BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION: Form 990, tax year 2015

View the entire original 990 at ProPublica ↗

Organization: BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION (EIN 23-7337229)
Tax period: 2015-04-01 to 2016-03-31
Filed: 2016-08-03
IRS object ID: 201602169349300300
Schema version: 2015v2.1
Source: Download XML · Original 990 at ProPublica

Every field in the e-filed return. Faint text is the IRS element name, for citing.

Return header
Form 990
Schedule A
Schedule B
Schedule C
Schedule D
Schedule F
Schedule G
Schedule I
Schedule J
Schedule M
Schedule O
Schedule R

Return header ReturnHeader

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Return	2016-08-03T04:23:19-05:00	ReturnTs
Tax Period End	2016-03-31	TaxPeriodEndDt

Preparer Firm PreparerFirmGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Preparer Firm EIN	521511275	PreparerFirmEIN

Preparer Firm Name PreparerFirmName

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Business Name Line1	RAFFA PC	BusinessNameLine1Txt

Preparer US Address PreparerUSAddress

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Address Line1	1899 L STREET NW SUITE 850	AddressLine1Txt
City	WASHINGTON	CityNm
State Abbreviation	DC	StateAbbreviationCd
ZIP	20036	ZIPCd

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Return Type	990	ReturnTypeCd
Tax Period Begin	2015-04-01	TaxPeriodBeginDt

Filer Filer

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
EIN	237337229	EIN

Business Name BusinessName

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Business Name Line1	BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION	BusinessNameLine1Txt

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Business Name Control	BRIG	BusinessNameControlTxt
Phone	3019483244	PhoneNum

US Address USAddress

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Address Line1	22512 GATEWAY CENTER DRIVE	AddressLine1Txt
City	CLARKSBURG	CityNm
State Abbreviation	MD	StateAbbreviationCd
ZIP	20871	ZIPCd

Business Officer BusinessOfficerGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Person	STACY PAGOS HALLER	PersonNm
Person Title	PRESIDENT/CEO	PersonTitleTxt
Phone	3019483244	PhoneNum
Signature	2016-08-03	SignatureDt
Discuss With Paid Preparer	Yes (1)	DiscussWithPaidPreparerInd

Preparer Person PreparerPersonGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Preparer Person	FRANK H SMITH	PreparerPersonNm
PTIN	P00639053	PTIN
Phone	2028225000	PhoneNum
Preparation	2016-08-02	PreparationDt

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Tax	2015	TaxYr
Build TS	2017-02-10 21:41:12Z	BuildTS

Form 990 IRS990

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Principal Officer	STACY PAGOS HALLER	PrincipalOfficerNm

US Address USAddress

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Address Line1	22512 GATEWAY CENTER DRIVE	AddressLine1Txt
City	CLARKSBURG	CityNm
State Abbreviation	MD	StateAbbreviationCd
ZIP	20871	ZIPCd

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Gross Receipts	$50,302,725	GrossReceiptsAmt
Group Return For Affiliates	0	GroupReturnForAffiliatesInd
Organization501c3	Yes (X)	Organization501c3Ind
Website Address	WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG	WebsiteAddressTxt
Type Of Organization Corp	Yes (X)	TypeOfOrganizationCorpInd
Formation	1973	FormationYr
Legal Domicile State	DC	LegalDomicileStateCd
Activity Or Mission	BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION SEEKS TO SAVE MIND AND SIGHT.	ActivityOrMissionDesc
Voting Members Governing Body	11	VotingMembersGoverningBodyCnt
Voting Members Independent	11	VotingMembersIndependentCnt
Total Employee	58	TotalEmployeeCnt
Total Volunteers	56	TotalVolunteersCnt
Total Gross UBI	$0	TotalGrossUBIAmt
Net Unrelated Bus Txbl Incm	$0	NetUnrelatedBusTxblIncmAmt
PY Contributions Grants	$27,946,621	PYContributionsGrantsAmt
CY Contributions Grants	$29,220,730	CYContributionsGrantsAmt
PY Program Service Revenue	$0	PYProgramServiceRevenueAmt
CY Program Service Revenue	$0	CYProgramServiceRevenueAmt
PY Investment Income	$1,313,037	PYInvestmentIncomeAmt
CY Investment Income	$2,657,809	CYInvestmentIncomeAmt
PY Other Revenue	$841,752	PYOtherRevenueAmt
CY Other Revenue	$815,105	CYOtherRevenueAmt
PY Total Revenue	$30,101,410	PYTotalRevenueAmt
CY Total Revenue	$32,693,644	CYTotalRevenueAmt
PY Grants And Similar Paid	$11,036,156	PYGrantsAndSimilarPaidAmt
CY Grants And Similar Paid	$11,877,335	CYGrantsAndSimilarPaidAmt
PY Benefits Paid To Members	$0	PYBenefitsPaidToMembersAmt
CY Benefits Paid To Members	$0	CYBenefitsPaidToMembersAmt
PY Salaries Comp Emp Bnft Paid	$4,670,827	PYSalariesCompEmpBnftPaidAmt
CY Salaries Comp Emp Bnft Paid	$4,715,881	CYSalariesCompEmpBnftPaidAmt
PY Total Prof Fndrsng Expns	$393,423	PYTotalProfFndrsngExpnsAmt
CY Total Prof Fndrsng Expns	$406,673	CYTotalProfFndrsngExpnsAmt
CY Total Fundraising Expense	$5,666,512	CYTotalFundraisingExpenseAmt
PY Other Expenses	$13,150,988	PYOtherExpensesAmt
CY Other Expenses	$14,479,964	CYOtherExpensesAmt
PY Total Expenses	$29,251,394	PYTotalExpensesAmt
CY Total Expenses	$31,479,853	CYTotalExpensesAmt
PY Revenues Less Expenses	$850,016	PYRevenuesLessExpensesAmt
CY Revenues Less Expenses	$1,213,791	CYRevenuesLessExpensesAmt
Total Assets BOY	$52,852,651	TotalAssetsBOYAmt
Total Assets EOY	$53,275,672	TotalAssetsEOYAmt
Total Liabilities BOY	$19,687,626	TotalLiabilitiesBOYAmt
Total Liabilities EOY	$22,415,391	TotalLiabilitiesEOYAmt
Net Assets Or Fund Balances BOY	$33,165,025	NetAssetsOrFundBalancesBOYAmt
Net Assets Or Fund Balances EOY	$30,860,281	NetAssetsOrFundBalancesEOYAmt
Info In Schedule O Part III	Yes (X)	InfoInScheduleOPartIIIInd
Mission	BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION (BRIGHTFOCUS) DRIVES INNOVATIVE RESEARCH WORLDWIDE AND PROMOTES AWARENESS OF ALZHEIMER'S, MACULAR DEGENERATIONS AND GLAUCOMA. PLEASE REFER TO SCHEDULE O FOR A COMPLETE OVERVIEW OF OUR MISSION.	MissionDesc
Significant New Program Srvc	0	SignificantNewProgramSrvcInd
Significant Change	0	SignificantChangeInd
Expense	$14,444,539	ExpenseAmt
Grant	$6,932,317	GrantAmt
Desc	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH (ADR) - BRIGHTFOCUS' ADR PROGRAM FUNDS RESEARCH FOCUSED ON UNDERSTANDING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE'S CAUSES, ITS EARLY DETECTION, AND TREATMENTS TO HELP SLOW OR STOP ITS PROGRESSION, AND ULTIMATELY TO PREVENT THE DISEASE ALTOGETHER. ADR ANNUALLY AWARDS PEER-REVIEWED GRANTS TO SCIENTISTS FROM INSTITUTIONS WORLDWIDE WHO ARE CONDUCTING BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL RESEARCH ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2016, ADR FUNDED 30 NEW PROJECTS, TOTALING $6,504,817, AND AWARDED $342,500 IN TWO SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT FOCUS ON BETTER USE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUDING MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES AND BIG DATA, TO INCREASE THE SPEED OF CLINICAL TRIALS AND RESEARCH PROGRESS. SINCE INCEPTION, BRIGHTFOCUS HAS CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN $100 MILLION TO THE CONQUERING OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIFIC PROJECTS ARE INCLUDED IN SCHEDULES F & I. BRIGHTFOCUS IS HONORED TO HAVE SUPPORTED THE EARLY RESEARCH OF TWO EVENTUAL NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS: DR. STANLEY PRUSINER AND DR. PAUL GREENGARD, WHOSE WORK HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL TO OUR CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. FURTHER ILLUSTRATING BRIGHTFOCUS' IMPACT, A THIRD-PARTY ROSTER OF PAPERS THAT CONSIDERED MILESTONES IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE LISTS 19 BRIGHTFOCUS-SUPPORTED PAPERS, SIX PERCENT OF THE TOTAL RECOGNIZED. BRIGHTFOCUS CONTINUES ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ACADEMIC JOURNAL "MOLECULAR NEURODEGENERATION" AS THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION. THE JOURNAL PUBLISHES TECHNICAL PAPERS RELATED TO NEURODEGENERATION IN THE THREE DISEASE AREAS. AS AN "OPEN ACCESS" JOURNAL, THERE IS NO FEE FOR READERS, AND ALL CONTENT IS FREE OF CHARGE AND EASY TO ACCESS. THIS OPEN ACCESS ENSURES MAXIMAL REACH OF JOURNAL CONTENTS TO SCIENTISTS AND CARE PROVIDERS WORLDWIDE. MOLECULAR NEURODEGENERATION IS CURRENTLY THE HIGHEST IMPACT OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL IN THE NEUROSCIENCES.ADR-SUPPORTED RESEARCH CONTINUED TO MAKE THE NEWS IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, INCLUDING HIGH VISIBILITY REPORTS RELATING TO DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW CLASS OF ANTI-ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE DRUGS, INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH BRIDGING ALZHEIMER'S AND OTHER CONDITIONS, AND MANY OTHER TOPICS. EACH AREA OF RESEARCH IS THE SUBJECT OF ONGOING BRIGHTFOCUS FUNDED RESEARCH STUDIES. MORE DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NEWS UPDATES SECTION OF THE BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG WEBSITE.IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH PROVIDES EXCELLENT RESOURCES ON DETECTING, TREATING, AND LIVING WITH THE DISEASE. ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE IS THE ONLY CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG THE TOP 10 IN AMERICA WITHOUT A WAY TO PREVENT, CURE, OR EVEN SLOW ITS PROGRESSION. IT IS AN IRREVERSIBLE DEGENERATION OF THE BRAIN THAT CAUSES DISRUPTIONS IN MEMORY, COGNITION, PERSONALITY, AND OTHER FUNCTIONS AND INEVITABLY LEADS TO DEATH. MORE THAN 5 MILLION AMERICANS AGED 65 AND OLDER ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE TODAY, AND THAT NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO TRIPLE BY MIDCENTURY.	Desc

Prog Srvc Accom Acty2 ProgSrvcAccomActy2Grp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Expense	$5,960,751	ExpenseAmt
Grant	$3,070,463	GrantAmt
Desc	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH (MDR)- A PROGRAM OF BRIGHTFOCUS, HAS AWARDED MORE THAN $21.5 MILLION TO SCIENTISTS STUDYING THE DISEASE. THE LATEST RESEARCH IS FOCUSED ON NOVEL TREATMENTS FOR THE DISEASE, UNDERSTANDING ITS CAUSES AND PROGRESSION, DRUG THERAPIES, AND NEW SCREENING TECHNIQUES.DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2016, MDR AWARDED $2,944,963 IN PEER-REVIEWED GRANT AWARDS TO 19 NEW RESEARCH PROJECTS AND $100,000 TO A SPECIAL PROJECT THAT RANGE FROM STUDIES TO DEVELOP NEW ANTI-OXIDANT BASED THERAPIES TO CLINICAL PROJECTS TESTING ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC STRATEGIES. ADDITIONAL DETAILS ABOUT SPECIFIC PROJECTS ARE INCLUDED IN SCHEDULES F & I. MDR-FUNDED PROJECTS WERE FEATURED IN MEDIA ARTICLES, INCLUDING PROGRESS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW THERAPIES, AND INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH COMBINING AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD) KNOWLEDGE WITH VASCULAR BIOLOGY TO DISCOVER NEW TREATMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MACULAR DEGENERATION. MORE DETAILS ON THIS AND OTHER SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES ACHIEVED THROUGH MDR FUNDING ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NEWS UPDATES SECTION OF THE BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG WEBSITE.IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH, MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH PROVIDES EXCELLENT RESOURCES ON DETECTING, TREATING, AND LIVING WITH THIS DISEASE. AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION IS A LEADING CAUSE OF VISION LOSS IN THE UNITED STATES. IT DESTROYS THE MACULA, THE PART OF THE EYE THAT PROVIDES SHARP, CENTRAL VISION NEEDED FOR SEEING OBJECTS CLEARLY. THE MOST COMMON EYE CONDITION IN PEOPLE AGE 60 AND OLDER, IT CAN LEAD TO VISION LOSS IN ONE OR BOTH EYES, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO RECOGNIZE FACES, DRIVE A CAR, OR READ.	Desc

Prog Srvc Accom Acty3 ProgSrvcAccomActy3Grp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Expense	$2,455,318	ExpenseAmt
Grant	$1,874,555	GrantAmt
Desc	NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH (NGR)- BRIGHTFOCUS' NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH (NGR) PROGRAM HAS AWARDED MORE THAN $28.6 MILLION WORLDWIDE FOR THE STUDY OF GLAUCOMA. NGR-SUPPORTED RESEARCH HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THE EYE-BRAIN CONNECTION, THE MECHANISMS FOR PRESSURE BUILDUP IN THE EYE, PREVENTING DAMAGE TO THE OPTIC NERVE, AND UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE GENES PLAY IN ORDER TO DEVELOP EARLY GLAUCOMA SCREENING AND TARGETED TREATMENTS. NGR GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE TO GLAUCOMA RESEARCHERS WORLDWIDE. NGR PLACES SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ENCOURAGING APPLICATIONS FROM YOUNG SCIENTISTS AND THOSE WITH CUTTING-EDGE IDEAS. ANNUAL GRANT APPLICATIONS ARE PEER-REVIEWED, AND RECIPIENT SELECTIONS ARE BASED ON SCIENTIFIC MERIT. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2016, NGR AWARDED $1,874,555 FOR 13 NEW PROJECTS THAT RANGE FROM CALCULATING INDIVIDUAL RISK FOR GLAUCOMA TO REAL-TIME MONITORING AND CONTROL OF PRESSURE IN THE EYE, A SIGNIFICANT RISK FACTOR FOR GLAUCOMA ADDITIONAL DETAILS ABOUT SPECIFIC PROJECTS ARE INCLUDED IN SCHEDULES F & I.NGR-FUNDED RESEARCH WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE MEDIA THIS YEAR, INCLUDING AN NGR-SUPPORTED STRATEGY TO IMPROVING GENE THERAPY OPPORTUNITIES IN GLAUCOMA. MORE DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NEWS UPDATES SECTION OF THE BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG WEBSITE.IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH, NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH PROVIDES EXCELLENT RESOURCES ON DETECTING, TREATING, AND LIVING WITH THE DISEASE. GLAUCOMA IS A GROUP OF DISEASES THAT DAMAGE THE EYE'S OPTIC NERVE AND CAN RESULT IN VISION LOSS AND PERMANENT BLINDNESS. MORE THAN 3 MILLION AMERICANS AGE 40 AND OLDER HAVE GLAUCOMA. MORE THAN 60 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE WORLD HAVE THE DISEASE, AND THAT NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY AS MUCH AS 20 MILLION BY 2020. WITH EARLY DETECTION AND TREATMENT, GLAUCOMA OFTEN CAN BE MANAGED TO PROTECT EYES FROM MORE SERIOUS VISION LOSS, BUT IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ONLY HALF OF THE PEOPLE LIVING WITH GLAUCOMA ARE AWARE THAT THEY HAVE THE DISEASE.	Desc

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total Program Service Expenses	$22,860,608	TotalProgramServiceExpensesAmt
Described In Section501c3	Yes (1)	DescribedInSection501c3Ind
Schedule B Required	Yes (1)	ScheduleBRequiredInd
Political Campaign Acty	0	PoliticalCampaignActyInd
Lobbying Activities	Yes (1)	LobbyingActivitiesInd
Subject To Proxy Tax	0	SubjectToProxyTaxInd
Donor Advised Fund	0	DonorAdvisedFundInd
Conservation Easements	0	ConservationEasementsInd
Collections Of Art	0	CollectionsOfArtInd
Credit Counseling	0	CreditCounselingInd
Temp Or Permanent Endowments	Yes (1)	TempOrPermanentEndowmentsInd
Report Land Building Equipment	Yes (1)	ReportLandBuildingEquipmentInd
Report Investments Other Sec	Yes (1)	ReportInvestmentsOtherSecInd
Report Program Related Invst	0	ReportProgramRelatedInvstInd
Report Other Assets	0	ReportOtherAssetsInd
Report Other Liabilities	Yes (1)	ReportOtherLiabilitiesInd
Include FIN48 Footnote	Yes (1)	IncludeFIN48FootnoteInd
Independent Audit Fincl Stmt	0	IndependentAuditFinclStmtInd
Consolidated Audit Fincl Stmt	Yes (1)	ConsolidatedAuditFinclStmtInd
School Operating	0	SchoolOperatingInd
Foreign Office	0	ForeignOfficeInd
Foreign Activities	Yes (1)	ForeignActivitiesInd
More Than5000 K To Org	Yes (1)	MoreThan5000KToOrgInd
More Than5000 K To Individuals	0	MoreThan5000KToIndividualsInd
Professional Fundraising	Yes (1)	ProfessionalFundraisingInd
Fundraising Activities	0	FundraisingActivitiesInd
Gaming Activities	0	GamingActivitiesInd
Operate Hospital	0	OperateHospitalInd
Grants To Organizations	Yes (1)	GrantsToOrganizationsInd
Grants To Individuals	0	GrantsToIndividualsInd
Schedule J Required	Yes (1)	ScheduleJRequiredInd
Tax Exempt Bonds	0	TaxExemptBondsInd
Engaged In Excess Benefit Trans	0	EngagedInExcessBenefitTransInd
PY Excess Benefit Trans	0	PYExcessBenefitTransInd
Loan Outstanding	0	LoanOutstandingInd
Grant To Related Person	0	GrantToRelatedPersonInd
Business Rln With Org Mem	0	BusinessRlnWithOrgMemInd
Business Rln With Fam Mem	0	BusinessRlnWithFamMemInd
Business Rln With Officer Ent	0	BusinessRlnWithOfficerEntInd
Deductible Non Cash Contri	Yes (1)	DeductibleNonCashContriInd
Deductible Art Contribution	0	DeductibleArtContributionInd
Terminate Operations	0	TerminateOperationsInd
Partial Liquidation	0	PartialLiquidationInd
Disregarded Entity	Yes (1)	DisregardedEntityInd
Related Entity	0	RelatedEntityInd
Related Organization Ctrl Ent	0	RelatedOrganizationCtrlEntInd
Trnsfr Exmpt Non Chrtbl Rltd Org	0	TrnsfrExmptNonChrtblRltdOrgInd
Activities Conducted Prtshp	0	ActivitiesConductedPrtshpInd
Schedule O Required	Yes (1)	ScheduleORequiredInd
IRP Document	190	IRPDocumentCnt
IRP Document W2 G	0	IRPDocumentW2GCnt
Backup Wthld Compliance	Yes (1)	BackupWthldComplianceInd
Employee	58	EmployeeCnt
Employment Tax Returns Filed	Yes (1)	EmploymentTaxReturnsFiledInd
Unrelated Bus Incm Over Limit	0	UnrelatedBusIncmOverLimitInd
Foreign Financial Account	0	ForeignFinancialAccountInd
Prohibited Tax Shelter Trans	0	ProhibitedTaxShelterTransInd
Taxable Party Notification	0	TaxablePartyNotificationInd
Nondeductible Contributions	0	NondeductibleContributionsInd
Quid Pro Quo Contributions	0	QuidProQuoContributionsInd
Form8282 Property Disposed Of	0	Form8282PropertyDisposedOfInd
Rcv Fnds To Pay Prsnl Bnft Cntrct	0	RcvFndsToPayPrsnlBnftCntrctInd
Pay Premiums Prsnl Bnft Cntrct	0	PayPremiumsPrsnlBnftCntrctInd
Indoor Tanning Services	0	IndoorTanningServicesInd
Info In Schedule O Part VI	Yes (X)	InfoInScheduleOPartVIInd
Governing Body Voting Members	11	GoverningBodyVotingMembersCnt
Independent Voting Member	11	IndependentVotingMemberCnt
Family Or Business Rln	0	FamilyOrBusinessRlnInd
Delegation Of Mgmt Duties	0	DelegationOfMgmtDutiesInd
Change To Org Documents	0	ChangeToOrgDocumentsInd
Material Diversion Or Misuse	0	MaterialDiversionOrMisuseInd
Members Or Stockholders	0	MembersOrStockholdersInd
Election Of Board Members	0	ElectionOfBoardMembersInd
Decisions Subject To Approva	0	DecisionsSubjectToApprovaInd
Minutes Of Governing Body	Yes (1)	MinutesOfGoverningBodyInd
Minutes Of Committees	Yes (1)	MinutesOfCommitteesInd
Officer Mailing Address	0	OfficerMailingAddressInd
Local Chapters	0	LocalChaptersInd
Form990 Provided To Gvrn Body	Yes (1)	Form990ProvidedToGvrnBodyInd
Conflict Of Interest Policy	Yes (1)	ConflictOfInterestPolicyInd
Annual Disclosure Covered Prsn	Yes (1)	AnnualDisclosureCoveredPrsnInd
Regular Monitoring Enfrc	Yes (1)	RegularMonitoringEnfrcInd
Whistleblower Policy	Yes (1)	WhistleblowerPolicyInd
Document Retention Policy	Yes (1)	DocumentRetentionPolicyInd
Compensation Process CEO	Yes (1)	CompensationProcessCEOInd
Compensation Process Other	Yes (1)	CompensationProcessOtherInd
Investment In Joint Venture	0	InvestmentInJointVentureInd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	AK	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	AL	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	AR	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	AZ	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	CA	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	CT	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	FL	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	GA	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	HI	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	IL	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	KS	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	KY	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	ME	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	MD	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	MA	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	MI	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	MN	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	MS	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	NH	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	NJ	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	NM	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	NY	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	NC	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	ND	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	OH	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	OK	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	OR	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	PA	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	RI	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	SC	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	TN	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	UT	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	VA	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	WA	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	WV	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is Fld	WI	StatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
Own Website	Yes (X)	OwnWebsiteInd
Other Website	Yes (X)	OtherWebsiteInd
Upon Request	Yes (X)	UponRequestInd

