firsthand how what they are doing at the “bench” today could one day lead to therapies that will benefit real people battling this disease.
| State |
Research Center |
Alabama
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University of Alabama at Birmingham
Director: Eric J. Sorscher, M.D., Professor, Department of Medicine and Physiology and Biophysics
798 MCLM 1918 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294-0005 |
| California |
University of California, San Francisco
Director: Alan Verkman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine and Physiology
1246 Health Science East Tower, Box 0521, San Francisco, CA 94143-0521 |
| Iowa |
University of Iowa
Director: Michael J. Welsh, M.D., Professor, Medicine Cardiovascular Center and Physiology Biophysics Division of Pulmonary Diseases Howard Hughes Medical Institute
500 ERMB, Iowa City, IA 52242 |
| Maryland |
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Director: William B. Guggino. Ph.D., Professor of Physiology and Pediatrics
725 North Wolfe Street, Physiology 202, WBSB, Baltimore, MD 21205-2185 |
| New Hampshire |
Dartmouth University Medical School
Director: Bruce Stanton, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Physiology
615 Remsen Building, Hanover, NH, 03755-3836
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| North Carolina |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Director: Richard C. Boucher, M.D., Professor, Division Chief, Center Director
7011 Thurston-Bowles Building CB#7248, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7248 |
| Ohio |
Case Western Reserve University
Co-Directors: Michael Konstan, M.D., CF Center Director, Professor of Pediatrics; and Mitchell Drumm, Ph.D., Associate Professor
10900 Euclid Avenue, 8th Floor, Cleveland, OH 44106-4948 |
| Ohio |
Children's Hospital Medical Center
Director: Christopher Karp, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Research Foundation
3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039 |
| Pennsylvania |
University of Pennsylvania Medical Center
Director: James M. Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Institute for Human Gene Therapy
The Wistar Institute, Room 204, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4268 |
| Pennsylvania |
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Director: Raymond A. Frizell, Ph.D., Cell Biology & Physiology, Professor and Chairman
5362-BST, 3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 |
| Washington |
University of Washington School of Medicine
Director: E. Peter Greenberg, Ph.D., Professor and Chairman
Health Sciences Building, G328, Box 357242, 1959 Pacific Street, NE, Seattle, WA 98195-7242 |
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