Mission
THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH (THE FOUNDATION) IS A NON- PROFIT ORGANIZATION INCORPORATED IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS ON MARCH 16, 1948. THE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE WAS RECOGNIZED AS A TRADE NAME FOR THE FOUNDATION IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND IN MARCH 1994. THE FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED WITH A MAJOR EMPHASIS ON CRYOBIOLOGY AND TROPICAL DISEASE RESEARCH. SCHISTOSOMIASIS, A MAJOR FOCUS AT THE FOUNDATION FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, IS A TROPICAL DISEASE THAT AFFECTS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, PORTIONS OF SOUTH AMERICA AND PARTS OF RURAL ASIA. IN ADDITION TO BASIC SCHISTOSOMIASIS RESEARCH, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES LIFE CYCLE STAGES OF SCHISTOSOMA PARASITES TO DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL LABORATORIES, PRINCIPALLY THROUGH CONTRACTS WITH THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH. THE FOUNDATION MAINTAINS THE FOLLOWING TWO MAJOR PROGRAM SERVICES: BIOREPOSITORY FACILITIES - THE FOUNDATION HOUSES A COLD STORAGE BIOSPECIMEN REPOSITORY WHICH SUPPORTS RESEARCH IN ACQ