Books In Care Of Detail BooksInCareOfDetail

Business Name BusinessName

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Business Name Line1	DAVID F MARKS CPA CMA	BusinessNameLine1Txt

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Phone	3019483244	PhoneNum

US Address USAddress

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Address Line1	22512 GATEWAY CENTER DRIVE	AddressLine1Txt
City	CLARKSBURG	CityNm
State Abbreviation	MD	StateAbbreviationCd
ZIP	20871	ZIPCd

Form990 Part VII Section A Form990PartVIISectionAGrp (17 entries)

TitleTitleTxt	Average Hours Per WeekAverageHoursPerWeekRt	Individual Trustee Or DirectorIndividualTrusteeOrDirectorInd	OfficerOfficerInd	Reportable Comp From OrgReportableCompFromOrgAmt	Reportable Comp From Rltd OrgReportableCompFromRltdOrgAmt	Other CompensationOtherCompensationAmt	Highest Compensated EmployeeHighestCompensatedEmployeeInd
SCOTT RODGVILLE CPA
CHAIR	8.00	Yes (X)	Yes (X)	$0	$0	$0
DIANE I MARCELLO
VICE CHAIR	3.00	Yes (X)	Yes (X)	$0	$0	$0
NICHOLAS W RAYMOND
TREASURER	20.00	Yes (X)	Yes (X)	$0	$0	$0
JUDITH F LEE
SECRETARY	3.00	Yes (X)	Yes (X)	$0	$0	$0
MICHAEL H BARNETT ESQ
DIRECTOR	3.00	Yes (X)		$0	$0	$0
MADDY DYCHTWALD
DIRECTOR	3.00	Yes (X)		$0	$0	$0
GRACE FRISONE
DIRECTOR	6.00	Yes (X)		$0	$0	$0
JUNE KINOSHITA
DIRECTOR	3.00	Yes (X)		$0	$0	$0
HENRY J POWNALL PHD
DIRECTOR	3.00	Yes (X)		$0	$0	$0
BRIAN K REGAN PHD
DIRECTOR	4.00	Yes (X)		$0	$0	$0
ELTJO ED R SCHOONVELD
DIRECTOR	3.00	Yes (X)		$0	$0	$0
STACY PAGOS HALLER
PRESIDENT/CEO	55.00		Yes (X)	$383,145	$0	$77,371
GUY EAKIN PH D
VP, SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS	45.00			$148,999	$0	$46,404	Yes (X)
DAVID F MARKS CPA CMA
VP, FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION	45.00			$148,778	$0	$60,768	Yes (X)
MICHAEL BUCKLEY
VP, PUBLIC AFFAIRS	45.00			$136,270	$0	$35,818	Yes (X)
BRIAN KLINZING
SR. DIR. CORP. & FOUNDATION GIVING	40.00			$131,916	$0	$18,209	Yes (X)
DONNA CALLISON
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT	35.00			$130,943	$0	$39,895	Yes (X)

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total Reportable Comp From Org	$1,080,051	TotalReportableCompFromOrgAmt
Tot Reportable Comp Rltd Org	$0	TotReportableCompRltdOrgAmt
Total Other Compensation	$278,465	TotalOtherCompensationAmt
Indiv Rcvd Greater Than100 K	6	IndivRcvdGreaterThan100KCnt
Former Ofcr Employees Listed	0	FormerOfcrEmployeesListedInd
Total Comp Greater Than150 K	Yes (1)	TotalCompGreaterThan150KInd
Compensation From Other Srcs	0	CompensationFromOtherSrcsInd

Contractor Compensation ContractorCompensationGrp (5 entries)

Address Line1ContractorAddress/USAddress/AddressLine1Txt	CityContractorAddress/USAddress/CityNm	State AbbreviationContractorAddress/USAddress/StateAbbreviationCd	ZIPContractorAddress/USAddress/ZIPCd	ServicesServicesDesc	CompensationCompensationAmt
ROBBINS KERSTEN DIRECT INC
201 SUMMER STREET	HOLLISTON	MA	01746	PUBLIC AWARENESS CONSUL. & MATERIALS	$6,657,988
DATA MANAGEMENT INC
160 STONE STREET	STONEVILLE	NC	27048	DATABASE MANAGEMENT	$201,291
EU SERVICES INC
649 HORNERS LANE	ROCKVILLE	MD	20850	PRINTING	$144,617
GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS INC
2977 STEWART LOOP UNIT B	FORT MEADE	MD	20755	BUILDING & OFFICE SERVICES	$139,754
ECHO & COMPANY
ONE DAVIS SQUARE SUITE 302	SOMERVILLE	MA	02144	WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT	$113,549

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Cntrct Rcvd Greater Than100 K	8	CntrctRcvdGreaterThan100KCnt
Federated Campaigns	$147,087	FederatedCampaignsAmt
All Other Contributions	$29,073,643	AllOtherContributionsAmt
Noncash Contributions	$59,163	NoncashContributionsAmt
Total Contributions	$29,220,730	TotalContributionsAmt

Investment Income InvestmentIncomeGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total Revenue Column	$719,781	TotalRevenueColumnAmt
Exclusion	$719,781	ExclusionAmt

Royalties Revenue RoyaltiesRevenueGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total Revenue Column	$276,547	TotalRevenueColumnAmt
Exclusion	$276,547	ExclusionAmt

Gross Rents GrossRentsGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Real	$582,647	RealAmt

Less Rental Expenses LessRentalExpensesGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Real	$44,089	RealAmt

Rental Income Or Loss RentalIncomeOrLossGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Real	$538,558	RealAmt

Net Rental Income Or Loss NetRentalIncomeOrLossGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total Revenue Column	$538,558	TotalRevenueColumnAmt
Exclusion	$538,558	ExclusionAmt

Gross Amount Sales Assets GrossAmountSalesAssetsGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Securities	$19,503,020	SecuritiesAmt

Less Cost Oth Basis Sales Expnss LessCostOthBasisSalesExpnssGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Securities	$17,564,992	SecuritiesAmt

Gain Or Loss GainOrLossGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Securities	$1,938,028	SecuritiesAmt

Net Gain Or Loss Investments NetGainOrLossInvestmentsGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total Revenue Column	$1,938,028	TotalRevenueColumnAmt
Exclusion	$1,938,028	ExclusionAmt

Total Revenue TotalRevenueGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total Revenue Column	$32,693,644	TotalRevenueColumnAmt
Related Or Exempt Func Income	$0	RelatedOrExemptFuncIncomeAmt
Unrelated Business Revenue	$0	UnrelatedBusinessRevenueAmt
Exclusion	$3,472,914	ExclusionAmt

Grants To Domestic Orgs GrantsToDomesticOrgsGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$10,872,417	TotalAmt
Program Services	$10,872,417	ProgramServicesAmt

Foreign Grants ForeignGrantsGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$1,004,918	TotalAmt
Program Services	$1,004,918	ProgramServicesAmt

Comp Current Ofcr Directors CompCurrentOfcrDirectorsGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$462,516	TotalAmt
Program Services	$323,652	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$92,628	ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising	$46,236	FundraisingAmt

Other Salaries And Wages OtherSalariesAndWagesGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$3,088,917	TotalAmt
Program Services	$1,617,029	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$918,156	ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising	$553,732	FundraisingAmt

Pension Plan Contributions PensionPlanContributionsGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$345,180	TotalAmt
Program Services	$180,691	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$102,614	ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising	$61,875	FundraisingAmt

Other Employee Benefits OtherEmployeeBenefitsGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$582,338	TotalAmt
Program Services	$304,835	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$173,116	ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising	$104,387	FundraisingAmt

Payroll Taxes PayrollTaxesGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$236,930	TotalAmt
Program Services	$124,025	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$70,434	ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising	$42,471	FundraisingAmt

Fees For Services Legal FeesForServicesLegalGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$110,257	TotalAmt
Program Services	$55,103	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$55,154	ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Fees For Services Accounting FeesForServicesAccountingGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$95,007	TotalAmt
Program Services	$42,084	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$23,123	ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising	$29,800	FundraisingAmt

Fees For Services Prof Fundraising FeesForServicesProfFundraising

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$406,673	TotalAmt
Fundraising	$406,673	FundraisingAmt

Fees For Srvc Invst Mgmnt Fees FeesForSrvcInvstMgmntFeesGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$228,143	TotalAmt
Management And General	$228,143	ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Fees For Services Other FeesForServicesOtherGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$1,049,120	TotalAmt
Program Services	$928,779	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$77,922	ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising	$42,419	FundraisingAmt

Office Expenses OfficeExpensesGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$1,751,831	TotalAmt
Program Services	$1,434,649	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$188,964	ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising	$128,218	FundraisingAmt

Information Technology InformationTechnologyGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$692,910	TotalAmt
Program Services	$473,229	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$142,841	ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising	$76,840	FundraisingAmt

Occupancy OccupancyGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$338,483	TotalAmt
Program Services	$192,547	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$105,879	ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising	$40,057	FundraisingAmt

Travel TravelGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$237,925	TotalAmt
Program Services	$125,645	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$79,997	ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising	$32,283	FundraisingAmt

Conferences Meetings ConferencesMeetingsGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$173,423	TotalAmt
Program Services	$153,932	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$13,887	ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising	$5,604	FundraisingAmt

Interest InterestGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$12,533	TotalAmt
Program Services	$7,130	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$3,920	ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising	$1,483	FundraisingAmt

Depreciation Depletion DepreciationDepletionGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$430,916	TotalAmt
Program Services	$238,403	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$127,639	ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising	$64,874	FundraisingAmt

Insurance InsuranceGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$74,004	TotalAmt
Program Services	$26,788	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$39,969	ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising	$7,247	FundraisingAmt

Other Expenses OtherExpensesGrp (4 entries)

DescDesc	TotalTotalAmt	Program ServicesProgramServicesAmt	Management And GeneralManagementAndGeneralAmt	FundraisingFundraisingAmt
PUB. AWARENESS POSTAGE	$4,919,453	$2,740,849	$255,240	$1,923,364
PUB. AWARENESS PRINTING	$2,153,626	$755,057	$156,883	$1,241,686
PUB. AWARENESS COMP.	$1,166,034	$666,092	$54,237	$445,705
LIST RENTAL	$1,046,299	$592,754	$41,987	$411,558

Total Functional Expenses TotalFunctionalExpensesGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$31,479,853	TotalAmt
Program Services	$22,860,608	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$2,952,733	ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising	$5,666,512	FundraisingAmt

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Joint Costs	Yes (X)	JointCostsInd

Total Joint Costs TotalJointCostsGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total	$10,196,860	TotalAmt
Program Services	$5,272,669	ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General	$549,889	ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising	$4,374,302	FundraisingAmt

Cash Non Interest Bearing CashNonInterestBearingGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$5,217,965	BOYAmt
EOY	$4,349,774	EOYAmt

Savings And Temp Cash Invst SavingsAndTempCashInvstGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$1,488,438	BOYAmt
EOY	$388,253	EOYAmt

Pledges And Grants Receivable PledgesAndGrantsReceivableGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$3,475,213	BOYAmt
EOY	$6,021,549	EOYAmt

Inventories For Sale Or Use InventoriesForSaleOrUseGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$20,406	BOYAmt
EOY	$42,352	EOYAmt

Prepaid Expenses Defrd Charges PrepaidExpensesDefrdChargesGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$168,207	BOYAmt
EOY	$194,907	EOYAmt

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Land Bldg Equip Cost Or Other Bss	$11,646,343	LandBldgEquipCostOrOtherBssAmt
Land Bldg Equip Accum Deprec	$3,025,587	LandBldgEquipAccumDeprecAmt

Land Bldg Equip Basis Net LandBldgEquipBasisNetGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$8,762,904	BOYAmt
EOY	$8,620,756	EOYAmt

Investments Pub Traded Sec InvestmentsPubTradedSecGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$28,848,414	BOYAmt
EOY	$28,709,258	EOYAmt

Investments Other Securities InvestmentsOtherSecuritiesGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$4,261,131	BOYAmt
EOY	$4,370,670	EOYAmt

Other Assets Total OtherAssetsTotalGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$609,973	BOYAmt
EOY	$578,153	EOYAmt

Total Assets TotalAssetsGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$52,852,651	BOYAmt
EOY	$53,275,672	EOYAmt

Accounts Payable Accr Expnss AccountsPayableAccrExpnssGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$513,453	BOYAmt
EOY	$730,979	EOYAmt

Grants Payable GrantsPayableGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$17,587,396	BOYAmt
EOY	$20,172,854	EOYAmt

Other Liabilities OtherLiabilitiesGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$1,586,777	BOYAmt
EOY	$1,511,558	EOYAmt

Total Liabilities TotalLiabilitiesGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$19,687,626	BOYAmt
EOY	$22,415,391	EOYAmt

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Organization Follows SFAS117	Yes (X)	OrganizationFollowsSFAS117Ind

Unrestricted Net Assets UnrestrictedNetAssetsGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$20,298,753	BOYAmt
EOY	$19,793,778	EOYAmt

Temporarily Rstr Net Assets TemporarilyRstrNetAssetsGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$12,776,272	BOYAmt
EOY	$10,976,503	EOYAmt

Permanently Rstr Net Assets PermanentlyRstrNetAssetsGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$90,000	BOYAmt
EOY	$90,000	EOYAmt

Total Net Assets Fund Balance TotalNetAssetsFundBalanceGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$33,165,025	BOYAmt
EOY	$30,860,281	EOYAmt

Tot Liab Net Assets Fund Balance TotLiabNetAssetsFundBalanceGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
BOY	$52,852,651	BOYAmt
EOY	$53,275,672	EOYAmt

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Info In Schedule O Part XI	Yes (X)	InfoInScheduleOPartXIInd
Reconcilation Revenue Expnss	$1,213,791	ReconcilationRevenueExpnssAmt
Net Unrlzd Gains Losses Invst	-$3,581,136	NetUnrlzdGainsLossesInvstAmt
Other Changes In Net Assets	$62,601	OtherChangesInNetAssetsAmt
Method Of Accounting Accrual	Yes (X)	MethodOfAccountingAccrualInd
Accountant Compile Or Review	0	AccountantCompileOrReviewInd
FS Audited	Yes (1)	FSAuditedInd

FS Audited Basis FSAuditedBasisGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Consolidated Basis Fincl Stmt	Yes (X)	ConsolidatedBasisFinclStmtInd

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Audit Committee	Yes (1)	AuditCommitteeInd
Federal Grant Audit Required	0	FederalGrantAuditRequiredInd

Schedule A IRS990ScheduleA

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Public Organization170	Yes (X)	PublicOrganization170Ind

Gifts Grants Contri Rcvd170 GiftsGrantsContriRcvd170Grp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Current Tax Year Minus4 Years	$22,601,859	CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus3 Years	$23,534,029	CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus2 Years	$25,126,233	CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus1 Year	$27,946,621	CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt
Current Tax Year	$29,220,730	CurrentTaxYearAmt
Total	$128,429,472	TotalAmt

Total Calendar Year170 TotalCalendarYear170Grp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Current Tax Year Minus4 Years	$22,601,859	CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus3 Years	$23,534,029	CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus2 Years	$25,126,233	CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus1 Year	$27,946,621	CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt
Current Tax Year	$29,220,730	CurrentTaxYearAmt
Total	$128,429,472	TotalAmt

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Public Support Total170	$128,429,472	PublicSupportTotal170Amt

Gross Investment Income170 GrossInvestmentIncome170Grp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Current Tax Year Minus4 Years	$1,345,423	CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus3 Years	$1,323,906	CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus2 Years	$1,539,583	CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus1 Year	$1,633,842	CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt
Current Tax Year	$1,578,975	CurrentTaxYearAmt
Total	$7,421,729	TotalAmt

Other Income170 OtherIncome170Grp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Current Tax Year Minus4 Years	$16	CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt
Total	$16	TotalAmt

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total Support	$135,851,217	TotalSupportAmt
Gross Receipts Rltd Activities	$24,125	GrossReceiptsRltdActivitiesAmt
Public Support CY170	0.94540	PublicSupportCY170Pct
Public Support PY170	0.94160	PublicSupportPY170Pct
Thirty Thr Pct Suprt Tests CY170	Yes (X)	ThirtyThrPctSuprtTestsCY170Ind

Form990 Schedule A Part VI Form990ScheduleAPartVIGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Form And Line Reference	SCHEDULE A, PART II, LINE 10, EXPLANATION OF OTHER INCOME:	FormAndLineReferenceDesc
Explanation	OTHER REVENUE - 2011 AMOUNT: $ 16. 2012 AMOUNT: $ 0. 2013 AMOUNT: $ 0. 2014 AMOUNT: $ 0. 2015 AMOUNT: $ 0.	ExplanationTxt

Schedule B IRS990ScheduleB

Contributor Information ContributorInformationGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Contributor	RESTRICTED	ContributorNum

Contributor Business Name ContributorBusinessName

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Business Name Line1	RESTRICTED	BusinessNameLine1

Contributor US Address ContributorUSAddress

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Address Line1	RESTRICTED	AddressLine1
Address Line2	RESTRICTED	AddressLine2
City	RESTRICTED	City
State	RESTRICTED	State
ZIP Code	RESTRICTED	ZIPCode

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total Contributions	RESTRICTED	TotalContributionsAmt

Schedule C IRS990ScheduleC

Total Grassroots Lobbying TotalGrassrootsLobbyingGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Filing Organizations Total	$0	FilingOrganizationsTotalAmt

Total Direct Lobbying TotalDirectLobbyingGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Filing Organizations Total	$0	FilingOrganizationsTotalAmt

Total Lobbying Expend TotalLobbyingExpendGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Filing Organizations Total	$0	FilingOrganizationsTotalAmt

Other Exempt Purpose Expend OtherExemptPurposeExpendGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Filing Organizations Total	$31,073,180	FilingOrganizationsTotalAmt

Total Exempt Purpose Expend TotalExemptPurposeExpendGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Filing Organizations Total	$31,073,180	FilingOrganizationsTotalAmt

Lobbying Nontaxable Amount LobbyingNontaxableAmountGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Filing Organizations Total	$1,000,000	FilingOrganizationsTotalAmt

Grassroots Nontaxable GrassrootsNontaxableGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Filing Organizations Total	$250,000	FilingOrganizationsTotalAmt

Tot Lbbyng Grassroot Mns Non Tx TotLbbyngGrassrootMnsNonTxGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Filing Organizations Total	$0	FilingOrganizationsTotalAmt

Tot Lbby Expend Mns Lbbyng Non Tx TotLbbyExpendMnsLbbyngNonTxGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Filing Organizations Total	$0	FilingOrganizationsTotalAmt

Avg Lobbying Nontaxable Amount AvgLobbyingNontaxableAmountGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Current Year Minus3	$1,000,000	CurrentYearMinus3Amt
Current Year Minus2	$1,000,000	CurrentYearMinus2Amt
Current Year Minus1	$1,000,000	CurrentYearMinus1Amt
Current Year	$1,000,000	CurrentYearAmt
Total	$4,000,000	TotalAmt

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Lobbying Ceiling	$6,000,000	LobbyingCeilingAmt

Avg Grassroots Nontaxable AvgGrassrootsNontaxableGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Current Year Minus3	$250,000	CurrentYearMinus3Amt
Current Year Minus2	$250,000	CurrentYearMinus2Amt
Current Year Minus1	$250,000	CurrentYearMinus1Amt
Current Year	$250,000	CurrentYearAmt
Total	$1,000,000	TotalAmt

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Grassroots Ceiling	$1,500,000	GrassrootsCeilingAmt

Schedule D IRS990ScheduleD

CY Endwmt Fund CYEndwmtFundGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Beginning Year Balance	$90,000	BeginningYearBalanceAmt
Contributions	$4,344	ContributionsAmt
Other Expenditures	$4,344	OtherExpendituresAmt
End Year Balance	$90,000	EndYearBalanceAmt

CY Minus1 Yr Endwmt Fund CYMinus1YrEndwmtFundGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Beginning Year Balance	$90,000	BeginningYearBalanceAmt
Contributions	$4,257	ContributionsAmt
Other Expenditures	$4,257	OtherExpendituresAmt
End Year Balance	$90,000	EndYearBalanceAmt

CY Minus2 Yr Endwmt Fund CYMinus2YrEndwmtFundGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Beginning Year Balance	$90,000	BeginningYearBalanceAmt
Contributions	$3,933	ContributionsAmt
Other Expenditures	$3,933	OtherExpendituresAmt
End Year Balance	$90,000	EndYearBalanceAmt

