Vertex Pharmaceuticals recently awarded the company’s 2016 Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Circle of Care grants to 18 medical, academic, and community organizations, totaling nearly $1 million.

Now in its second year, the CF Circle of Care Grants Program is designed to fund innovative approaches to patient care and support for people living with cystic fibrosis. In this year’s process, 58 proposals were considered from organizations in 15 countries. A multidisciplinary team of experts selected 18 projects from the United States, Australia, Canada, and throughout Europe.

Vertex’s CF Circle of Care initiative promotes collaborations and provides support to nonprofit organizations for the improvement of care for those living with cystic fibrosis.

The selection criteria of the projects included:

• Help those living with CF with a more engaged lifestyle;
• Tackle the social and psychological challenges faced by CF patients;
• Improve support to family and caregivers of CF patients;
• Provide support resources to help CF patients to take ownership of their healthcare needs;
• Educate patients with CF on lifestyle modifications, adherence, and routing new environments.

“We are making tremendous advancements in treating the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis for many people living with the disease, but our commitment to CF goes beyond new medicines,” said Jeffrey Leiden, M.D., Ph.D., chairman, president and CEO of Vertex, in a press release. “We’re proud to support these 18 organizations in their efforts to enhance care and resources for the day-to-day management of CF and the physical and emotional challenges patients and their families experience.”

During the upcoming Circle of Care forum to be held in October, grant recipients will have the opportunity to present their projects before the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC).

Last year’s forum, which covered a wide range of innovative research and patient-driven initiatives, provided an opportunity for grant recipients to meet, exchange contact information, and submit a collaborative proposal for consideration to the second annual Cystic Fibrosis Circle of Care program.

Cystic Fibrosis Research Inc. (CFRI) was one of last year’s grant recipients, and is participating for the second year in both a collaborative initiative and a standalone project. CFRI’s project will focus on increasing adherence, advocacy, and awareness in the cystic fibrosis community.

“Initiatives like Vertex’s Cystic Fibrosis Circle of Care grants are important for the CF community because they enable the development and delivery of innovative programs and services that have a direct impact on this medically fragile community,” said Sue Landgraf, executive director of Cystic Fibrosis Research Inc. “These grants make it possible for patient advocacy agencies like CFRI to think outside the box of standard programs and create initiatives that not only benefit those diagnosed with CF, but also educate the general public and raise awareness about the rare, life-shortening genetic disease.”

Cystic fibrosis is a rare genetic disorder that affects mostly the lungs but also the pancreas, liver, kidneys, and intestines. Long-term issues include difficulty breathing and coughing up mucus as a result of frequent lung infections. Cystic fibrosis affects approximately 75,000 people in North America, Australia, and Europe.