The CHDI Foundation, Inc., is a United States–based non-profit biomedical foundation that aims to "rapidly discover and develop drugs that delay or slow the progression of Huntington's disease",[4] a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline.[5]
 | |
| Founded | 2002[1] |
|---|---|
| Merger of | Renewable Foundation, Inc., Sweetfeet Foundation, Inc.[2] |
| Type | 501(c)(3) Non-operating private foundation[3] |
| 73-1683871[2] | |
| Focus | Huntington's disease research and drug development |
| Location | |
| Method | Contract-based support of third-party research organizations[1] |
| Kenneth J. Slutsky[2] | |
Revenue (2014) | $224,410,566[2] |
| Expenses (2014) | $169,211,469[2] |
| Website | chdifoundation |
Formerly called | High Q Foundation |
History
editCHDI's predecessor, the High Q Foundation, was established in 2002 by a group of private donors.[1] It was officially incorporated in New Jersey on October 17, 2003.[6] Originally, the High Q foundation aimed to identify targets for treatments, while CHDI – the 'Cure Huntington's Disease Initiative' – was a sister organization allied to the Hereditary Disease Foundation, that focused on developing drugs to hit those targets.[1] 'CHDI', which is officially no longer an abbreviation for anything, now refers to the foundation as a whole.[7]
In 2012 CHDI adopted a new logo, depicting a tree composed of interconnected circles. According to Simon Noble, CHDI's Director of Scientific Communication, the logo represents the groundedness of the Foundation, the hereditary nature of HD, the interconnectedness of biological pathways and the medicinal chemistry of drug development.[8]
Funding and direction of HD research
editCHDI collaborates with a large number of academic and commercial research groups worldwide.[1][9] It operates through a "virtual" biotechnology model, funding third party research organizations as opposed to having a physical research infrastructure of its own.[10] Rather than supplying grants, CHDI enters into research contracts with its collaborators, and exerts a managerial role in addition to providing financial support.[1] In a 2007 Nature news feature, CHDI's then senior scientific advisor Allan Tobin stated, "Ninety-five per cent of science works on the principle that the best thing to do is to let good scientists follow their noses ... But this is a different attitude. We think we can direct the science."[1]
CHDI's annual spend is unknown, but it is the largest single funder of Huntington's disease research: according to a Nature news feature, it spent $50 million in 2006.[11] The identity of CHDI's donors is not public.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Check, Erika (17 May 2007). "Biomedical philanthropy: Love or money". Nature. 447 (7142): 252–253. Bibcode:2007Natur.447..252C. doi:10.1038/447252a. PMID 17507955.
- ^ a b c d e "Form 990-PF: Return of Private Foundation". CHDI Foundation, Inc. Guidestar. October 31, 2014.
- ^ "CHDI Foundation, Inc". Foundation Finder. 2013. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "CHDI Foundation website". Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ Rose, Ronit (2020-03-19). "Hope for Huntington's Disease? | Chicago Health Online". Chicago Health. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ^ "CHDI Foundation, Inc." Business Name Search. New Jersey Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services. Accessed on April 20, 2016.
- ^ "What is CHDI Foundation?". CHDI Foundation.
- ^ "CHDI logo announcement, Annual Therapeutics Conference 2012 (via HDBuzz)". Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ "Mechanisms for collaboration". CHDI Foundation. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ "Interview with CHDI management". HDBuzz. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ Odling-Smee, Lucy (17 May 2007). "Biomedical philanthropy: The money tree". Nature. 447 (7142): 251. Bibcode:2007Natur.447..251.. doi:10.1038/447251a.
- ^ "Our Donors". CHDI Foundation. Retrieved 4 December 2011.