CY Minus3 Yr Endwmt Fund CYMinus3YrEndwmtFundGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Beginning Year Balance	$90,000	BeginningYearBalanceAmt
Contributions	$2,316	ContributionsAmt
Other Expenditures	$2,316	OtherExpendituresAmt
End Year Balance	$90,000	EndYearBalanceAmt

CY Minus4 Yr Endwmt Fund CYMinus4YrEndwmtFundGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Beginning Year Balance	$90,000	BeginningYearBalanceAmt
Contributions	$1,312	ContributionsAmt
Other Expenditures	$1,312	OtherExpendituresAmt
End Year Balance	$90,000	EndYearBalanceAmt

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Prmnnt Endowment Balance EOY	1.00000	PrmnntEndowmentBalanceEOYPct
Endowments Held Unrelated Org	Yes (1)	EndowmentsHeldUnrelatedOrgInd
Endowments Held Related Org	0	EndowmentsHeldRelatedOrgInd

Land LandGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Investment Cost Or Other Basis	$2,800,000	InvestmentCostOrOtherBasisAmt
Other Cost Or Other Basis	$1,147,363	OtherCostOrOtherBasisAmt
Book Value	$3,947,363	BookValueAmt

Buildings BuildingsGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Investment Cost Or Other Basis	$1,629,400	InvestmentCostOrOtherBasisAmt
Other Cost Or Other Basis	$4,895,056	OtherCostOrOtherBasisAmt
Depreciation	$2,459,735	DepreciationAmt
Book Value	$4,064,721	BookValueAmt

Equipment EquipmentGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Other Cost Or Other Basis	$986,647	OtherCostOrOtherBasisAmt
Depreciation	$389,224	DepreciationAmt
Book Value	$597,423	BookValueAmt

Other Land Buildings OtherLandBuildingsGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Other Cost Or Other Basis	$187,877	OtherCostOrOtherBasisAmt
Depreciation	$176,628	DepreciationAmt
Book Value	$11,249	BookValueAmt

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total Book Value Land Buildings	$8,620,756	TotalBookValueLandBuildingsAmt

Other Securities OtherSecuritiesGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Desc	ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS - HEDGE FUND	Desc
Book Value	$4,370,670	BookValueAmt
Method Valuation	F	MethodValuationCd

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total Book Value Securities	$4,370,670	TotalBookValueSecuritiesAmt

Other Liabilities Org OtherLiabilitiesOrgGrp (3 entries)

DescDesc	AmtAmt
CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITIES	$1,266,542
RENTAL DEPOSITS	$80,000
CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS	$165,016

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total Liability	$1,511,558	TotalLiabilityAmt
Footnote Text	Yes (X)	FootnoteTextInd
Total Rev Etc Audited Fincl Stmt	$42,274,347	TotalRevEtcAuditedFinclStmtAmt
Net Unrealized Gains Invst	-$3,581,136	NetUnrealizedGainsInvstAmt
Donated Services And Use Fclts	$13,318,687	DonatedServicesAndUseFcltsAmt
Recoveries Prior Year Grants	$29,516	RecoveriesPriorYearGrantsAmt
Revenue Not Reported	$9,767,067	RevenueNotReportedAmt
Revenue Subtotal	$32,507,280	RevenueSubtotalAmt
Investment Expenses Not Incld	$228,143	InvestmentExpensesNotIncldAmt
Other Revenues Not Included	-$41,779	OtherRevenuesNotIncludedAmt
Revenue Not Reported Fincl Stmt	$186,364	RevenueNotReportedFinclStmtAmt
Total Revenue Per Form990	$32,693,644	TotalRevenuePerForm990Amt
Tot Expns Etc Audited Fincl Stmt	$44,579,091	TotExpnsEtcAuditedFinclStmtAmt
Donated Services Use Fclts	$13,318,687	DonatedServicesUseFcltsAmt
Expenses Not Reported	$13,318,687	ExpensesNotReportedAmt
Expenses Subtotal	$31,260,404	ExpensesSubtotalAmt
Investment Expenses Not Incld2	$228,143	InvestmentExpensesNotIncld2Amt
Other Expenses Not Included	-$8,694	OtherExpensesNotIncludedAmt
Expenses Not Rpt Fincl Stmt	$219,449	ExpensesNotRptFinclStmtAmt
Total Expenses Per Form990	$31,479,853	TotalExpensesPerForm990Amt

Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail (4 entries)

Form And Line ReferenceFormAndLineReferenceDesc	ExplanationExplanationTxt
PART V, LINE 4:	THE EARNINGS ON THIS ENDOWMENT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH PROGRAM, ARE RECORDED AS TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED INVESTMENT INCOME, AND ARE RELEASED AS SPENT.
PART X, LINE 2:	BRIGHTFOCUS PERFORMED AN EVALUATION OF UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2016, AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE NO MATTERS THAT WOULD REQUIRE RECOGNITION IN THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OR THAT MAY HAVE ANY EFFECT ON ITS TAX-EXEMPT STATUS.
PART XI, LINE 4B - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS:	DEPRECIATION ON RENTAL PROPERTY -41,779.
PART XII, LINE 4B - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS:	DEPRECIATION ON RENTAL PROPERTY -41,779. CHANGE IN PRESENT VALUE OF GRANTS 33,085.

Schedule F IRS990ScheduleF

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Grant Records Maintained	Yes (1)	GrantRecordsMaintainedInd

Account Activities Outside US AccountActivitiesOutsideUSGrp (3 entries)

RegionRegionTxt	Type Of Activities ConductedTypeOfActivitiesConductedTxt	Region Total ExpendituresRegionTotalExpendituresAmt
EUROPE (INCLUDING ICELAND & GREENLAND) - ALBANIA, ANDORRA, AUSTRIA, BELGIUM	GRANTMAKING	$609,596
EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC	GRANTMAKING	$235,322
NORTH AMERICA	GRANTMAKING	$160,000

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Subtotal Offices	0	SubtotalOfficesCnt
Subtotal Employees	0	SubtotalEmployeesCnt
Continutation Total Office	0	ContinutationTotalOfficeCnt
Continutation Total Employee	0	ContinutationTotalEmployeeCnt
Total Office	0	TotalOfficeCnt
Total Employee	0	TotalEmployeeCnt
Subtotal Spent	$1,004,918	SubtotalSpentAmt
Continuation Spent	$0	ContinuationSpentAmt
Total Spent	$1,004,918	TotalSpentAmt

Grants To Org Outside US GrantsToOrgOutsideUSGrp (6 entries)

RegionRegionTxt	Purpose Of GrantPurposeOfGrantTxt	Cash GrantCashGrantAmt	Manner Of Cash DisbursementMannerOfCashDisbursementTxt
EUROPE (INCLUDING ICELAND & GREENLAND) - ALBANIA, ANDORRA, AUSTRIA, BELGIUM	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY PATRICK KEHOE, BSC, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016582S)	$300,000	WIRE
EUROPE (INCLUDING ICELAND & GREENLAND) - ALBANIA, ANDORRA, AUSTRIA, BELGIUM	NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY RUDOLF FUCHSHOFER, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016076)	$149,596	WIRE
EUROPE (INCLUDING ICELAND & GREENLAND) - ALBANIA, ANDORRA, AUSTRIA, BELGIUM	MACULAR DEGENERATION DISEASE RESEARCH BY SARAH DOYLE, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016030)	$160,000	WIRE
EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC - AUSTRALIA, BRUNEI, BURMA, CAMBODIA,	MACULAR DEGENERATION DISEASE RESEARCH BY ROBYN GUYMER, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016061)	$155,322	WIRE
EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC - AUSTRALIA, BRUNEI, BURMA, CAMBODIA,	MACULAR DEGENERATION DISEASE RESEARCH BY PAUL BAIRD, BSC, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016178)	$80,000	WIRE
NORTH AMERICA	MACULAR DEGENERATION RES. BY BRIAN BALLIOS, MD, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016173)	$160,000	WIRE

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total501c3 Org	6	Total501c3OrgCnt
Total Other Org	0	TotalOtherOrgCnt
Transfer To Foreign Corp	Yes (1)	TransferToForeignCorpInd
Interest In Foreign Trust	0	InterestInForeignTrustInd
Foreign Corp Ownership	Yes (1)	ForeignCorpOwnershipInd
Passive Foreign Investmest Co	0	PassiveForeignInvestmestCoInd
Foreign Partnership	0	ForeignPartnershipInd
Boycott Countries	0	BoycottCountriesInd

Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Form And Line Reference	PART I, LINE 2:	FormAndLineReferenceDesc
Explanation	BRIGHTFOCUS INTERACTS WITH ALL GRANTEES AT LEAST QUARTERLY BY E-MAIL OR AT SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS. IN ADDITION TO THESE INTERACTIONS, EACH GRANT RECIPIENT IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT SEPARATE DETAILED ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS AND FINANCIAL REPORTS TO BRIGHTFOCUS. THESE ARE RECEIVED BY THE BRIGHTFOCUS SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, AND REVIEWED BY SCIENTIFIC STAFF WITH BROAD EXPERTISE IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, CELL BIOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, IMAGING AND GENETICS. SENIOR STAFF REVIEWS EACH PROGRESS REPORT AND EVALUATES THE PROJECT FOR SUFFICIENT PROGRESS TOWARDS THE SPECIFIC AIMS PROPOSED IN THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION OR ANY BUDGETARY CONCERNS. THIS EFFORT IS SUPPORTED BY ADDITIONAL SCIENTIFIC COUNSEL FROM MEMBERS OF THE BRIGHTFOCUS SCIENTIFIC REVIEW COMMITTEES, WHEN REQUIRED. IN ADDITION TO STATEMENTS OF EXPERIMENTAL PROGRESS, ALL GRANTEES ARE ASKED TO REPORT ANY TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS, MEDIA REPORTS, OR PATENT APPLICATIONS IN WHICH BRIGHTFOCUS-SPONSORED RESEARCH IS DESCRIBED. IF SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS RELATED TO PROGRESS ON THE AWARDS ARE DISCOVERED, AND NOT RESOLVED AFTER INTERACTION WITH THE AWARD GRANTEE, THE BRIGHTFOCUS STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GRANT AGREEMENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS, BRIGHTFOCUS MAY WITHHOLD FUNDING, OR DISCONTINUE AN AWARD, FOR ANY GRANTEE THAT FAILS TO ACHIEVE SUFFICIENT PROGRESS OR SUBMIT REQUIRED REPORTS. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE GRANT AWARD PERIOD, EACH GRANTEE MUST COMPLETE AND SUBMIT A FINAL REPORT THAT IS ALSO REVIEWED BY THE BRIGHTFOCUS SENIOR SCIENTIFIC STAFF. EVALUATION OF THE WORK OF EACH GRANTEE IS QUALITATIVELY AND QUANTITATIVELY ASSESSED THROUGH VARIOUS METRICS RELATED TO THE IMPACT OF THE GRANT ON ITS TARGETED DISEASE FIELD. SUCH IMPACT METRICS HAVE REVEALED THAT 95% OF BRIGHTFOCUS-SUPPORTED RESEARCH RESULTS IN RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS THAT ADVANCE THE FIELDS SERVED BY BRIGHTFOCUS. THIS IMPACT IS FURTHER SUPPORTED BY ANNUAL CITATION ANALYSIS THAT COMPARES BRIGHTFOCUS-SUPPORTED WORKS TO A STATISTICAL SAMPLE OF WORKS SUPPORTED BY EITHER THE US FEDERAL GVERNMENT OR THAT OF OTHER FUNDING AGENCIES. BRIGHTFOCUS-SUPPORTED PUBLICATIONS ARE CONSISTENTLY CITED AT NEARLY TWICE THE FREQUENCY OF ANY OTHER COMPARISON GROUP. A FINAL EXAMPLE OF IMPACT ASSESSMENT REVEALED THAT THE SUCCESSES OF BRIGHTFOCUS GRANTEES CONTINUE LONG AFTER THE GRANT EXPIRES. ON AVERAGE, EACH GRANTEE RECEIVES 2.2 ADDITIONAL GRANTS FOR PROJECTS SPAWNED BY THE BRIGHTFOCUS GRANT. THESE COME AT VALUES NEARLY 10 TIMES THE LEVEL OF THE INITIAL BRIGHTFOCUS INVESTMENT. BRIGHTFOCUS SOLICITS FEEDBACK FROM ITS GRANTEES, AND PROVIDES AN ANONYMOUS FORUM FOR COLLECTING SUCH INFORMATION. THROUGHOUT OUR WEBSITE AND WITHIN THE FINAL SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS REPORT, THERE ARE DESIGNATED SECTIONS WHERE AWARDEES ARE ASKED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO THE FOUNDATION. THROUGH THIS MECHANISM, THEY ARE GIVEN THE ABILITY TO ANONYMOUSLY PROVIDE FEEDBACK OR COMMUNICATE THEIR CONCERNS TO PROGRAM STAFF OR THE BRIGHTFOCUS' COMPLIANCE OFFICE. ANY SUGGESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMPLAINTS, OR POSITIVE EXPERIENCES CAN BE OUTLINED AND BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF BRIGHTFOCUS IN THIS MANNER, SO WE MAY ADDRESS ANY AREAS NEEDING IMPROVEMENT, REAFFIRM PRAISE-WORTHY POLICIES, OR OTHERWISE ASSESS NEEDS FOR PROGRAMMATIC CHANGE. THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP PRESENTS AND SUMMARIZES THE STATUS AND PROGRESS ON GRANTS TO THE BRIGHTFOCUS BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT EACH OF THEIR QUARTERLY BOARD MEETINGS.	ExplanationTxt

Schedule G IRS990ScheduleG

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Mail Solicitations	Yes (X)	MailSolicitationsInd
Email Solicitations	Yes (X)	EmailSolicitationsInd
In Person Solicitations	Yes (X)	InPersonSolicitationsInd
Solicitation Of Non Govt Grants	Yes (X)	SolicitationOfNonGovtGrantsInd
Agrmt Prof Fundraising Acty	Yes (1)	AgrmtProfFundraisingActyInd

Fundraiser Activity Info FundraiserActivityInfoGrp

Organization Business Name OrganizationBusinessName

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Business Name Line1	ROBBINS KERSTEN DIRECT INC	BusinessNameLine1Txt

US Address USAddress

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Address Line1	201 SUMMER STREET	AddressLine1Txt
City	HOLLISTON	CityNm
State Abbreviation	MA	StateAbbreviationCd
ZIP	07146	ZIPCd

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Activity	FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT	ActivityTxt
Fundraiser Control Of Funds	0	FundraiserControlOfFundsInd
Gross Receipts	$19,881,209	GrossReceiptsAmt
Retained By Contractor	$406,673	RetainedByContractorAmt
Net To Organization	$19,474,536	NetToOrganizationAmt

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total Gross Receipts	$19,881,209	TotalGrossReceiptsAmt
Total Retained By Contractors	$406,673	TotalRetainedByContractorsAmt
Total Net To Organization	$19,474,536	TotalNetToOrganizationAmt
Licensed States	AL	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	AK	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	AZ	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	AR	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	CA	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	CO	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	CT	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	DC	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	FL	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	GA	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	HI	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	IL	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	KS	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	KY	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	LA	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	ME	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	MD	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	MA	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	MI	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	MN	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	MS	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	MO	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	NH	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	NJ	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	NM	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	NY	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	NC	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	ND	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	OH	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	OK	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	OR	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	PA	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	RI	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	SC	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	TN	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	UT	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	VA	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	WA	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	WV	LicensedStatesCd
Licensed States	WI	LicensedStatesCd

Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Form And Line Reference	SCHEDULE G, PART I, LINE 2B, COLUMN (V)	FormAndLineReferenceDesc
Explanation	IN THE CONTRACT WITH ROBBINS KERSTEN DIRECT, THE MANAGEMENT FEES ARE FIXED AMOUNTS PER MONTH FOR IN-SCOPE SERVICES THAT TOTALS $966,132 PER YEAR OF WHICH $559,459 HAS BEEN ALLOCATED UNDER PART XI, LINE 11(G) TO PROGRAM AND MANAGEMENT AND ARE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE THE PROFESSIONAL FUNDRAISING CONSULTANT FEE.	ExplanationTxt

Schedule I IRS990ScheduleI

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Grant Records Maintained	Yes (1)	GrantRecordsMaintainedInd

Recipient Table RecipientTable (63 entries)

