The Willard A. Bernbaum Cystic Fibrosis Research Center at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine dates back to 1964 when it was initially funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The center is currently supported by individual research grants from the NIH and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), as well as infrastructure grants from CFF, philanthropic support, and funds from the School of Medicine itself.
Our investigators aspire to identify and understand the fundamental mechanisms involved in cystic fibrosis (CF) pathophysiology and to devise new therapeutics to treat the disease and its complications. This program garners about $10 million per year in direct research support and consists of a nuclear group of nearly two dozen investigators whose primary research efforts are in cystic fibrosis.
Many other investigators around the campus also work on CF-related problems. Our center is proactive and active in recruiting and training CF scientists, with programs to encourage high school, undergraduate, graduate and medical students to experience CF-related research.
We also have physician scientist training programs for MD fellows specializing in areas such as pulmonology, endocrinology and gastroenterology. Our center’s investigations range from fundamental studies of the function of the gene that causes cystic fibrosis, to animal models of the disease, and to studies of potential new treatments in persons affected by cystic fibrosis.