CF Research Centers

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.