Address Line1USAddress/AddressLine1Txt	CityUSAddress/CityNm	State AbbreviationUSAddress/StateAbbreviationCd	ZIPUSAddress/ZIPCd	Recipient EINRecipientEIN	IRC SectionIRCSectionDesc	Cash GrantCashGrantAmt	Purpose Of GrantPurposeOfGrantTxt	Address Line2USAddress/AddressLine2Txt
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
600 N WOLFE STREET MEYER 218	BALTIMORE	MD	21205	520595110	501(C)(3)	$300,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY JASON BRANDT, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016073S)
CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
10900 EUCLID AVENUE	CLEVELAND	OH	44106	341018992	501(C)(3)	$275,529	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY JIRI SAFAR, MD ENTITLED: (A2016085S)
BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
ONE BAYLOR PLAZA	HOUSTON	TX	77030	741159753	501(C)(3)	$299,732	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY HUDA ZOGHBI, MD ENTITLED: (A2016151S)
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
55 FRUIT STREET	BOSTON	MA	02114	041564655	501(C)(3)	$300,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY IMAN AGANJ, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016172S)
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
660 S EUCLID AVENUE	ST LOUIS	MO	63110	430653611	501(C)(3)	$300,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY BRENDAN LUCEY, MD ENTITLED: (A2016180S)
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO
9500 GILMAN DRIVE	LA JOLLA	CA	92093	956006144	501(C)(3)	$100,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY EMILIE REAS, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016241F)
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
3451 WALNUT STREET	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19194	231352685	501(C)(3)	$250,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY DAVID IRWIN, MD ENTITLED: (A2016244S)
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
34TH O STREETS NW	WASHINGTON	DC	20057	530196603	501(C)(3)	$300,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY XIONG JIANG, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016251S)
THE CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION
9500 EUCLID AVENUE	CLEVELAND	OH	44195	912153073	501(C)(3)	$300,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY DIANNE PEREZ, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016272S)
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
5323 HARRY HINES BOULEVARD	DALLAS	TX	75390	756002868	501(C)(3)	$300,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY MARK HENKEMEYER, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016345S)
MAYO CLINIC JACKSONVILLE
4500 SAN PABLO ROAD	JACKSONVILLE	FL	32224	411906820	501(C)(3)	$100,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY CHIA-CHEN LIU, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016346F)
J DAVID GLADSTONE INSTITUTES
1650 OWENS STREET	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94158	237203666	501(C)(3)	$100,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY TARA TRACY, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016360F)
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
55 FRUIT STREET	BOSTON	MA	02114	041564655	501(C)(3)	$300,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY DOO YEON KIM, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016362S)
TUFTS UNIVERSITY
419 BOSTON AVENUE	MEDFORD	MA	02155	042103634	501(C)(3)	$100,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY SELENE LOMOIO, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016379F)
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
5323 HARRY HINES BOULEVARD	DALLAS	TX	75390	756002868	501(C)(3)	$300,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY JOACHIM HERZ, MD ENTITLED: (A2016396S)
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
930 MADISON AVENUE SUITE 731	MEMPHIS	TN	38120	621721435	501(C)(3)	$300,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY CATHERINE KACZOROWSKI, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016397S)
WEILL CORNELL MEDICAL COLLEGE
1300 YORK AVENUE	NEW YORK	NY	10065	131623978	501(C)(3)	$300,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY WENJIE LUO, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016399S)
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
55 FRUIT STREET	BOSTON	MA	02114	041564655	501(C)(3)	$100,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY RACHEL BENNETT, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016404F)
YALE UNIVERSITY
47 COLLEGE STREET SUITE 203	NEW HAVEN	CT	06510	060646973	501(C)(3)	$100,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY SWETHA GOWRISHANKAR, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016411F)
BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
75 FRANCIS STREET	BOSTON	MA	02115	042312909	501(C)(3)	$100,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY QIAOQIAO SHI, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016425F)
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
3700 HAMILTON WALK 6TH FLOOR	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19104	231352685	501(C)(3)	$100,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY LAURA WISSE, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016432F)
MCLEAN HOSPITAL
115 MILL STREET	BELMONT	MA	02478	042697981	501(C)(3)	$100,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY JENNIFER GATCHEL, MD, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016434F)
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
1 UNIVERSITY STATION	AUSTIN	TX	78712	746000203	501(C)(3)	$185,020	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY STEPHEN MARTIN, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016443S)
THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY
1230 YORK AVENUE	NEW YORK	NY	10065	131624158	501(C)(3)	$300,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY ANA PEREIRA, MD ENTITLED: (A2016478S)
ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
1468 MADISON AVENUE	NEW YORK	NY	10029	136171197	501(C)(3)	$100,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY JEAN-VIANNEY HAURE-MIRANDE, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016482F)
EMORY UNIVERSITY
1599 CLIFTON ROAD NE 4TH FLOOR	ATLANTA	GA	30322	580566256	501(C)(3)	$300,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY ZIXU MAO, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016501S)
ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
ONE GUSTAVE L LEVY PLACE	NEW YORK	NY	10029	136171197	501(C)(3)	$200,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY STEPHEN SALTON, MD, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016508S)
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
72 EAST CONCORD STREET L-606B	BOSTON	MA	02118	042103547	501(C)(3)	$300,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY TSUNEYA IKEZU, MD, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016551S)
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
611 CHARLES E YOUNG DRIVE EAST	LOS ANGELES	CA	90095	956006143	501(C)(3)	$94,536	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY PAUL SEIDLER, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016588F)
JOHNS HOPKINS BAYVIEW MEDICAL CENTER
4940 EASTERN AVENUE 457	BALTIMORE	MD	21224	520595110	501(C)(3)	$92,500	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY CONSTANTINE LYKETSOS, MD, MHS ENTITLED: (C2015500)
HUMAN COMPUTATION INSTITUTE
5218 POMMERY DRIVE	FAIRFAX	VA	22032	471882267	501(C)(3)	$250,000	ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY PIETRO MICHELUCCI, PHD ENTITLED: (CA2016629)
MAYO CLINIC - JACKSONVILLE
4500 SAN PABLO ROAD ROOM 110	JACKSONVILLE	FL	32224	593337028	501(C)(3)	$10,000	TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP SPONSORSHIP FOR ICMN MEETING.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AREA AGENCIES ON AGING
1730 RHODE ISLAND AVENUE NW SUITE	WASHINGTON	DC	20036	521052345	501(C)(3)	$75,000	DEMENTIA FRIENDLY AMERICA INITIATIVE PROJECT.	1200
AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
1120 15TH STREET CB1101	AUGUSTA	GA	30912	586002053	501(C)(3)	$150,000	NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY YUTAO LIU, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016023)
RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
701 ELLICOTT STREET	BUFFALO	NY	14203	141368361	501(C)(3)	$150,000	NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY XIUQIAN MU, MD, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016024)
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
901 ATLANTIC DRIVE NW	ATLANTA	GA	30332	580603146	501(C)(3)	$75,000	NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY RAQUEL LIEBERMAN, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016027)
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
3025 EAST CARSON STREET ROOM 159	PITTSBURGH	PA	15203	250965591	501(C)(3)	$150,000	NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY KEVIN CHAN, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016030)
THE SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
20 STANIFORD STREET	BOSTON	MA	02114	766090753	501(C)(3)	$150,000	NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY MEREDITH GREGORY-KSANDER, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016081)
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO
10 KORET WAY ROOM K323	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94143	946036493	501(C)(3)	$150,000	NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY YVONNE OU, MD ENTITLED: (G2016084)
BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
72 EAST CONCORD STREET ROOM L905	BOSTON	MA	02118	042129889	501(C)(3)	$150,000	NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY HAIYAN GONG, MD, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016099)
BOARD OF REGENTS UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM
1300 UNIVERSITY AVENUE	MADISON	WI	53715	396006492	501(C)(3)	$150,000	NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY GILLIAN MCLELLAN, BVMS, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016129)
MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY
243 CHARLES STREET	BOSTON	MA	02114	042103591	501(C)(3)	$150,000	NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY DANIEL SUN, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016137)
MOUNT SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
1 GUSTAVE L LEVY PLACE BOX 1183	NEW YORK	NY	10029	136171197	501(C)(3)	$150,000	NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY AUDREY BERNSTEIN, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016151)
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
167 ASHLEY AVENUE	CHARLESTON	SC	29425	576000722	501(C)(3)	$150,000	NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY SHAHID HUSAIN, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016157)
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
1670 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD VH 390A	BIRMINGHAM	AL	35294	636005396	501(C)(3)	$149,959	NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY CRAWFORD DOWNS, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016165)
THE SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
20 STANIFORD STREET	BOSTON	MA	02114	766090753	501(C)(3)	$159,641	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY PETR BARANOV, MD, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016046)
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
886 CHESTNUT RIDGE ROAD	MORGANTOWN	WV	26506	556000842	501(C)(3)	$160,000	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY JIANHAI DU, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016047)
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
400 NORTH BROADWAY M035	BALTIMORE	MD	21231	520595110	501(C)(3)	$160,000	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY DEBASISH SINHA, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016056)
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
3501 FIFTH AVENUE ROOM 2051	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	250965591	501(C)(3)	$150,000	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY JEFFREY GROSS, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016067)
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
881 MADISON AVE PHARMACY BUILDING	MEMPHIS	TN	38163	621721435	501(C)(3)	$160,000	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY FRANCESCO GIORGIANNI, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016068)
THE CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION
9500 EUCLID AVENUE I31	CLEVELAND	OH	44195	912153073	501(C)(3)	$160,000	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY VERA BONILHA, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016079)
DOHENY EYE INSTITUTE
1450 SAN PABLO STREET DVRC-312	LOS ANGELES	CA	90033	954044252	501(C)(3)	$160,000	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY ZHIHONG HU, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016088)
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
400 N BROADWAY SMITH BUILDING 3023	BALTIMORE	MD	21205	520595110	501(C)(3)	$160,000	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY MARIA VALERIA CANTO-SOLER, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016119)
JOAN AND SANFORD I WEILL MED COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
1300 YORK AVENUE	NEW YORK	NY	10065	042103591	501(C)(3)	$160,000	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY MARCELO NOCIARI, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016124)
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE
900 UNIVERSITY AVENUE MSE 207	RIVERSIDE	CA	92521	956006142	501(C)(3)	$160,000	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY KAUSTABH GHOSH, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016161)
MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY
243 CHARLES STREET	BOSTON	MA	02114	042103591	501(C)(3)	$160,000	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY KIP CONNOR, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016183)
USC EYE INSTITUTE
1450 SAN PABLO STREET SUITE 3608	LOS ANGELES	CA	90033	951642394	501(C)(3)	$160,000	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY BIJU THOMAS, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016186)
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
400 NORTH BROADWAY M023	BALTIMORE	MD	21205	520595110	501(C)(3)	$160,000	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY MALIA EDWARDS, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016198)
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SW MEDICAL CENTER
5323 HARRY HINES BOULEVARD	DALLAS	TX	75390	042103591	501(C)(3)	$160,000	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY JOHN HULLEMAN, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016200)
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA
227 CHEADLE HALL	SANTA BARBARA	CA	93106	956006145	501(C)(3)	$160,000	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY PATRICK DAUGHERTY, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016219)
SCHEIE EYE INSTITUTE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
51 N 39TH STREET	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19104	231352685	501(C)(3)	$100,000	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY BENJAMIN KIM, MD ENTITLED: (CM2016971)
DUKE UNIVERSITY EYE CENTER
2351 ERWIN ROAD	DURHAM	NC	21205	201803239	501(C)(3)	$10,000	MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY MIKAEL KLINGEBORN, PHD ENTITLED: (M2015221)
NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
31 CENTER DRIVE BUILDING 31	BETHESDA	MD	20892	520858115	501(C)(3)	$5,500	TRAVEL AWARD FOR YOUNG INVESTIGATORS TO ATTEND THE NEI AUDACIOUS GOAL WORKSHOP.

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Total501c3 Org	49	Total501c3OrgCnt
Total Other Org	0	TotalOtherOrgCnt

Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Form And Line Reference	PART I, LINE 2:	FormAndLineReferenceDesc
Explanation	BRIGHTFOCUS INTERACTS WITH ALL GRANTEES AT LEAST QUARTERLY BY E-MAIL OR AT SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS. IN ADDITION TO THESE INTERACTIONS, EACH GRANT RECIPIENT IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT SEPARATE DETAILED ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS AND FINANCIAL REPORTS TO BRIGHTFOCUS. THESE ARE RECEIVED BY THE BRIGHTFOCUS SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, AND REVIEWED BY SCIENTIFIC STAFF WITH BROAD EXPERTISE IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, CELL BIOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, IMAGING AND GENETICS. SENIOR STAFF REVIEWS EACH PROGRESS REPORT AND EVALUATES THE PROJECT FOR SUFFICIENT PROGRESS TOWARDS THE SPECIFIC AIMS PROPOSED IN THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION OR ANY BUDGETARY CONCERNS. THIS EFFORT IS SUPPORTED BY ADDITIONAL SCIENTIFIC COUNSEL FROM MEMBERS OF THE BRIGHTFOCUS SCIENTIFIC REVIEW COMMITTEES, WHEN REQUIRED. IN ADDITION TO STATEMENTS OF EXPERIMENTAL PROGRESS, ALL GRANTEES ARE ASKED TO REPORT ANY TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS, MEDIA REPORTS, OR PATENT APPLICATIONS IN WHICH BRIGHTFOCUS-SPONSORED RESEARCH IS DESCRIBED. IF SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS RELATED TO PROGRESS ON THE AWARDS ARE DISCOVERED, AND NOT RESOLVED AFTER INTERACTION WITH THE AWARD GRANTEE, THE BRIGHTFOCUS STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GRANT AGREEMENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS, BRIGHTFOCUS MAY WITHHOLD FUNDING, OR DISCONTINUE AN AWARD, FOR ANY GRANTEE THAT FAILS TO ACHIEVE SUFFICIENT PROGRESS OR SUBMIT REQUIRED REPORTS. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE GRANT AWARD PERIOD, EACH GRANTEE MUST COMPLETE AND SUBMIT A FINAL REPORT THAT IS ALSO REVIEWED BY THE BRIGHTFOCUS SENIOR SCIENTIFIC STAFF. EVALUATION OF THE WORK OF EACH GRANTEE IS QUALITATIVELY AND QUANTITATIVELY ASSESSED THROUGH VARIOUS METRICS RELATED TO THE IMPACT OF THE GRANT ON ITS TARGETED DISEASE FIELD. SUCH IMPACT METRICS HAVE REVEALED THAT 95% OF BRIGHTFOCUS-SUPPORTED RESEARCH RESULTS IN RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS THAT ADVANCE THE FIELDS SERVED BY BRIGHTFOCUS. THIS IMPACT IS FURTHER SUPPORTED BY ANNUAL CITATION ANALYSIS THAT COMPARES BRIGHTFOCUS-SUPPORTED WORKS TO A STATISTICAL SAMPLE OF WORKS SUPPORTED BY EITHER THE US FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR THAT OF OTHER FUNDING AGENCIES. BRIGHTFOCUS-SUPPORTED PUBLICATIONS ARE CONSISTENTLY CITED AT NEARLY TWICE THE FREQUENCY OF ANY OTHER COMPARISON GROUP. A FINAL EXAMPLE OF IMPACT ASSESSMENT REVEALED THAT THE SUCCESSES OF BRIGHTFOCUS GRANTEES CONTINUE LONG AFTER THE GRANT EXPIRES. ON AVERAGE, EACH GRANTEE RECEIVES 2.2 ADDITIONAL GRANTS FOR PROJECTS SPAWNED BY THE BRIGHTFOCUS GRANT. THESE COME AT VALUES NEARLY 10 TIMES THE LEVEL OF THE INITIAL BRIGHTFOCUS INVESTMENT. BRIGHTFOCUS SOLICITS FEEDBACK FROM ITS GRANTEES, AND PROVIDES AN ANONYMOUS FORUM FOR COLLECTING SUCH INFORMATION. THROUGHOUT OUR WEBSITE AND WITHIN THE FINAL SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS REPORT, THERE ARE DESIGNATED SECTIONS WHERE AWARDEES ARE ASKED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO THE FOUNDATION. THROUGH THIS MECHANISM, THEY ARE GIVEN THE ABILITY TO ANONYMOUSLY PROVIDE FEEDBACK OR COMMUNICATE THEIR CONCERNS TO PROGRAM STAFF OR THE BRIGHTFOCUS' COMPLIANCE OFFICE. ANY SUGGESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMPLAINTS, OR POSITIVE EXPERIENCES CAN BE OUTLINED AND BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF BRIGHTFOCUS IN THIS MANNER, SO WE MAY ADDRESS ANY AREAS NEEDING IMPROVEMENT, REAFFIRM PRAISE-WORTHY POLICIES, OR OTHERWISE ASSESS NEEDS FOR PROGRAMMATIC CHANGE. THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP PRESENTS AND SUMMARIZES THE STATUS AND PROGRESS ON GRANTS TO THE BRIGHTFOCUS BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT EACH OF THEIR QUARTERLY BOARD MEETINGS.	ExplanationTxt

Schedule J IRS990ScheduleJ

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Compensation Committee	Yes (X)	CompensationCommitteeInd
Independent Consultant	Yes (X)	IndependentConsultantInd
Form990 Of Other Organizations	Yes (X)	Form990OfOtherOrganizationsInd
Compensation Survey	Yes (X)	CompensationSurveyInd
Board Or Committee Approval	Yes (X)	BoardOrCommitteeApprovalInd
Severance Payment	0	SeverancePaymentInd
Supplemental Nonqual Rtr Plan	0	SupplementalNonqualRtrPlanInd
Equity Based Comp Arrngm	0	EquityBasedCompArrngmInd
Comp Based On Revenue Of Flng Org	0	CompBasedOnRevenueOfFlngOrgInd
Comp Bsd On Rev Related Orgs	0	CompBsdOnRevRelatedOrgsInd
Comp Bsd Net Earns Flng Org	0	CompBsdNetEarnsFlngOrgInd
Comp Bsd Net Earns Rltd Orgs	0	CompBsdNetEarnsRltdOrgsInd
Any Non Fixed Payments	Yes (1)	AnyNonFixedPaymentsInd
Initial Contract Exception	0	InitialContractExceptionInd

Rltd Org Officer Trst Key Empl RltdOrgOfficerTrstKeyEmplGrp (6 entries)

TitleTitleTxt	Base Compensation Filing OrgBaseCompensationFilingOrgAmt	Compensation Based On Rltd OrgsCompensationBasedOnRltdOrgsAmt	Bonus Filing OrganizationBonusFilingOrganizationAmount	Bonus Related OrganizationsBonusRelatedOrganizationsAmt	Other Compensation Filing OrgOtherCompensationFilingOrgAmt	Other Compensation Rltd OrgsOtherCompensationRltdOrgsAmt	Deferred Compensation Flng OrgDeferredCompensationFlngOrgAmt	Deferred Comp Rltd OrgsDeferredCompRltdOrgsAmt	Nontaxable Benefits Filing OrgNontaxableBenefitsFilingOrgAmt	Nontaxable Benefits Rltd OrgsNontaxableBenefitsRltdOrgsAmt	Total Compensation Filing OrgTotalCompensationFilingOrgAmt	Total Compensation Rltd OrgsTotalCompensationRltdOrgsAmt	Comp Report Prior990 Filing OrgCompReportPrior990FilingOrgAmt	Comp Report Prior990 Rltd OrgsCompReportPrior990RltdOrgsAmt
STACY PAGOS HALLER
PRESIDENT/CEO	$336,210	$0	$45,000	$0	$1,935	$0	$39,750	$0	$37,621	$0	$460,516	$0	$0	$0
GUY EAKIN PH D
VP, SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS	$148,759	$0	$0	$0	$240	$0	$23,406	$0	$22,998	$0	$195,403	$0	$0	$0
DAVID F MARKS CPA CMA
VP, FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION	$147,746	$0	$0	$0	$1,032	$0	$23,743	$0	$37,025	$0	$209,546	$0	$0	$0
MICHAEL BUCKLEY
VP, PUBLIC AFFAIRS	$135,910	$0	$0	$0	$360	$0	$9,520	$0	$26,298	$0	$172,088	$0	$0	$0
BRIAN KLINZING
SR. DIR. CORP. & FOUNDATION GIVING	$131,676	$0	$0	$0	$240	$0	$9,365	$0	$8,844	$0	$150,125	$0	$0	$0
DONNA CALLISON
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT	$129,441	$0	$0	$0	$1,502	$0	$20,159	$0	$19,736	$0	$170,838	$0	$0	$0

Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Form And Line Reference	PART I, LINE 7	FormAndLineReferenceDesc
Explanation	AS THE PRESIDENT/CEO'S BONUS WAS NOT A FIXED PAYMENT SPECIFIED IN HER EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, THIS ITEM HAS BEEN ANSWERED 'YES' IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE INSTRUCTIONS. HOWEVER, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT HER BONUS WAS A NON-FIXED PAYMENT BASED ON BRIGHTFOCUS' INTERNAL PROCEDURES. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSIDERS THE AWARD OF A DISCRETIONARY BONUS EACH YEAR. THE DETERMINATION OF THE BONUS COMPENSATION IS CAPPED AS SPECIFIED IN HER EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, AND IF NOT WARRANTED WILL NOT BE AWARDED AT ALL. THE DETERMINATION IS MADE BY THE FULL BOARD UPON RECOMMENDATION OF ITS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REVIEW OF PRESIDENT/CEO COMPENSATION. THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS A SET OF GOALS FOR THE PRESIDENT/CEO'S PERFORMANCE DEVELOPED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PRESIDENT/CEO. EACH GOAL IS EVALUATED AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE GOAL HAS BEEN MET OR EXCEEDED. THE BONUS IS AWARDED BASED ON A DETAILED REVIEW BY THE BOARD OF WHETHER EACH GOAL HAS BEEN MET OR EXCEEDED.	ExplanationTxt

Schedule M IRS990ScheduleM

Securities Publicly Traded SecuritiesPubliclyTradedGrp

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Non Cash Checkbox	Yes (X)	NonCashCheckboxInd
Contribution	10	ContributionCnt
Noncash Contributions Rpt F990	$59,163	NoncashContributionsRptF990Amt
Method Of Determining Revenues	FMV	MethodOfDeterminingRevenuesTxt

Field	Value	IRS element (for citing)
Any Property That Must Be Held	0	AnyPropertyThatMustBeHeldInd
Review Process Unusual NC Gifts	Yes (1)	ReviewProcessUnusualNCGiftsInd
Third Parties Used	0	ThirdPartiesUsedInd

Schedule O IRS990ScheduleO

Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail (23 entries)

Form And Line ReferenceFormAndLineReferenceDesc	ExplanationExplanationTxt
FORM 990, PART III, LINE 1, DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION MISSION:	BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION (BRIGHTFOCUS) SEEKS TO SAVE MIND AND SIGHT BY FUNDING INNOVATIVE RESEARCH WORLDWIDE AND BY PROMOTING BETTER HEALTH THROUGH EDUCATION. WE FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON THREE INCURABLE DISEASES AFFECTING MIND AND SIGHT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, MACULAR DEGENERATION, AND GLAUCOMA. COLLECTIVELY, 1 IN 16 PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 40 IN THE U.S. ALONE HAS ONE OF THESE DISEASES. BRIGHTFOCUS HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF SUPPORTING THE MOST INNOVATIVE, EARLY-STAGE RESEARCH SEEKING BETTER UNDERSTANDING, TREATMENTS, OR, ULTIMATELY, A CURE FOR THESE DISEASES. SINCE 1973, BRIGHTFOCUS HAS AWARDED MORE THAN $150 MILLION IN RESEARCH GRANTS TO THOUSANDS OF SCIENTISTS AROUND THE WORLD. OUR RESEARCH FUNDING HAS LED TO MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF THESE DISEASES AND TO THE AWARDING OF TWO NOBEL PRIZES. BRIGHTFOCUS-SUPPORTED FINDINGS ARE CONSISTENTLY CITED BY OTHER SCIENTISTS AT TWICE THE FREQUENCY AS OTHER RESEARCH FINDINGS. OUR FUNDING ACTS AS A CATALYST IN EARLY-STAGE RESEARCH. THE BRIGHTFOCUS RESEARCH PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INITIAL FUNDING FOR HIGHLY INNOVATIVE EXPERIMENTAL IDEAS. DUE TO THE STRUCTURED GRANT REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCESS, THE RESEARCH IMPACT OF BRIGHTFOCUS IS VERY HIGH. MOST RECIPIENTS OF BRIGHTFOCUS FUNDING GO ON TO RECEIVE FUTURE GRANTS FROM OTHER SOURCES THAT ARE 10 TIMES LARGER THAN THE ORIGINAL BRIGHTFOCUS AWARD. THIS ONE THOUSAND PERCENT RETURN ON BRIGHTFOCUS INVESTMENT SPEAKS TO OUR ABILITY TO IDENTIFY PROMISING RESEARCH IN ITS EARLIEST STAGES AND SPAWN FUTURE SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES. IT IS OUR FIRM BELIEF THAT HAVING THE COURAGE TO INVEST IN INNOVATIVE IDEAS WILL LEAD TO REVOLUTIONARY APPROACHES AND LIFE-SAVING BREAKTHROUGHS. INDISPUTABLY, THE WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH IDENTIFIED AND SUPPORTED BY BRIGHTFOCUS IS MORE THAN PROMISING: IT IS MAKING A REAL CONTRIBUTION TO REVOLUTIONARY SCIENCE IN THE FIGHT TO SAVE MIND AND SIGHT. ALONG WITH FUNDING CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH TO FIND CURES TO SOME OF SOCIETY'S COSTLIEST DISEASES, BRIGHTFOCUS ALSO PROVIDES FREE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND SUPPORT TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THESE DISEASES NATIONWIDE. WE BASE THESE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS OFF OF THE LATEST RESEARCH FINDINGS. BRIGHTFOCUS INCREASES PUBLIC AWARENESS OF ALZHEIMER'S, MACULAR DEGENERATION, AND GLAUCOMA, AND COMMUNICATES WITH THOUGHT LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN THESE AREAS. BRIGHTFOCUS' AWARD-WINNING PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS (PSA) HAVE APPEARED ON TELEVISION, RADIO, AND IN PRINT THROUGHOUT THE NATION. BOTH MAKE A PLAN TODAY: GET YOUR EYES CHECKED AND NOW IS THE MOMENT TO STOP ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE POWERFULLY SEEK TO RAISE AWARENESS AND EARLY DETECTION. SIMILAR MESSAGES HAVE BEEN DELIVERED THROUGH DONATED PRINT PSA SPACE IN AIRPORTS AND TRAIN STATIONS, AS WELL AS AT PHARMACIES AND SUPERMARKETS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2016, THESE PSA MESSAGES GENERATED $13,318,687 IN DONATED MEDIA SERVICES AND GARNERED 1.3 BILLION IMPRESSIONS. STARTING IN FEBRUARY 2014, WE LAUNCHED BRIGHTFOCUS CHATS, A FREE, INTERACTIVE MONTHLY TELEPHONE FORUM THAT BRINGS TOGETHER PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO LEARN FROM, AND ASK QUESTIONS OF, LEADING RESEARCHERS AND SPECIALISTS ON VISION DISEASES. THE CHATS ARE ARCHIVED ON OUR WEB SITE, WITH AUDIO AND PRINT TRANSCRIPTS AVAILABLE IN A NUMBER OF ACCESSIBLE FORMATS. WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE OUR PRINT PUBLICATIONS, MANY IN SPANISH, THAT PROVIDE HELPFUL INFORMATION TO PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS, AND REGULARLY UNVEIL NEW VIDEO AND AUDIO RESOURCES IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALLIES IN THE MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR WRITTEN CONTENT OF KEY RESEARCH FINDINGS, PROMOTING AND SHARING THIS INFORMATION THROUGH OUR WEB SITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. CAPITALIZING ON EMERGING USE OF DATA VISUALIZATION, OUR BRIGHTFOCUS "SNAPSHOT" SERIES GRAPHICALLY COMMUNICATES INFORMATION ON ALZHEIMER'S, MACULAR DEGENERATION, AND GLAUCOMA. THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEB RESOURCES, WE CONDUCT CONTESTS AND PROMOTIONS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THESE DISEASES AND FURTHER SHARE BRIGHTFOCUS PUBLICATIONS AND EVENTS. A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE IS OUR HEALTHY RECIPE CONTEST, WHICH DRAWS ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTIVE LIFESTYLE CHOICES. MORE SPECIFICALLY, EACH OF THESE PROGRAM AREAS MAIL AWARENESS-RAISING MATERIALS TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HOUSEHOLDS, WITH MESSAGES FOCUSING ON: RISK FACTORS AND SYMPTOM RECOGNITION THROUGH PUBLIC AWARENESS AND STEPS THE PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE THAT MAY HELP REDUCE THEIR RISK. LIFESTYLE CHOICES THAT PROMOTE GOOD HEALTH, ENCOURAGING READERS TO TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE ONSET OF THE DISEASE. RESEARCH RESULTS AND TREATMENTS AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS THE DISEASE. BRIGHTFOCUS REGULARLY INTERACTS WITH MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA, AS WELL AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND FEDERAL AGENCY STAFF. TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR WE HAVE BEEN INVITED PRESENTERS AT U.S. CAPITOL BRIEFINGS FOR CONGRESSIONAL STAFF. THROUGH OUR OWN OUTREACH EFFORTS, AS WELL AS ACTIVE ROLES IN ADVOCACY COALITIONS, WE HELP ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF PIONEERING SCIENCE AND BETTER POSITION BRIGHTFOCUS AS A RESOURCE FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH, AND SEARCHING FOR CURES FOR, THESE TERRIBLE DISEASES.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11	A DRAFT OF THE FEDERAL FORM 990 SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW PRIOR TO BEING SUBMITTED TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. THE DRAFT FEDERAL FORM 990 SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED EARLY ENOUGH TO PROVIDE EACH COMMITTEE MEMBER WITH A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REVIEW AND SUBMISSION OF QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS PRIOR TO THE FILING DEADLINE. THE FINAL FEDERAL FORM 990 SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED TO EACH MEMBER OF THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRIOR TO BEING FILED WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. THE DRAFT OR FINAL FEDERAL FORM 990 MAY BE DISTRIBUTED IN PERSON, BY REGULAR MAIL, E-MAIL, OR FAX.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C	BRIGHTFOCUS HAS ALL EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS, AND DIRECTORS AGREE TO THE CODE OF CONDUCT THAT INCLUDES ADHERENCE TO THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND IMPLEMENTATION POLICY. EACH BOARD DIRECTOR, OFFICER, AND EMPLOYEE IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE STATEMENT ANNAUALLY. EMPLOYEES MEET ANNUALLY WITH THE BRIGHTFOCUS' CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER TO REVIEW THEIR CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENTS, AND GIVE AN ANNUAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST COMPLIANCE REPORT TO THE BOARD CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR. IF A CONFLICT IS REPORTED, IT IS THEN REFERRED TO THE PRESIDENT/CEO AND/OR BRIGHTFOCUS' LEGAL COUNSEL AND, IF APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY, THEN TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR ITS APPOINTED COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER ACTION. THE DIRECTOR'S AND OFFICER'S STATEMENTS ARE REVIEWED BY THE BRIGHTFOCUS LEGAL COUNSEL. IF A CONFLICT IS REPORTED, IT IS THEN REFERRED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR ITS APPOINTED COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER ACTION. AT THE TIME OF THE BRIGHTFOCUS DISCUSSION AND DECISION CONCERNING A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THE CONFLICTED PARTY IS NOT PRESENT IN THE MEETING.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15	BRIGHTFOCUS' BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS OVERALL AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR APPROVING THE ANNUAL BUDGET WHICH INCLUDES SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AT EVERY LEVEL INCLUDING NON-DIRECTOR OFFICERS AND KEY EMPLOYEES. ALL PAY ADJUSTMENTS ARE MADE ON A YEARLY BASIS EFFECTIVE APRIL 1ST, THE BEGINNING OF THE BRIGHTFOCUS FISCAL YEAR. BEFORE APPROVING THE COMPENSATION OF THE PRESIDENT/CEO, THE BOARD DETERMINES THE TOTAL COMPENSATION TO BE PROVIDED BY BRIGHTFOCUS TO THE PRESIDENT/CEO IS REASONABLE IN LIGHT OF THE POSITION, RESPONSIBILITY AND QUALIFICATION OF THE POSITION HELD INCLUDING THE RESULT OF AN EVALUATION OF PRIOR PERFORMANCE FOR BRIGHTFOCUS, IF APPLICABLE. THE PRESIDENT/CEO IS EVALUATED ANNUALLY BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THROUGH THE USE OF AN IN-DEPTH GOAL ATTAINMENT STRUCTURE, (DEVELOPED WITH ADVICE FROM BOARD SOURCE) THAT INCLUDES A SELF ASSESSMENT AND A BOARD OF DIRECTORS ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION AGAINST SET GOALS, OUTCOMES AND DELIVERABLES. IN ADDITION, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PERIODICALLY ENGAGES AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT TO OBTAIN AND CONSIDER APPROPRIATE DATA, INCLUDING A SALARY SURVEY, WHICH INCLUDES INFORMATION COMPILED FROM THE FEDERAL FORM 990 OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, CONCERNING COMPENSATION PAID TO CEOS IN LIKE CIRCUMSTANCES. IN MAKING THE DETERMINATION, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHALL CONSIDER TOTAL COMPENSATION TO INCLUDE THE SALARY AND VALUE OF ALL BENEFITS PROVIDED BY BRIGHTFOCUS TO THE INDIVIDUAL IN PAYMENT FOR SERVICES. AT THE TIME OF THE BRIGHTFOCUS BOARD DISCUSSION AND DECISION CONCERNING THE PRESIDENT/CEO'S COMPENSATION, THE PRESIDENT/CEO IS NOT PRESENT IN THE MEETING. THE BOARD SHALL SET FORTH THE BASIS FOR ITS DECISIONS WITH RESPECT TO COMPENSATION IN THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING AT WHICH THE DECISIONS ARE MADE, INCLUDING THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE EVALUATION AND THE BASIS FOR DETERMINING THAT THE INDIVIDUAL'S COMPENSATION WAS REASONABLE IN LIGHT OF THE EVALUATION AND COMPARABILITY DATA. THE PRESIDENT/CEO IS CHARGED WITH THE SETTING OF SALARIES OF ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BUDGET APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE PRESIDENT/CEO AND HUMAN RESOURCES REVIEW EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS THAT INCLUDES KEY EMPLOYEES, BY PERIODICALLY ENGAGING AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT COMPENSATION AND BENEFIT BENCHMARKING STUDIES THAT INCLUDE VARIOUS REGIONAL AND NATIONAL NON-PROFIT COMPENSATION REPORTS AND SURVEYS. COMPENSATION DELIBERATIONS AND DECISIONS INCLUDE THE REVIEW OF SELF AND SUPERVISORY EVALUATIONS OF EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE COMPARED TO SET INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19	BRIGHTFOCUS MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS INCLUDING ITS ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS, THE FEDERAL FORM 1023, THE 501(C)(3) LETTER OF DETERMINATION FROM THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FEDERAL FORM 990 AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. IN ADDITION, THE PUBLIC ALSO HAS ACCESS TO THE ANNUAL REPORT, AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THE 501(C)(3) LETTER OF DETERMINATION FROM THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, AND FEDERAL FORM 990 ON OUR WEBSITE.
FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9:	RECOVERIES OF PRIOR YEAR GRANTS 29,516. CHANGE IN PRESENT VALUE OF GRANTS 33,085.
SCHEDULE F, PART II, LINE 1, COLUMN D:	REGION: EUROPE (D) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY PATRICK KEHOE, BSC, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016582S) EXPLORING ACE-2 AS A NOVEL THERAPEUTIC TARGET FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: THE RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM (RAS) IS A BIOCHEMICAL PATHWAY PRIMARILY INVOLVED IN BLOOD PRESSURE REGULATION, BUT WHICH BECOMES OVERACTIVE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD). PREVIOUS RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT SOME COMMONLY PRESCRIBED ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE DRUGS THAT ALSO WORK IN THE RAS SYSTEM CAN PROTECT AGAINST RATES OF ALZHEIMER'S IN PEOPLE, AND ALSO AGAINST CELL AND BRAIN TISSUE DAMAGE, AS WELL AS COGNITIVE DECLINE, IN ANIMAL MODELS OF AD. WE HAVE JUST FOUND THAT AN IMPORTANT REGULATORY ARM OF RAS IS ALSO DEFECTIVE IN AD AND THAT REDUCED ACTIVITY OF THIS PATHWAY IS ASSOCIATED WITH MORE EXTENSIVE PATHOLOGY IN HUMAN BRAIN TISSUE. OUR PROPOSED STUDY WILL INVESTIGATE WHETHER ACTIVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF THIS REGULATORY PATHWAY, USING A DRUG ALREADY AVAILABLE FOR TESTING IN PEOPLE BUT PREVIOUSLY NOT CONSIDERED IN AD, CAN PROTECT AGAINST BOTH COGNITIVE DECLINE AND TISSUE DAMAGE NORMALLY SEEN IN AN ESTABLISHED MOUSE MODEL OF AD, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A NEW THERAPY THAT CAN MOVE RAPIDLY TO CLINICAL TRIAL TESTING FOR AD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016582S. GRANT AWARDED: $300,000, UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL, BRISTOL, UNITED KINGDOM. REGION: EUROPE (D) PURPOSE OF GRANT: NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY RUDOLF FUCHSHOFER, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016076) ROLE OF NON-CODING RNAS IN OUTFLOW RESISTANCE DYSREGULATION. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: LOWERING OF INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE (IOP) IN GLAUCOMATOUS PATIENTS SLOWS OR STOPS PROGRESSION OF DAMAGE TO THEIR OPTIC NERVE. THE PATHOLOGY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ELEVATED IOP ASSOCIATED WITH GLAUCOMA LIES IN THE CONVENTIONAL AQUEOUS HUMOR OUTFLOW PATHWAY. SOMEWHAT REMARKABLY, NO CURRENT PHARMACOLOGICAL THERAPY FOR GLAUCOMA IS DIRECTED AT THIS PATHWAY. THE PROPOSAL FOCUSES ON THE FUNCTIONAL ROLE OF NON-CODING RNAS ON THE NITRIC OXIDE SYSTEM AND THEIR POTENTIAL INVOLVEMENT IN REGULATION OF THE CONVENTIONAL OUTFLOW PATHWAY. THE INVESTIGATION COULD LEAD TO A NEW THERAPEUTIC APPROACH THAT WOULD BE ADDITIVE TO CURRENT THERAPIES AND THEREBY USEFUL IN STABILIZING DISEASE PROGRESSION. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/G2016076. GRANT AWARDED: $149,596, UNIVERSITY OF REGENSBURG, REGENSBURG, GERMANY. REGION: EUROPE (D) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION DISEASE RESEARCH BY SARAH DOYLE, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016030) THE ROLE OF TOLL/IL-1 RECEPTOR (TIR)-SIGNALING "CHECKPOINT" REGULATORS IN PATHOBIOLOGY OF AMD. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE IS NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THE TISSUES THAT MAKE UP OUR BODY TO KEEP US IN WORKING ORDER. HOWEVER, INFLAMMATION IS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, TOO MUCH CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE SURROUNDING TISSUES, TOO LITTLE CAN BE INEFFECTIVE AT INDUCING HEALING. TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM, THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE HAS EVOLVED SO THAT ONCE A PRO-INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE IS GENERATED, IT PROMOTES THE EXPRESSION OF CHEMICALS THAT PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND SWITCH OFF INFLAMMATION BY INHIBITING THE VERY PRO-INFLAMMATORY SIGNALS THAT GENERATED THEM; IN THIS WAY, THE PROCESS OF INFLAMMATION PROGRAMS ITS OWN END. AMD HAS ELEMENTS THAT INDICATE THAT THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE IS UNCONTROLLED AND PERSISTENT LOW-LEVEL INFLAMMATION IS OBSERVED. OUR RESEARCH QUESTION ASKS WHETHER THIS ACTIVE PROCESS OF SWITCHING OFF THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE IS LOST IN PEOPLE WITH AMD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016030. GRANT AWARDED: $160,000, TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, DUBLIN, IRELAND. REGION: EAST ASIA & PACIFIC (D) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION DISEASE RESEARCH BY ROBYN GUYMER, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016061) FAILURE TO REMOVE DEBRIS: DEFECTIVE MECHANISMS MAY PLAY A ROLE IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF AMD. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: UNDERSTANDING THE UNDERLYING MECHANISMS BY WHICH DEBRIS ACCUMULATES IN THE RETINA IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD) IS CRITICAL FOR UNDERSTANDING DISEASE PATHWAYS AND ULTIMATELY DEVELOPING NOVEL TREATMENT TARGETS FOR EARLY AMD. AS PART OF THIS STUDY, WE WILL EVALUATE THE FUNCTION OF THESE CELLS IN A LABORATORY DISH AND COMPARE THE FUNCTION BETWEEN CELLS TAKEN FROM PEOPLE WITH AMD AND CELLS FROM PEOPLE WITHOUT AMD. ONCE SUBSTANTIATED, WE WILL HAVE IDENTIFIED A TRULY NOVEL MECHANISM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF SEVERE VISION LOSS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS WILL CHANGE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE BASIC MECHANISMS THAT LEAD TO THE EARLIEST CHANGES IN AMD AND ITS PROGRESSION TO VISION LOSS. IT HAS POTENTIAL TO OPEN AVENUES FOR TESTING NEW DRUGS THAT ENHANCE THE FUNCTION OF THE FAULTY CELLS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016061. GRANT AWARDED: $155,322, CENTRE FOR EYE RESEARCH, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA.
SCHEDULE F, PART II, LINE 1, COLUMN D:	REGION: EAST ASIA & PACIFIC (D) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION DISEASE RESEARCH BY PAUL BAIRD, BSC, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016178) IDENTIFYING GENE PATHWAYS THAT DELINEATE THE TWO LATE STAGE TYPES OF DISEASE IN AMD. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF BLINDING AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD) BUT TREATMENT IS ONLY CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR ONE OF THESE. WE HAVE DEVELOPED A NOVEL STATISTICAL TOOL AND HIGH THROUGHPUT COMPUTATIONAL MODEL THAT ALLOWS US TO LOOK AT ALL GENES IN OUR GENOME AND IDENTIFY THOSE GENES THAT INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER TO CAUSE BOTH OF THESE TYPES OF AMD. USING THE WORLD'S LARGEST COLLECTION OF AMD SAMPLES, DRAWN FROM MULTIPLE COHORTS OF 40,000 PEOPLE, WE WILL IDENTIFY THE IMPORTANT GENETIC INTERACTIONS IN EACH TYPE OF AMD. USING THIS KNOWLEDGE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE DISEASE PROCESS AND DEVELOP NEW THERAPIES ALLOWING BOTH TYPES OF BLINDING AMD TO BE TREATED. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016178. GRANT AWARDED: $80,000, CENTRE FOR EYE RESEARCH, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. REGION: NORTH AMERICA (D) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION DISEASE RESEARCH BY BRIAN BALLIOS, MD, PH.D. ENTITLED: (M2016173) BIOENGINEERED STEM CELL-DERIVED CONE PHOTORECEPTOR THERAPY. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: DRUG THERAPY ONLY SLOWS THE PROGRESSION OF DISEASE, BUT DOES NOT REPRESENT A REGENERATIVE APPROACH TO MACULAR DEGENERATION TREATMENT. WE WILL USE STEM CELLS TO PRODUCE LARGE QUANTITIES OF CONE PHOTORECEPTORS FOR TRANSPLANTATION DIRECTLY INTO THE RETINA. CONES ARE THE CELLS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION/COLOR VISION AND ARE LOST IN DISEASE. WE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NATURAL BIOMATERIALS AS VEHICLES TO DELIVER CELLS TO THE EYE, TO INCREASE THEIR SURVIVAL AND IMPROVE THEIR FUNCTION AFTER TRANSPLANTATION. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016173. GRANT AWARDED: $160,000, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, TORONTO, CANADA.
SCHEDULE I, PART II, LINE 1, COLUMN (H):	NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY JASON BRANDT, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016073S) MODIFIED ATKINS DIET FOR COGNITIVE LOSS IN OLDER ADULTS. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: THIS STUDY WILL TEST WHETHER A SPECIAL DIET THAT HAS BEEN USED TO TREAT OTHER BRAIN DISORDERS MAY BE USEFUL TO TREAT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD). THE DIET IS VERY LOW IN STARCHES AND SUGARS, AND VERY HIGH IN FAT. SUCH A DIET CAUSES THE BODY TO PRODUCE SUBSTANCES CALLED "KETONES" WHICH CAN BE USED BY THE BRAIN FOR ENERGY. THIS STUDY WILL TEST WHETHER PATIENTS WITH EARLY AD, OR EVEN MILDER MEMORY PROBLEMS KNOWN AS MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT (MCI), CAN STICK TO THIS DIET FOR 12 WEEKS AND WHETHER IT IMPROVES THEIR THINKING AND MEMORY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016073S NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY JIRI SAFAR, MD ENTITLED: (A2016085S) PROFILING STRUCTURE AND BIOLOGY OF BETA AMYLOID STRAINS. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: WE BELIEVE OUR APPLICATION ADDRESSES A CONFOUNDING PUZZLE: WHY CLINICAL SYMPTOMATOLOGY, SEVERITY, AND PROGRESSION RATES OF LATE-ONSET ALZHEIMER DISEASE (AD) FREQUENTLY DO NOT COINCIDE WITH THE TOTAL AMYLOID-BETA (A-BETA) LOAD. WE PROPOSE TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT RAPID PROGRESSION OF THE DISEASE IS CAUSED BY SPECIFIC MOLECULAR STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF BETA AMYLOID. THE FINDINGS HAVE A POTENTIAL TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF AD AND TO ESTABLISH PROGRESSION RATE-DIRECTED DIAGNOSTICS AND THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS AS A KEY STRATEGY FOR DELAYING AND PREVENTING SYMPTOMATIC AD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016085S NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY HUDA ZOGHBI, MD ENTITLED: (A2016151S) GENETIC SCREENS TO IDENTIFY TARGETS THAT REGULATE APP. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: ALZHEIMER DISEASE (AD) IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE DEPOSITION OF AMYLOID PLAQUES AND THE ACCUMULATION OF NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES, PRODUCTS OF AMYLOID PRECURSOR PROTEIN (APP) PROCESSING AND TAU HYPERPHOSPHORYLATION RESPECTIVELY. SEVERAL STUDIES DEMONSTRATE THAT REDUCTION OF APP IS THERAPEUTICALLY BENEFICIAL IN AD MOUSE MODELS. THIS EVIDENCE PROMPTED US TO HYPOTHESIZE THAT MODEST REDUCTION IN THE LEVELS OF APP PROTEINS WOULD DELAY THE ONSET AND RETARD PROGRESSION OF DISEASE. WE PLAN TO IDENTIFY NEW THERAPEUTIC TARGETS USING AN UNBIASED, HIGH-THROUGHPUT SCREEN USING TWO DIFFERENT ASSAY SYSTEMS IN PARALLEL (HUMAN NEURONAL CELL LINES AND FRUIT FLIES EXPRESSING HUMAN APP) TO IDENTIFY THOSE PROTEINS WHOSE REDUCTION RESULTS IN LOWER LEVELS OF APP, AND RESCUES NEURONAL DEGENERATION IN FLIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016151S NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY IMAN AGANJ, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016172S) CONNECTOMIC BIOMARKERS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE OBSERVED IN MULTI-SYNAPTIC PATHWAYS. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: THE HUMAN BRAIN CONSISTS OF COMPLEX STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL NETWORKS. NETWORK-BASED ANALYSIS OF BRAIN WHITE MATTER CONNECTIONS HAS PROVED PROMISING BY HELPING TO REVEAL THE STRUCTURAL BASIS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD), AND ASSISTING IN THE DISCOVERY OF DIAGNOSTICALLY AND THERAPEUTICALLY IMPORTANT BIOMARKERS. THE GOAL OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS TO BUILD ON THE INVESTIGATOR'S BACKGROUND IN BRAIN IMAGING AND BRAIN NETWORK ANALYSIS TO DEVELOP AND VALIDATE NOVEL COMPUTATIONAL METHODS SUCH AS THOSE ACCOUNTING FOR INDIRECT NEURAL PATHWAYS AND SUBSEQUENTLY DERIVE MORE ACCURATE AD IMAGING BIOMARKERS, WHICH WILL HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THE BRAIN IS AFFECTED IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016172S
SCHEDULE I, PART II, LINE 1, COLUMN (H):	NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY BRENDAN LUCEY, MD ENTITLED: (A2016180S) SLEEP QUALITY AND HUMAN AMYLOID-BETA KINETICS. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: THE DEPOSITION OF AMYLOID-BETA PROTEIN (A-BETA) IN THE BRAIN IS A KEY FIRST STEP IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD). RECENT WORK HAS SHOWN THAT SLEEP DECREASES THE CONCENTRATION OF A-BETA IN THE BRAINS OF MICE AND HUMANS. IN MICE, DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF SLEEP BOTH REDUCED THE A-BETA CONCENTRATION AND DEPOSITION IN THE BRAIN SUGGESTING THAT SLEEP COULD BE A THERAPY TO PREVENT AD. KEY QUESTIONS REMAIN, HOWEVER, BEFORE AD PREVENTION TRIALS USING SLEEP CAN BEGIN. THIS STUDY PROPOSES TO ANSWER SEVERAL OF THESE QUESTIONS: 1) DOES POOR SLEEP QUALITY INCREASE A-BETA AND 2) DOES IMPROVING SLEEP QUALITY IN POOR SLEEPERS DECREASE A-BETA? FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016180S NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY EMILIE REAS, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016241F) MICROSTRUCTURAL MARKERS OF COGNITIVE AGING AND MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: AS AGE-RELATED COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AND DEMENTIA ARE GROWING HEALTH CONCERNS FOR OUR AGING POPULATION, IT'S BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT TO DEVELOP TOOLS TO ACCURATELY DETECT THE EARLIEST SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD). ALTHOUGH IMAGING METHODS, SUCH AS MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI), HAVE SHOWN PROMISE AT MEASURING CHANGES IN BRAIN STRUCTURE ASSOCIATED WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AND DEMENTIA, THESE APPROACHES ARE RELATIVELY INSENSITIVE TO THE EARLIEST DISEASE STAGES, WHEN TREATMENTS WILL LIKELY BE MOST EFFECTIVE. A NEW BRAIN IMAGING TECHNIQUE, RESTRICTION SPECTRUM IMAGING (RSI), HAS SHOWN PROMISE AT REVEALING SMALLER-SCALE FEATURES OF BRAIN STRUCTURE THAN STANDARD TECHNIQUES. THIS PROJECT WILL TEST WHETHER NEW RSI-BASED MEASURES CAN RESOLVE SMALL-SCALE PATHWAYS THOUGHT TO BE AFFECTED BY AD, ACCURATELY PREDICT WHICH INDIVIDUALS WILL DECLINE COGNITIVELY, AND CORRELATE WITH OTHER KNOWN MARKERS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016241F NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY DAVID IRWIN, MD ENTITLED: (A2016244S) GENETIC RISK AND CLINICAL EXPRESSION OF TAUOPATHY ACROSS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD) IS DEFINED BY THE PRESENCE OF AMYLOID PLAQUES AND TAU TANGLES IN THE BRAIN ASSOCIATED WITH MEMORY LOSS; HOWEVER, A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PATIENTS WITH AD HAVE NON-MEMORY SYMPTOMS, SUCH AS LANGUAGE OR VISUOSPATIAL IMPAIRMENT. THE UNDERLYING BIOLOGY OF THESE NON-AMNESTIC AD PATIENTS IS UNDERSTUDIED. FURTHER UNDERSTANDING OF THE GENETIC INFLUENCE AND PROGRESSION OF TAU PATHOLOGY IN NON-AMNESTIC AD WILL IMPROVE THE DIAGNOSIS OF PATIENTS WHO MAY BENEFIT FROM EMERGING THERAPIES THAT AIM TO HALT OR SLOW THE PROGRESSION OF PLAQUES AND TANGLES IN THE BRAIN AND ALSO IDENTIFY NEW GENETIC TARGETS FOR DRUG DEVELOPMENT IN AD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016244S NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY XIONG JIANG, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016251S) A NOVEL MULTIMODALITY MRI BIOMARKER OF ASYMPTOMATIC ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD) IS A NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE AND THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF DEMENTIA. WITH NO KNOWN CURES OR DISEASE-MODIFYING THERAPIES, THERE IS A PRESSING NEED TO FIND BIOMARKERS THAT CAN ACCURATELY ASSESS AND PREDICT DISEASE PROGRESSION IN ASYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS. HOWEVER, DESPITE RECENT EFFORTS AND SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN RESEARCH, FINDING SUCH A BIOMARKER REMAINS A MAJOR CHALLENGE. GIVEN THAT AD IS HYPOTHESIZED TO LEAD TO CHANGES IN NEURONAL FUNCTION LONG BEFORE DETECTABLE BEHAVIORAL IMPAIRMENTS AND/OR BRAIN STRUCTURE CHANGES, FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (FMRI), WITH ITS ABILITY TO IMAGE BRAIN FUNCTION, HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A CRITICAL TOOL IN THE EARLY DETECTION OF AD AND A NON-INVASIVE TECHNIQUE THAT CAN BE USED IN THE EVALUATION OF TREATMENTS. HERE WE PROPOSE THAT A NOVEL INTRA-REGIONAL FMRI TECHNIQUE THAT WE RECENTLY DEVELOPED HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DETECT AND QUANTIFY SUBTLE NEURONAL DYSFUNCTION WITHIN BRAIN AREAS OF CLINICAL INTEREST (I.E., THE HIPPOCAMPUS) AT EARLY STAGES OF DISEASE. HOWEVER, THIS TECHNIQUE FOCUSES ON DETECTING CHANGES WITHIN REGIONS OF GRAY MATTER, WHICH MAINLY CONSIST OF NEURONAL CELL BODIES AND BRANCHING DENDRITES, THUS SOME ASPECTS OF EARLY AD PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO ASSESS WITH THIS NOVEL INTRA-REGIONAL FMRI TECHNIQUE, INCLUDING DISRUPTED FUNCTIONAL CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN BRAIN REGIONS AND IMPAIRED INTEGRITY WITHIN WHITE MATTER, WHICH MAINLY RELATES TO NERVE FIBERS. THEREFORE, INTEGRATING THIS NOVEL FMRI TECHNIQUE WITH OTHER MRI MODALITIES IS EXPECTED TO LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN SENSITIVITY AND ACCURACY IN ASSESSING AD PROGRESSION. TO TEST THIS HYPOTHESIS, WE PROPOSE TO CONDUCT A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY USING A COMBINATION OF THIS NOVEL FMRI TECHNIQUE WITH OTHER MRI TECHNIQUES, WITH AN ULTIMATE GOAL OF DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING A MULTIMODAL MRI BIOMARKER OF ASYMPTOMATIC AD THAT IS HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO EARLY AD PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES AND CAN ACCURATELY DETECT AND ASSESS AD PROGRESSION. FOR THIS PURPOSE, WE WILL ENROLL INDIVIDUALS WITH AMNESTIC MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT (AMCI), COGNITIVELY NORMAL (CN) INDIVIDUALS WITH GENETIC (APOE-4) AND FAMILY HISTORY RISK, AND CN INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT EITHER RISK FACTOR. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AD PROGRESSION AND MRI DATA OF EACH INDIVIDUAL MRI MODALITY WILL BE EXAMINED SEPARATELY (AIM 1). THEN WE WILL DEVELOP AND EVALUATE MULTIMODAL MRI BIOMARKERS OF AD USING POWERFUL MACHINE LEARNING ALGORITHMS ON MULTIMODAL MRI DATA TO ASSESS CURRENT DISEASE STATUS (AIM 2). FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016251S
SCHEDULE I, PART II, LINE 1, COLUMN (H):	NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: THE CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY DIANNE PEREZ, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016272S) NOVEL ALPHA1A-ADRENERGIC RECEPTOR AGONISTS TO TREAT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: WE NEED TO DEVELOP NEW DRUGS TO TREAT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD) THAT WORK IN DIFFERENT WAYS THAN CURRENT TREATMENTS BECAUSE CURRENT DRUGS AND CLINICAL TRIALS ARE NOT PROMISING OR ARE NOT VERY EFFECTIVE. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A NOVEL TARGET TO TREAT AD AND CAN SHOW EVIDENCE THAT MAKING DRUGS AGAINST THIS TARGET WILL IMPROVE BOTH THE SYMPTOMS AS WELL AS REPAIR OR PROTECT AGAINST THE BRAIN DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS DISEASE. THIS PROJECT IS IMPORTANT IN ORDER TO VALIDATE THE TARGET AND THEN TO ACTUALLY MAKE NEW DRUGS THAT ARE THE MOST SELECTIVE FOR THIS TARGET, THEN TEST THESE DRUGS IN AN ANIMAL MODEL OF THE DISEASE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016272S NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY MARK HENKEMEYER, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016345S) EPHB RECEPTORS: NOVEL PRO-SYNAPTIC THERAPEUTIC TARGETS FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD) SLOWLY PROGRESSES AS MORE AND MORE SYNAPSES IN THE BRAIN ARE DESTROYED. THIS FIRST CAUSES A GRADUAL DECLINE IN MEMORIES AND EVENTUALLY INEVITABLY LEADS TO DEMENTIA AND DEATH. EPHB RECEPTORS ARE IMPORTANT PROTEINS FOR SYNAPSE FUNCTION AND HEALTH, AS THEY HOLD HANDS WITH THE NMDA RECEPTOR PROTEIN TO HELP OUR BRAINS STORE MEMORIES. EPHB ALSO HAS THE UNFORTUNATE ABILITY TO HOLD HANDS WITH PLAQUE-FORMING AMYLOID-BETA (A-BETA) PEPTIDES MADE TO EVER INCREASING LEVELS IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, AND THIS RISE IN A-BETA TARGETS EPHB FOR DEGRADATION, RESULTING IN A REDUCTION IN SYNAPSES AND MEMORIES. USING NOVEL HIGH-THROUGHPUT SCREENS OF SMALL DRUG-LIKE CHEMICAL LIBRARIES FOR COMPOUNDS THAT DISRUPT THE ABILITY OF EPHB TO BIND WITH A-BETA, I AIM TO DISCOVER A NEW CLASS OF MEDICINES THAT WILL HALT THE DESTRUCTION OF SYNAPSES AND AVERT MEMORY LOSS WITH DIRECT IMPLICATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF AD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016345S NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: MAYO CLINIC JACKSONVILLE. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY CHIA-CHEN LIU, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016346F) EFFECTS OF PERIPHERAL APOE ISOFORMS ON INFLAMMATION, BRAIN VASCULATURE, AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE PATHOGENESIS. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: STUDIES SHOW THAT HAVING APOLIPOPROTEIN E4 (APOE4) GENE MUTATION AND BLOOD VESSEL DISEASES (SUCH AS HYPOTENSION AND DIABETES) INCREASE A PERSON'S RISK FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASES (AD). DUE TO THE BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER (BBB), A PROTECTIVE LAYER THAT SELECTIVELY PREVENTS LARGE MOLECULES IN THE BLOODSTREAM FROM ENTERING INTO THE BRAIN, THE APOE PRODUCED IN THE LIVER AND CIRCULATED IN THE BLOODSTREAM (PERIPHERY) DOES NOT MIX WITH APOE PRODUCED IN THE BRAIN. USING OUR UNIQUE MOUSE MODEL IN WHICH APOE IS PRODUCED ONLY IN THE LIVER, OUR STUDIES WILL FOR THE FIRST TIME TEST HOW PERIPHERAL APOE AFFECTS BLOOD VESSEL HEALTH, BRAIN FUNCTIONS, AND AD DISEASE PROGRESSION. OUR FINDINGS WILL BE VERY USEFUL IN UNDERSTANDING HOW APOE4 IMPAIRS BRAIN HEALTH AND MAY ULTIMATELY LEAD TO EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS FOR AD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016346F NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: J. DAVID GLADSTONE INSTITUTES. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY TARA TRACY, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016360F) DEFICIENT KIBRA SIGNALING AT SYNAPSES IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD) AFFLICTS MANY ELDERLY PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY; HOWEVER, THERE ARE FEW TREATMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE AND NO KNOWN CURE FOR THIS DEVASTATING DISEASE. THE STRUCTURES BY WHICH NEURONS COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER IN THE BRAIN, CALLED SYNAPSES, ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO TOXICITY IN AD. MY RESEARCH WILL ADVANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE LOSS OF A KIDNEY AND BRAIN-EXPRESSED (KIBRA) PROTEIN AT SYNAPSES CONTRIBUTES TO COGNITIVE DECLINE IN AD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016360F
SCHEDULE I, PART II, LINE 1, COLUMN (H):	NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY DOO YEON KIM, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016362S) ALTERED NEURAL FUNCTION IN A HUMAN 3D CULTURE MODEL OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: IN THIS PROPOSAL, WE WILL FURTHER DEVELOP AND CHARACTERIZE OUR HUMAN "ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE IN A DISH" MODEL BASED ON THE UNIQUE THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3D) HUMAN NEURAL PROGENITOR CELL CULTURE TECHNIQUE. IN OUR RECENT PUBLICATION AND PRELIMINARY STUDIES, WE HAVE SHOWN THAT HUMAN 3D CELL CULTURE MODEL CAN RECAPITULATE KEY EVENTS IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD), WHICH HAS NOT BEEN FEASIBLE IN AD MODELS BASED ON ANIMALS. HERE, WE WILL INVESTIGATE MECHANISMS UNDERLYING THESE PATHOGENIC EVENTS, INCLUDING AMYLOID BETA (A-BETA), TAU TANGLES, ABNORMAL NEURONAL ACTIVITY, SYNAPTIC/CELLULAR INJURY AND POTENTIALLY NEURODEGENERATION. IF SUCCESSFUL, OUR STUDIES WILL PROVIDE A NOVEL AND VALID PLATFORM FOR BASIC MECHANISTIC STUDIES AND DRUG SCREENING IN A HUMAN BRAIN-LIKE ENVIRONMENT, WHICH COULD LARGELY ACCELERATE AD DRUG DISCOVERY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016362S NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: TUFTS UNIVERSITY. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY SELENE LOMOIO, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016379F) ROLE OF GGA3 IN BACE1 AXONAL TRAFFICKING. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: NEURONS, HIGHLY ORGANIZED BRAIN CELLS, ARE CHARACTERIZED BY SPECIALIZED PROJECTIONS CALLED DENDRITES AND AXONS. THE AXON IS THE LONGEST NEURONAL PROJECTION WHERE PROTEINS MOVE LIKE ALONG A HIGHWAY, IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. SCIENTISTS HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT IN THE BRAIN OF PERSONS AFFECTED BY ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD), A DISORDER CHARACTERIZED BY MEMORY LOSS, THIS COORDINATED TRAFFIC PATTERN DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY, SO NEURONS START TO BE UNHEALTHY AND DIE. OUR GOAL IS TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS TRAFFIC IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING IN ORDER TO FIND A WAY TO PREVENT THE NEURONAL TRAFFIC DISRUPTION AND POSSIBLY FIND A TREATMENT FOR AD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016379F NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY JOACHIM HERZ, MD ENTITLED: (A2016396S) TARGETING THE ENDOSOME FOR ALZHEIMER'S DRUG DISCOVERY. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: APOLIPOPROTEIN E4 (APOE4) STATUS IS THE PRIMARY AND BIOMEDICALLY MOST IMPORTANT RISK FACTOR FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. WE HAVE FOUND A NOVEL MECHANISM BY WHICH APOE4 WEAKENS SYNAPTIC STRENGTH IN NEURONS, WHICH LED US TO IDENTIFY A PROMISING NOVEL DRUG TARGET, NHE6. THIS PROPOSAL AIMS TO ESTABLISH THE NECESSARY MECHANISTIC AND INFRASTRUCTURAL BASELINE TO SCREEN FOR NHE6 SPECIFIC INHIBITORS AND FOR DISCOVERING NOVEL POTENTIAL METHODS TO TARGET NHE6 FUNCTION IN VITRO AND IN VIVO. THIS IS NECESSARY FOR THE EVOLUTION OF A CONCEPTUALLY NOVEL AND THERAPEUTICALLY EFFECTIVE PREVENTIVE APPROACH TO AD, AT LEAST FOR THE MAJORITY OF PATIENTS CARRYING THE APOE4 ALLELE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016396S NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY CATHERINE KACZOROWSKI, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016397S) SYSTEM GENETICS TO IDENTIFY MODIFIERS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: THE AGE OF ONSET AND SEVERITY OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD) IS SUBJECT TO EXTREME VARIATION ACROSS THE HUMAN POPULATION. DESPITE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND DECADES OF RESEARCH, OVER 70 PERCENT OF THIS VARIATION REMAINS UNEXPLAINED. THIS PROPOSAL SEEKS TO IDENTIFY GENES THAT MODIFY THE ONSET AND SEVERITY OF AD IN A WELL-CHARACTERIZED, GENETICALLY DIVERSE MOUSE POPULATION. SUBSEQUENT GENE THERAPY WILL BE USED TO VALIDATE IDENTIFIED GENES AND RESCUE/TREAT MEMORY FAILURE IN A MOUSE MODEL OF AD. RESULTS OF THIS RESEARCH WILL MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE GENETICS OF AD AND HAVE THE IMMENSE POTENTIAL TO TRANSLATE INTO INDIVIDUALIZED THERAPIES FOR AGING HUMANS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016397S
SCHEDULE I, PART II, LINE 1, COLUMN (H):	NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: WEILL CORNELL MEDICAL COLLEGE. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY WENJIE LUO, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016399S) RETROMER CHAPERONE R33 SELECTIVELY PROMOTES AMYLOID-BETA DEGRADATION BY MICROGLIA. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: ACCUMULATION OF ABNORMAL AMYLOID AND TAU PROTEINS IN THE BRAINS ARE BELIEVED TO BE DETRIMENTAL FOR BRAIN FUNCTIONS; THUS SEARCHING FOR WAYS TO REDUCE THESE BAD PROTEINS FROM THE BRAIN MAY HELP US FIND A PROMISING DRUG FOR AD. WE HAVE FOUND THAT A SMALL CHEMICAL MOLECULE CAN MAKE MICROGLIA, A SPECIAL BRAIN CELL WITH CAPABILITY TO CLEAN UP THESE BAD PROTEINS, AND HELP THEM WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY IN CLEARANCE OF AMYLOID PROTEINS. THIS PROJECT WILL PRODUCE IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR US TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS SMALL CHEMICAL HELPS MICROGLIA CLEAN UP AMYLOID PROTEINS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016399S NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY RACHEL BENNETT, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016404F) BLOOD VESSEL CHANGES IN TAUOPATHY. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: WE HAVE OBSERVED THAT TAU, A KEY PLAYER IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD), LEADS TO BLOOD VESSEL CHANGES AND INCREASED EXPRESSION OF PROTEINS INVOLVED IN NEW BLOOD VESSEL GROWTH IN THE BRAINS OF MICE. WE DO NOT KNOW IF THESE CHANGES CONTRIBUTE TO CELL DEATH AND ACCUMULATION OF AD PROTEINS. THIS RESEARCH AIMS TO DETERMINE IF BLOOD VESSEL ALTERATIONS ARE AN EARLY OR LATE EVENT IN THE DISEASE PROCESS AND TO USE "OFF THE SHELF" DRUGS TO PREVENT BLOOD VESSEL GROWTH. ALTOGETHER, THESE STUDIES WILL DETERMINE IF THE OBSERVED CHANGES ARE HARMFUL AND MAY POINT TOWARDS WIDELY AVAILABLE TREATMENT OPTIONS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE PATIENTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016404F NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: YALE UNIVERSITY. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY SWETHA GOWRISHANKAR, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016411F) ELUCIDATING THE ROLE OF ALTERED AXONAL LYSOSOME TRANSPORT IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: A ROBUST FEATURE OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD) BRAIN PATHOLOGY IS THE ACCUMULATION OF LYSOSOMES (DIGESTIVE ORGANELLES OF CELLS) IN SWOLLEN NEURONAL AXONS THAT SURROUND AMYLOID PLAQUES. HOW THESE LYSOSOMES COME TO ACCUMULATE AND WHAT THEIR ROLE IS IN AD HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED. WHILE A MAJOR FUNCTION OF LYSOSOMES IS TO DEGRADE PROTEINS, OUR RECENT WORK INVESTIGATING THESE PLAQUE-ASSOCIATED LYSOSOMES DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY LACK THE ENZYMES REQUIRED FOR EFFICIENT PROTEIN DEGRADATION. THIS SUGGESTS A MODEL WHEREIN AMYLOID PLAQUES CAUSE A BLOCKADE IN THE TRANSPORT AND MATURATION OF LYSOSOMES IN SURROUNDING NEURONAL AXONS. THESE IMMATURE LYSOSOMES APPEAR TO CONTAIN THE MACHINERY REQUIRED TO MAKE MORE OF THE AMYLOID BETA PEPTIDE THAT IS THE MAJOR COMPONENT OF AMYLOID PLAQUES. THUS, THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN AMYLOID PLAQUES AND NEURONAL AXONS ARE PREDICTED TO RESULT IN A VICIOUS CYCLE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO FURTHER DISEASE PATHOLOGY. MY PROPOSED RESEARCH AIMS TO TEST THIS HYPOTHESIS COMPREHENSIVELY BY ESTABLISHING A NEURONAL PRIMARY CULTURE MODEL FOR SUCH AXONAL LYSOSOME TRANSPORT DEFECTS. THIS SYSTEM WILL BE AMENABLE TO DRUG MANIPULATIONS AND GENETIC PERTURBATIONS TO ELUCIDATE BOTH THE MECHANISMS THAT CONTROL LYSOSOME BIOGENESIS AND TRANSPORT IN NEURONAL AXONS, AS WELL AS THE IMPACT OF IMPAIRED LYSOSOME TRANSPORT ON THE AMYLOIDOGENIC PROCESSING OF THE AMYLOID PRECURSOR PROTEIN (APP). I WILL FURTHERMORE INVESTIGATE THE EFFECTS OF LYSOSOME AXONAL TRANSPORT DEFECTS ON AD BRAIN PATHOLOGY (SUCH AS AMYLOID PLAQUE GROWTH AND NUMBER) THROUGH THE USE OF GENETIC PERTURBATIONS IN A MOUSE MODEL OF AD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016411F NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY QIAOQIAO SHI, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016425F) CHARACTERIZATION OF NOVEL C3 CONDITIONAL KNOCKOUT MICE: TOOLS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF COMPLEMENT IN SYNAPTIC DYSFUNCTION IN AGING AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: COMPLEMENT C3, AN IMMUNE MOLECULE THAT HELPS TO REFINE THE VISUAL SYSTEM DURING BRAIN DEVELOPMENT BY REMOVING WEAK NERVE CONNECTIONS CALLED "SYNAPSES" IS UP-REGULATED IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD) AND THEREFORE MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE SYNAPSE LOSS THAT UNDERLIES COGNITIVE DECLINE. WE RECENTLY REPORTED THAT AGED MICE LACKING C3 THROUGHOUT LIFE HAVE PRESERVED SYNAPSES AND BETTER MEMORY THAN NORMAL AGED MICE. TO FURTHER UNDERSTAND WHEN AND WHERE C3 PLAYS A ROLE IN AD, WE HAVE GENERATED TWO NOVEL MOUSE MODELS IN WHICH C3 GENE EXPRESSION CAN BE SHUT OFF AT ANY AGE BY INJECTION OF A CHEMICAL, OF DELETED IN SPECIFIC IMMUNE CELLS (ONLY) THROUGHOUT LIFE. FURTHER CHARACTERIZATION OF THESE MICE WILL BETTER DEFINE THE ROLE OF C3 IN THE AGING BRAIN AND AD AND MAY DIRECT US TO NEW THERAPIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016425F
SCHEDULE I, PART II, LINE 1, COLUMN (H):	NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY LAURA WISSE, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016432F) THE MEDIAL TEMPORAL LOBE IN PRECLINICAL ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND AGING. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: DRUG TRIALS ARE INCREASINGLY BEING STARTED IN AN EARLY STAGE OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD) BEFORE MEMORY PROBLEMS START, TO PREVENT BRAIN DAMAGE FROM BECOMING TOO SEVERE. TO TEST HOW WELL SUCH A TREATMENT IS WORKING, WE NEED A GOOD MEASURE THAT CAN TRACK THE TREATMENT EFFECTS IN THE BRAIN. A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR THAT IS THE BRAIN REGION KNOWN AS THE MEDIAL TEMPORAL LOBE, BECAUSE IT IS AFFECTED IN AN EARLY STAGE OF AD. HOWEVER, A FACT THAT COMPLICATES USING THE MEDIAL TEMPORAL LOBE AS A MARKER IS THAT THIS BRAIN REGION IS ALSO AFFECTED IN NORMAL AGING. TO SEPARATE THE EFFECTS OF PRECLINICAL AD FROM NORMAL AGING, WE PLAN TO INVESTIGATE THE MEDIAL TEMPORAL LOBE WITH A MORE PRECISE, HIGH RESOLUTION MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SCANNER, WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO INVESTIGATE SMALLER REGIONS WITHIN THIS BRAIN REGION WHICH, IN CONTRAST TO THE CRUDER MEASUREMENTS, ARE EXPECTED TO SHOW DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF AGING AND PRECLINICAL AD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016432F NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: MCLEAN HOSPITAL. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY JENNIFER GATCHEL, MD, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016434F) DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND TAU PET IMAGING IN EARLY ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD), CHANGES OCCUR NOT ONLY IN A PERSON'S MEMORY AND THINKING, BUT ALSO IN THEIR MOOD AND BEHAVIOR; SYMPTOMS SUCH AS DEPRESSION, APATHY AND WITHDRAWAL ARE COMMON AND DISTRESSING TO PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND CAN BE JUST AS DEBILITATING, IF NOT MORE SO, THAN CHANGES IN MEMORY AND THINKING. THESE PSYCHIATRIC AND BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS MAY OCCUR VERY EARLY IN THE DISEASE PROCESS, IN THE "PRE-ALZHEIMER'S" DISEASE STAGE, WHEN A PERSON MAY HAVE THE AD PROTEINS, AMYLOID BETA (A-BETA) AND TAU, IN THEIR BRAINS, BUT BEFORE THEY HAVE DEVELOPED OVERT SIGNS OF THE DISEASE. THERE IS CURRENTLY NOT A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHY AND HOW THESE DEBILITATING PSYCHIATRIC AND BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS OCCUR, AND THERE ARE FEW EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS. VISUALIZING A-BETA IN THE BRAINS OF OLDER ADULTS, AND NOW, DUE TO AN EXCITING NEW TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED IN OUR GROUP THAT WILL ALSO ALLOW US FOR THE FIRST TIME TO VISUALIZE THE TAU PROTEIN IN THE BRAINS OF LIVING OLDER ADULTS, THIS PROJECT WILL BE VITAL BY 1) ALLOWING US TO SEE HOW MILD PSYCHIATRIC AND BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS RELATE TO BUILD UP OF A-BETA, TAU, AND BRAIN PATHWAY CHANGES IN NORMAL OLDER ADULTS AND THOSE IN THE PRE-ALZHEIMER'S AND EARLY AD STAGES, AND 2) PROVIDING IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PATTERNS OF PSYCHIATRIC AND BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS THAT MAY HELP US TO IDENTIFY THOSE MOST AT RISK, ALL OF WHICH WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR DEVELOPING MORE EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES FOR AD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016434F NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY STEPHEN MARTIN, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016443S) A NEW APPROACH TO TREATING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD) IS THE MOST PREVALENT, NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE AFFECTING THE ELDERLY, BUT ALL APPROVED MEDICATIONS FOR AD ONLY TEMPORARILY ADDRESS THE SYMPTOMS, NOT THE PROGRESSION, OF AD. BECAUSE THERE IS AN URGENT, UNMET NEED FOR DRUGS TO TREAT BOTH THE SYMPTOMS AND THE DISEASE, THE PROPOSED PROGRAM WILL EXPLORE A NOVEL STRATEGY TO TREAT AD BY TARGETING A BIOLOGICAL PATHWAY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF ALL EXISTING DRUGS AND KNOWN CLINICAL CANDIDATES. IF SUCCESSFUL, A COMPOUND WILL BE IDENTIFIED THAT HOLDS PROMISE FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM AD, THUS REPRESENTING A NEW WAY TO TREAT THIS DEVASTATING DISEASE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016443S NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY ANA PEREIRA, MD ENTITLED: (A2016478S) GLT-1 PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS AND AS A TARGET TO TREAT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: GLUTAMATE IS A CHEMICAL THAT ALLOWS NEURONS TO COMMUNICATE; A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FEATURE FOR MEMORY. GLUTAMATE NEEDS TO BE AT THE CORRECT PLACE AND TIME TO ALLOW EFFICIENT NEURONAL COMMUNICATION AND TO AVOID TOXICITY. GLUTAMATE LEVELS ARE REGULATED BY THE GLUTAMATE TRANSPORTER 1 (GLT-1). THIS PROPOSAL INVESTIGATES THE MECHANISMS THROUGH WHICH GLT-1 BECOMES DYSREGULATED USING SEVERAL TECHNIQUES. THESE EXPERIMENTS MAY ALLOW DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL MEDICATIONS THAT CAN BRING GLT-1'S FUNCTION TO NORMAL LEVELS AND SIGNIFICANTLY BENEFIT ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016478S
SCHEDULE I, PART II, LINE 1, COLUMN (H):	NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY JEAN-VIANNEY HAURE-MIRANDE, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016482F) ROLE OF TYROBP IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: RECENT STUDIES HIGHLIGHT THE POSSIBLE ROLE OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD). THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND ITS ACTIVATION CAN BE A "DOUBLE-EDGE SWORD" EVENT IN AD: ON ONE HAND, IT CAN PROTECT THE BRAIN BY REDUCING THE FORMATION OF AMYLOID PLAQUE BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IT CAN INDUCE BRAIN INFLAMMATION AND HAVE DELETERIOUS EFFECTS. THE AIM OF OUR PROJECT IS TO: 1) UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF AD, AND 2) PROVIDE NEW INSIGHT FOR A THERAPEUTIC TARGET TO CONTROL AD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016482F NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: EMORY UNIVERSITY. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY ZIXU MAO, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016501S) AUTOPHAGY IN MICROGLIAL ACTIVATION AND NEUROINFLAMMATION. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: SCIENTISTS NOW BELIEVE THAT CHRONIC INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN IS AN IMPORTANT CAUSE OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND TREATING INFLAMMATION CAN REDUCE ONE'S CHANCE OF GETTING THE DISEASE. SCIENTISTS KNOW WHICH TYPES OF BRAIN CELLS ARE MOST IMPORTANT FOR CAUSING THE BRAIN INFLAMMATION BUT DO NOT HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHY AND HOW THIS OCCURS. THE PROPOSED STUDY WILL HELP US ANSWER THESE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. IT MAY ALLOW US TO FIND NEW WAYS TO TREAT BRAIN INFLAMMATION TO SLOW OR PREVENT THE DISEASE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016501S NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY STEPHEN SALTON, MD, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016508S) ROLE OF VGF IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE PATHOGENESIS AND PROGRESSION. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: PREVIOUS WORK FROM OUR LAB AND OTHERS HAS DEMONSTRATED A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN THE EXPRESSION OF THE NEURONAL PROTEIN VGF, WHICH IS A NERVE GROWTH FACTOR, IN THE BRAINS OF PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD) AND AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS. MOREOVER, A NUMBER OF BIOMARKER STUDIES HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT VGF-DERIVED PEPTIDES IN THE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF) ARE DECREASED IN PATIENTS WITH AD BUT NOT IN CONTROL PATIENTS. THESE DATA INDICATE THAT DECREASED VGF EXPRESSION IN THE BRAIN AND CSF IS ASSOCIATED WITH NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE; WE PROPOSE TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER THIS DECLINE IS MECHANISTICALLY INVOLVED IN THE PATHOGENESIS OR PROGRESSION OF AD. IN PRECLINICAL STUDIES, WE WILL INVESTIGATE THE POTENTIAL MECHANISMS BY WHICH VGF DELAYS OR REVERSES MEMORY DYSFUNCTION AND NEUROPATHOLOGY IN A MOUSE MODEL OF AD, AND LASTLY WILL INVESTIGATE WHETHER A VGF-DERIVED PEPTIDE COULD BE THERAPEUTICALLY HARNESSED TO SUPPRESS MEMORY IMPAIRMENT IN THESE MICE, PROVIDING A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE EXPLORATION OF APPROACHES THAT DELIVER VGF AND/OR VGF-DERIVED PEPTIDES TO PATIENTS WITH AD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016508S NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: BOSTON UNIVERSITY. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY TSUNEYA IKEZU, MD, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016551S) NOVEL TREM2 REPORTER PLATFORM FOR DRUG DISCOVERY. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: WE PROPOSE TO IDENTIFY A DRUG, WHICH CAN ENHANCE CLEARANCE OF AN UNWANTED BUILDUP OF PROTEIN FIBRIL AND DEAD CELLS IN THE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD) BRAIN. FOR THAT PURPOSE, WE WILL FOCUS ON A NEW MOLECULE, TRIGGERING RECEPTOR EXPRESSED ON MYELOID CELLS 2 (TREM2), WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN TESTED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DRUG. THE MOLECULE IS EXPRESSED ON THE SURFACE OF IMMUNE CELLS AND FACILITATES THEIR UPTAKE OF PROTEIN FIBRILS OR DEAD CELLS. WE WILL VALIDATE THE CANDIDATE DRUGS ON TISSUE-CULTURED CELLS FROM HUMANS, AND ON ANIMAL MODELS OF AD. OUR LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO DISCOVER A PROPHYLACTIC AND THERAPEUTIC DRUGS FOR THE TREATMENT OF AD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016551S
SCHEDULE I, PART II, LINE 1, COLUMN (H):	NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY PAUL SEIDLER, PHD ENTITLED: (A2016588F) TAU STRUCTURES: FROM PROTEOPATHIC TO PROTECTIVE. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: THE WORK OUTLINED IN THIS PROPOSAL WILL EXPAND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE BY DELINEATING THE STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO TAU. TOXIC FORMS OF THE PROTEIN WILL BE DETERMINED AND USED TO TEMPLATE THE DESIGN OF PEPTIDE AGENTS THAT BLOCK THE ASSEMBLY OF THESE STRUCTURES. NATURAL VARIATIONS IN TAU THAT PROTECT AGAINST THE FORMATION OF TOXIC ASSEMBLIES WILL BE STUDIED TO UNCOVER NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION, AND TO GAIN INSIGHTS INTO THE MECHANISMS BY WHICH AMYLOID FIBERS FORM, PROPAGATE, AND EXERT TOXICITY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/A2016588F NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: JOHNS HOPKINS BAYVIEW MEDICAL CENTER. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY CONSTANTINE LYKETSOS, MD, MHS ENTITLED: (C2015500) ACCELERATING THE DEVELOPMENT, TESTING AND DISSEMINATION OF HOME BASE DEMENSIA CARE INTERVENTION. NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: HUMAN COMPUTATION INSTITUTE. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH BY PIETRO MICHELUCCI, PHD ENTITLED: (CA2016629) CROWD-POWERED MICROVASCULAR MODELING.
SCHEDULE I, PART II, LINE 1, COLUMN (H):	NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY YUTAO LIU, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016023) MIR-182 AND TRABECULAR MESHWORK DYSFUNCTION IN HIGH TENSION GLAUCOMA. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA (POAG) IS THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF GLAUCOMA AND LOWERING EYE PRESSURE IS THE MAIN APPROACH TO TREATING POAG IN THE CLINIC. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO STUDY HOW A SHORT RNA MOLECULE MIR-182 MAY AFFECT THE OUTFLOW OF THE CLEAR LIQUID IN THE FRONT PART OF HUMAN EYES. WE WILL EXAMINE HOW THIS SHORT RNA AFFECTS EYE PRESSURE USING AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH. THIS STUDY MAY GENERATE THERAPEUTIC TARGETS TO CONTROL EYE PRESSURE IN HUMAN GLAUCOMA PATIENTS WITH HIGH EYE PRESSURE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/G2016023 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY XIUQIAN MU, MD, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016024) GENERATION OF RETINAL GANGLION CELLS BY REPROGRAMING. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: GLAUCOMA IS A DISEASE THAT CAUSES VISION LOSS AND BLINDNESS IN MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. THIS PROPOSAL AIMS AT IMPROVING EXISTING AND ESTABLISHING NEW PROCEDURES TO GENERATE RETINAL GANGLION CELLS, THE CELLS AFFECTED IN GLAUCOMA, IN A PETRI DISH. THE CELLS THUS PRODUCED WILL BE USED TO STUDY THE REASONS CAUSING GLAUCOMA, TO SCREEN FOR DRUGS TO TREAT IT, AND TO DEVELOP NEW THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/G2016024 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY RAQUEL LIEBERMAN, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016027) IDENTIFICATION OF MYOCILIN POSTTRANSLATIONAL MODIFICATIONS AND BINDING PARTNERS UNDER STATIC AND GLAUCOMA-RELEVANT MECHANICAL STRETCH. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: MYOCILIN, A PROTEIN MOLECULE ASSOCIATED WITH TWO SPECIFIC FORMS OF GLAUCOMA, IS EXPRESSED AT HIGH LEVELS IN THE EYE TISSUE WHOSE MALFUNCTION IS LINKED TO THE MOST COMMON RISK FACTOR FOR GLAUCOMA, OCULAR HYPERTENSION. TO THIS DAY, THE NORMAL FUNCTION OF MYOCILIN IN THE EYE TISSUE, AND ELSEWHERE IN THE BODY, REMAINS UNKNOWN. HERE WE WILL USE KNOWLEDGE OF THE MYOCILIN STRUCTURE AND MODERN PROTEOMICS TECHNIQUES TO IDENTIFY CHANGES IN MYOCILIN AND INTERACTING PARTNERS UNDER DISTINCT GLAUCOMA-RELEVANT ENVIRONMENTS. THIS RESEARCH WILL HELP CLARIFY MYOCILIN FUNCTION AND WILL LEAD TO NEW TARGETS FOR NOVEL ANTI-GLAUCOMA THERAPIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/G2016027 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY KEVIN CHAN, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016030) WIDESPREAD STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL BRAIN CHANGES AND VISUOMOTOR IMPAIRMENTS IN GLAUCOMA. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: GLAUCOMA IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF BLINDNESS WORLDWIDE, AND FALLS ARE A MAJOR HEALTH CONCERN IN GLAUCOMA PATIENTS. RECENTLY, INCREASING EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT GLAUCOMA IS NOT AN EYE-ONLY DISEASE BUT ALSO INVOLVES WIDESPREAD CHANGES IN THE BRAIN, BUT ITS CAUSES AND THE POTENTIAL CLINICAL AND BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS ON VISUOMOTOR FUNCTION REMAIN UNCLEAR. THE GOAL OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS TO UNDERSTAND HOW GLAUCOMA MAY IMPAIR THE BRAIN STRUCTURALLY AND FUNCTIONALLY WITHIN AND BEYOND THE VISUAL PATHWAY, AND WHETHER THE BRAIN CHANGES IN GLAUCOMA ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EARLY VISION LOSS OR BALANCE AND MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS. THE FINDINGS WILL IMPROVE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE MECHANISMS OF VISUOMOTOR IMPAIRMENTS IN GLAUCOMA AND ULTIMATELY GUIDE VISION PRESERVATION AND FALLS-RELATED INTERVENTIONS TO INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/G2016030
SCHEDULE I, PART II, LINE 1, COLUMN (H):	NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: THE SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY MEREDITH GREGORY-KSANDER, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016081) THE NLRP3 INFLAMMASOME AS A NEW TARGET IN GLAUCOMA. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: IT IS BELIEVED THAT GLAUCOMA DEVELOPS WHEN A PART OF THE EYE CONTAINING NERVES (THE OPTIC NERVE HEAD) IS STRESSED AND DAMAGED. INFLAMMATION IS PART OF THE BODY'S WOUND HEALING RESPONSE TO INJURY, BUT IF THIS RESPONSE BECOMES CHRONIC IT CAN LEAD TO SCARRING AND LOSS OF FUNCTION. OUR PROJECT IDENTIFIES AN IMPORTANT NEW REGULATOR OF INFLAMMATION IN THE OPTIC NERVE HEAD AND TESTS WHETHER INHIBITING THIS REGULATOR WILL STOP DISEASE DEVELOPMENT AND VISION LOSS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/G2016081 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY YVONNE OU, MD ENTITLED: (G2016084) RETINAL SYNAPSE DISASSEMBLY IN GLAUCOMA. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: IN GLAUCOMA, THE CELLS OF THE OPTIC NERVE DIE AND THAT CAN LEAD TO BLINDNESS. ALTHOUGH WE KNOW THAT OPTIC NERVE CELLS ARE INJURED IN GLAUCOMA, WE DO NOT YET UNDERSTAND THE STEPS BETWEEN OPTIC NERVE CELL INJURY AND DEATH. A DETAILED UNDERSTANDING OF THE EARLIEST CHANGES THAT OCCUR WILL ALLOW US TO DESIGN TREATMENTS THAT CAN RESCUE THESE INJURED OPTIC NERVE CELLS BEFORE IRREVERSIBLE CELL DEATH OCCURS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/G2016084 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY HAIYAN GONG, MD, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016099) CELL-CELL INTERACTION IN GIANT VACUOLE/PORE FORMATION. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: NORMAL PRESSURE INSIDE OF THE EYE IS MAINTAINED THROUGH A DYNAMIC BALANCE BETWEEN AQUEOUS HUMOR PRODUCTION AND DRAINAGE, AND HIGHER EYE PRESSURE IS COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA (POAG), A DISEASE THAT IS A LEADING CAUSE OF BLINDNESS WORLDWIDE. FOR AQUEOUS HUMOR TO DRAIN OUT OF THE EYE, IT NEEDS TO EXIT THROUGH A TUBE, SCHLEMM'S CANAL (SC), AND TWO UNIQUE STRUCTURES CAN BE FOUND IN THE CELLS THAT LINE THE WALL OF SC: GIANT VACUOLES, WHICH ARE PRESSURE-DEPENDENT OUTPOUCHINGS, AND PORES, WHICH ARE OPENINGS. PREVIOUS STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT A REDUCTION IN THE DENSITY OF BOTH GIANT VACUOLES AND PORES OCCURS IN THE EYES WITH POAG, INDICATING THAT THIS REDUCTION CAN POTENTIALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE ELEVATED OUTFLOW RESISTANCE CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS DISEASE. WE PROPOSE TO STUDY TWO TYPES OF CELLULAR INTERACTIONS IN THE CELLS THAT LINE SC USING A NEWLY DEVELOPED, ADVANCED 3D ELECTRON MICROSCOPY TECHNOLOGY. THE MAJOR GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER EACH OF THESE TWO TYPES OF CELLULAR INTERACTIONS PLAYS A ROLE IN REGULATING AQUEOUS OUTFLOW BY INFLUENCING GIANT VACUOLE AND PORE FORMATION. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/G2016099 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: BOARD OF REGENTS, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY GILLIAN MCLELLAN, BVMS, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016129) TGF-BETA AND GLAUCOMA PROGRESSION IN A SPONTANEOUS MODEL. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: GLAUCOMA REMAINS A LEADING CAUSE OF VISION LOSS GLOBALLY, AND IT IS ESTIMATED THAT OVER 76 MILLION PEOPLE WILL BE AFFECTED THIS DISEASE BY 2020. THERE IS MOUNTING EVIDENCE THAT A CHEMICAL GROWTH FACTOR, TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR BETA (TGF-BETA), PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROCESSES THAT LEAD TO DAMAGE TO THE OPTIC NERVE, RESULTING IN VISION LOSS. THIS RESEARCH SEEKS TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE MIGHT PROTECT THE OPTIC NERVE FROM DAMAGING EFFECTS OF TGF-BETA AND WILL TEST A PROMISING NEW TREATMENT STRATEGY FOR GLAUCOMA PATIENTS BY REPURPOSING AN EXISTING DRUG TO BLOCK TGF-BETA AND PRESERVE VISION. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/G2016129
SCHEDULE I, PART II, LINE 1, COLUMN (H):	NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY DANIEL SUN, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016137) DO WE NEED OPTIC NERVE HEAD ASTROCYTES TO BECOME REACTIVE IN GLAUCOMA? INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: WE STILL DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE LOSE THEIR VISION IN GLAUCOMA. TO DATE, WE HAVE A STRONG IDEA OF WHERE IN THE EYE THE DAMAGE BEGINS, BUT THE BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES HAPPENING AT THIS LOCATION, AND THE CELLS THAT ARE INVOLVED, REMAIN UNCLEAR. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO FIND OUT IF WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO BETTER TARGET THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS. MY RESEARCH FOCUSES ON BETTER UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE THAT A TYPE OF SUPPORTING CELL CALLED ASTROCYTES PLAYS IN THE BIOLOGICAL PROCESS OF GLAUCOMA, IE, WHETHER THEY HELP TO SLOW DOWN THE VISION LOSS IN GLAUCOMA OR MAKE IT WORSE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/G2016137 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: MOUNT SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY AUDREY BERNSTEIN, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016151) AUTOPHAGIC DYSFUNCTION IN EXFOLIATION GLAUCOMA. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: IN EXFOLIATION SYNDROME (XFS), THE EYE STARTS ACCUMULATING "WHITE FLUFF" DEPOSITS COMPOSED OF PROTEIN AGGREGATES. THE AGGREGATES EVENTUALLY BLOCK THE EXIT OF FLUID FROM THE EYE, CAUSING A BUILDUP OF PRESSURE THAT CAN LEAD TO BLINDNESS. WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT CELLS OBTAINED FROM XFS EYES MAY HAVE A PROBLEM DEGRADING THESE PROTEIN AGGREGATES, LEADING TO AN ACCUMULATION OF "CELLULAR TRASH" THAT BECOMES TOXIC. IN THIS PROPOSAL, WE WILL TEST METHODS TO ACCELERATE DEGRADATION OF THIS CELLULAR WASTE TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF XFS CELLS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/G2016151 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY SHAHID HUSAIN, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016157) PRO-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES REGULATION BY HIF-1 ALPHA IN GLAUCOMA. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: IN GLAUCOMA, NEURONS ARE DYING SLOWLY AND LEADING TO BLINDNESS. NUMEROUS DETRIMENTAL FACTORS, INCLUDING LOW OXYGEN (HYPOXIA), PLAY KEY ROLES IN THE PROGRESSION OF THIS DISEASE. OUR TEAM HAS SHOWN THAT THE NEUROTOXIC PROTEINS, INCLUDING CYTOKINES AND HYPOXIA-INDUCIBLE TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR-1 ALPHA (HIF-1 ALPHA) ARE UP-REGULATED AND FACILITATE NEURONAL DEATH IN GLAUCOMA. THE PROPOSED STUDIES IN THIS PROJECT WILL LIMIT THE UP-REGULATION OF SUCH NEUROTOXIC PROTEINS TO SLOW/HALT THE NEURONAL DEATH IN GLAUCOMA. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/G2016157 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: NATIONAL GLAUCOMA RESEARCH BY CRAWFORD DOWNS, PHD ENTITLED: (G2016165) CONTINUOUS TELEMETRIC MEASUREMENT AND CHRONIC CONTROL OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID PRESSURE.INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: THE PRESSURE INSIDE THE EYE HAS LONG BEEN THOUGHT TO PLAY A DOMINANT ROLE IN GLAUCOMA, A BLINDING DISEASE, BUT RECENT WORK SUGGESTS THAT THE FLUID PRESSURE SURROUNDING THE NERVE EXITING THE EYE IS ALSO INVOLVED. THESE PRESSURES ARE NOT EASY TO MEASURE, SO THERE HAS BEEN NO GOOD WAY TO DETERMINE IF THE PRESSURE AROUND THE NERVE IS TRULY IMPORTANT IN GLAUCOMA. WE HAVE DEVELOPED A NEW SYSTEM TO WIRELESSLY MEASURE AND RECORD THE PRESSURE IN THE EYE CONTINUOUSLY IN RESEARCH SUBJECTS, AND WE NOW WANT TO EXTEND THAT SYSTEM TO MEASURE THE PRESSURE AROUND THE NERVE EXITING THE EYE. USING THIS SYSTEM, WE CAN DEFINITIVELY DETERMINE IF THE PRESSURE AROUND THE NERVE IS IMPORTANT IN GLAUCOMA, WHICH COULD LEAD TO NEW TREATMENT APPROACHES FOR THIS BLINDING DISEASE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/G2016165
SCHEDULE I, PART II, LINE 1, COLUMN (H):	NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: THE SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY PETR BARANOV, MD, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016046) INDIRECT PHOTORECEPTOR NEUROPROTECTION THROUGH SMALL MOLECULE-INDUCED GROWTH FACTORS. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: WE AIM TO IDENTIFY SMALL MOLECULES THAT CAN INDUCE ENDOGENOUS GROWTH FACTORS IN THE SENSORY PART OF THE EYE THE RETINA. OUR OVERALL GOAL IS TO INVESTIGATE THE POWER OF THIS INDIRECT NEUROPROTECTION APPROACH TO RESCUE PHOTORECEPTORS AND GANGLION CELLS FROM DEATH, OVERCOMING LIMITATIONS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH GROWTH FACTOR DELIVERY. THE RESULTS OF OUR STUDIES SHOULD LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL, ACCESSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE MOLECULAR THERAPIES FOR RETINAL DYSTROPHIES AND OTHER NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016046 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY JIANHAI DU, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016047) NAD METABOLISM IN NORMAL AND DISEASE-SPECIFIC HUMAN RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIAL CELLS. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: SOME EYE DISEASES, LIKE AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION, CAUSE BLINDNESS BECAUSE THE LIGHT-SENSING CELLS AND THEIR SUPPORT CELLS IN THE EYE STOP WORKING. WE BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE REASONS THE SUPPORT CELLS STOP WORKING IS BECAUSE THEIR ABILITY TO GENERATE ENERGY FOR THEMSELVES IS DAMAGED. WE WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS DAMAGE OCCURS AND TO TEST WHETHER NEW NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS, CALLED NICOTINAMIDE ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDE (NAD) METABOLITES, CAN IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO SURVIVE AND FUNCTION. IF THESE NEW SUPPLEMENTS CAN RESCUE THE SUPPORT CELLS WHEN STUDIED IN A CELL CULTURE DISH AND IN A MOUSE MODEL, WE BELIEVE THEY MAY BE ABLE TO SLOW OR STOP VISION LOSS IN PATIENTS WITH AMD AND OTHER SIMILAR RETINAL DISEASES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016047 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY DEBASISH SINHA, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016056) MODULATING LYSOSOMAL FUNCTION IN RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIAL AS A NOVEL THERAPEUTIC APPROACH FOR THE TREATMENT OF AMD. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF BLINDNESS AMONG THE ELDERLY AND CURRENTLY THERE IS NO KNOWN TREATMENT FOR EARLY AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD). THEREFORE, WE WANT TO FOCUS OUR STUDIES AT THIS EARLY PHASE IN ORDER TO DEVELOP PREVENTION AND TREATMENT BEFORE THIS DISEASE ADVANCES AND CAUSES DRAMATIC VISION LOSS. OUR PROPOSED STUDIES ARE AIMED AT DEVELOPING NOVEL SMALL MOLECULES THAT COULD BE TESTED AS A THERAPY FOR EARLY AMD. SUCH STUDIES HAVE GREAT CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE SINCE THEY CAN PROVIDE A NOVEL THERAPEUTIC APPROACH FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF AMD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016056 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY JEFFREY GROSS, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016067) A ZEBRAFISH MODEL OF AMD: A NOVEL APPROACH TO IDENTIFY FACTORS THAT FACILITATE RPE REGENERATION AND FUNCTIONAL RESTORATION. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: GEOGRAPHIC AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD) RESULTS FROM THE PROGRESSIVE DEATH OF THE RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM (RPE), TRIGGERING PHOTORECEPTOR DEGENERATION IN THE RETINA AND ULTIMATELY, IN BLINDNESS; WE HAVE NO EFFECTIVE THERAPIES TO SLOW THE DEGENERATION OR RESTORE LOST RPE CELLS. IN CONTRAST TO MAMMALS, ZEBRAFISH POSSESS A REMARKABLE ABILITY TO REGENERATE LOST TISSUES AFTER INJURY, AND THEY ARE A HEAVILY UTILIZED MODEL SYSTEM FOR STUDYING THE PROCESS OF RETINAL REGENERATION. OUR RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THAT THEY CAN ALSO REPAIR DAMAGE TO THE RPE AND EXPERIMENTS PLANNED IN THIS PROPOSAL SEEK TO UNDERSTAND THIS PROCESS BY IDENTIFYING CRITICAL FACTORS REQUIRED TO INITIATE AND SUSTAIN THE REGENERATIVE RESPONSE. ONCE WE UNDERSTAND HOW THE ZEBRAFISH ACHIEVES THIS DURING ITS NORMAL LIFESPAN, OUR FUTURE GOALS WILL BE TO DETERMINE WHY MAMMALS, LIKE US, ARE UNABLE TO REGENERATE RPE CELLS AND WHETHER ANY OF THE PATHWAYS THE ZEBRAFISH UTILIZES CAN BE REACTIVATED IN MAMMALS TO STIMULATE RPE REGENERATION AND THUS, RESTORE CELLS LOST IN AMD PATIENTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016067
SCHEDULE I, PART II, LINE 1, COLUMN (H):	NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY FRANCESCO GIORGIANNI, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016068) IN VITRO AND IN VIVO STUDIES OF CD5L/AIM AS A POSSIBLE KEY ROLE PLAYER IN DRUSEN BIOGENESIS. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT CERTAIN CELLS OF THE EYE, TERMED RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM (RPE), THAT ARE TYPICALLY DAMAGED IN A COMMON DISEASE OF THE ELDERLY CALLED AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD), EXPRESS A PROTEIN THAT IS TARGETED BY THE IMMUNE SYSTEM OF PATIENTS WHO HAVE AMD BY MEANS OF AUTO-ANTIBODIES. THIS PROTEIN WE DISCOVERED IN THE RPE IS CD5L/AIM, WHICH IS A SECRETED SCAVENGER RECEPTOR PROTEIN, AND WE HAVE EVIDENCE SUGGESTING THAT CD5L/AIM IS VERY IMPORTANT IN HELPING THE RPE CLEAR DAMAGED LIPOPROTEINS (CALLED OXLDL) THAT, IN AMD, ACCUMULATE UNDER THE RPE TO FORM DRUSEN, A DEPOSIT THAT IS THE FIRST AND MOST TYPICAL EVIDENCE THAT AN EYE HAS DEVELOPED AMD. THUS, WE WILL CULTURE RPE CELLS IN VITRO TO PROVE THAT CD5L/AIM IS A KEY MOLECULE IN CLEARING OXLDL AND THAT, WHEN BLOCKED BY AN ANTIBODY JUST LIKE WHAT WE SEE HAPPENS WITH AUTO-ANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WHO HAVE AMD, THE RPE CELLS WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO CLEAR OXLDL. LASTLY, TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE PRESENCE OF AUTO-ANTIBODIES IN THE BLOODSTREAM OF PATIENTS WITH AMD RELATES TO DISEASE IN AFFECTED PATIENTS, WE WILL STUDY SERUM SAMPLES FROM AMD PATIENTS AND CORRELATE THE LEVELS OF ANTI-CD5L/AIM AUTO-ANTIBODIES WITH HOW MANY DRUSEN THEY HAVE AT THE BACK OF THEIR EYES, AS WELL AS WITH CERTAIN GENETIC FACTORS THAT ARE KNOWN TO INCREASE THE RISK OF DEVELOPING AMD. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO TEST THE HYPOTHESES THAT THE MORE AUTO-ANTIBODIES ONE HAS AGAINST CD5L/AIM, THE MORE DRUSEN WE ARE LIKELY TO FIND AT THE BACK OF THE EYE, WHICH WOULD SUGGEST THAT CERTAIN AUTO-ANTIBODIES FACILITATE FORMATION OF DRUSEN IN PATIENTS WHO HAVE AMD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016068 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: THE CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY VERA BONILHA, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016079) GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY: CHANGES IN THE RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIAL AND INFLAMMATORY CELL POPULATIONS IN THE REGION OF EXPANDING LESIONS. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD) IS A COMPLEX DISEASE LEADING TO IRREVERSIBLE BLINDNESS OF THE ELDERLY POPULATION IN INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES. AT THE MOMENT, A FEW EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS EXIST FOR THIS DISEASE, BUT NEW TREATMENTS EFFECTIVE TO THE DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE ARE URGENTLY NEEDED. THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WILL CORRELATE IMAGING OF THE ATROPHIC LATE-STAGE LESION OF AMD DONOR EYES WITH FINDINGS WITH DETAILED MORPHOLOGICAL AND CELLULAR ANALYSIS IN AND AROUND THE LEADING EDGE OF THESE LESIONS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016079 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: DOHENY EYE INSTITUTE. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY ZHIHONG HU, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016088) AUTOMATED MULTIMODAL DETECTION AND ANALYSIS OF GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY (GA) IS A FORM OF AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD), AND INCREASINGLY THE MAIN CAUSE OF VISION LOSS IN PATIENTS. MUCH OF THE PREVIOUS RESEARCH OF GA HAS FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUAL IMAGING MODALITIES, UTILIZING TWO-DIMENSIONAL (2D) INFORMATION ALONE. HOWEVER, CONSIDERING THE 3D TOPOLOGY OF THE DISEASE, UTILIZING INFORMATION FROM ALL IMAGING MODALITIES CONCOMITANTLY COULD POTENTIALLY YIELD A MORE PRECISE AND COMPREHENSIVE DEPICTION OF GA LESIONS. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP AN AUTOMATED MULTIMODAL GA SEGMENTATION SYSTEM TO MORE PRECISELY QUANTIFY GA PROGRESSION OVER TIME IN MULTIMODAL 2D AND 3D IMAGES TO FACILITATE THE UNDERSTANDING OF GA'S RELATIONSHIP TO VISION LOSS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016088 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY MARIA VALERIA CANTO-SOLER, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016119) A NOVEL 3D HUMAN MINI-RETINA MODEL FOR EARLY AMD. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: OUR STUDIES AIM AT UNCOVERING THE MECHANISMS THAT TRIGGER AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD), WITH THE PURPOSE OF CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THERAPEUTIC TREATMENTS FOR THIS CONDITION. WITHIN THIS CONTEXT, OUR GOAL IS TO DEVELOP THE FIRST "HUMAN RETINA IN A DISH" DERIVED FROM STEM CELLS THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO RECREATE THE CELLULAR PHYSICAL AND FUNCTIONAL INTERACTIONS THAT OCCUR IN THE RETINA OF A PATIENT SUFFERING FROM EARLY STAGES OF AMD. THIS HUMAN AMD MODEL WOULD PROVIDE A UNIQUE BIOLOGICAL SYSTEM TO INVESTIGATE THE INITIAL TRIGGERS LEADING TO THIS DISEASE AND TO DEVELOP TREATMENTS TO STOP ITS PROGRESS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016119
SCHEDULE I, PART II, LINE 1, COLUMN (H):	NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: JOAN AND SANFORD I. WEILL MED. COLL. OF CORNELL UNIV.. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY MARCELO NOCIARI, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016124) LIPOFUSCIN-MEDIATED ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM STRESS IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF MACULAR DEGENERATION. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: AS RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM (RPE) GETS OLD, IT ACCUMULATES A LOT OF LIPID BISRETINOIDS (LBS). ABOVE A CERTAIN THRESHOLD, OR AFTER EXPOSURE TO LIGHT, LBS BECOME TOXIC AND MAY INDUCE CELL DEATH. MANY GROUPS HAVE PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED MECHANISMS BY WHICH LBS DAMAGE THE RPE. THESE STUDIES, HOWEVER, DID NOT PROVIDE US WITH A METHOD TO CLEAR LBS OR ALLEVIATE THEIR HARMFUL EFFECTS. WORKING WITH CULTURES OF RPE CELLS AND SYNTHETIC LBS, WE FOUND A NOVEL MECHANISM BY WHICH LBS KILL RPE CELLS. THIS MECHANISM SEEMS TO BE CENTRAL TO LB TOXICITY AND IS AMENABLE TO INHIBITION WITH DRUGS, AS WE HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED TWO CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS THAT FULLY PREVENT RPE CELL DEATH BY LBS. INTERESTINGLY, SOME OF THESE DRUGS ARE BEING TESTED FOR THE TREATMENT OF NEURODEGENERATION IN PARKINSON'S AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. IN THE CURRENT PROJECT, WE PROPOSE TO CHARACTERIZE WELL THIS NEW DAMAGING MECHANISM, PROVE THAT IT CONTRIBUTES SIGNIFICANTLY TO LB-INDUCED RETINAL DEGENERATION IN THE EYE, AND TEST IF DRUGS THAT BLOCK THIS MECHANISM CAN PREVENT BLINDNESS IN AN ANIMAL MODEL OF AMD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016124 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY KAUSTABH GHOSH, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016161) MICROMECHANICAL DETERMINANTS OF CHORIOCAPILLARIS DYSFUNCTION IN AMD PATHOGENESIS. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: AGING IS AN IMPORTANT RISK FACTOR FOR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD). AGING IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH AN INCREASE IN TISSUE STIFFNESS. YET, WHETHER AND HOW PROGRESSIVE TISSUE STIFFENING CONTRIBUTES TO THE WORSENING OF THIS DEBILITATING AND DEGENERATIVE EYE DISEASE REMAINS UNKNOWN. THE AIM OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO ADDRESS THIS GAP IN KNOWLEDGE BY USING AN INNOVATIVE AND INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH, SO THAT NEW AND POTENTIALLY SUPERIOR TREATMENTS CAN BE DEVELOPED TO TREAT THIS CONDITION IN THE FUTURE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016161 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY KIP CONNOR, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016183) LIPID REGULATORS OF CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: IN WET OR NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD), ABNORMAL BLOOD VESSELS GROW FROM BENEATH THE RETINA THAT ARE IMMATURE IN NATURE AND LEAK FLUID BELOW OR WITHIN THE RETINA, LEADING TO A RAPID LOSS IN EYESIGHT. EMERGING DATA IMPLICATE LIPIDS DERIVED FROM THE CYTOCHROME P450 PATHWAY ACT AS POTENT REGULATORS OF ANGIOGENESIS. THUS, IT IS OF GREAT CLINICAL INTEREST TO ELUCIDATE THE MECHANISMS BY WHICH THESE LIPID MEDIATORS FACILITATE DISEASE DEVELOPMENT AND/OR REGRESSION. OUR PROPOSAL HAS CLEAR POTENTIAL TO LEAD TO NEW THERAPEUTIC MOLECULES, TARGETS, AND STRATEGIES FOR SPECIFICALLY INHIBITING NEOVASCULAR AMD, A LEADING CAUSE OF BLINDNESS IN THE ELDERLY WHICH, IF LEFT UNTREATED, RAPIDLY LEADS TO SUBSTANTIAL VISION LOSS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016183 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: USC EYE INSTITUTE. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY BIJU THOMAS, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016186) STUDIES ON FUNCTIONALITY OF IPS-RPE TRANSPLANTED IN IMMUNODEFICIENT RCS RATS. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: DYSFUNCTION AND DEATH OF RETINAL PIGMENT DPITHELIUM (RPE) HAS BEEN OBSERVED IN VARIOUS HUMAN RETINAL DEGENERATIVE DISEASES THAT LEAD TO BLINDNESS, SUCH AS AMD. WE PROPOSE TO TREAT SUCH DISEASES BY TRANSPLANTING A POLARIZED MONOLAYER OF RPE SHEETS DERIVED FROM HUMAN INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS (IPS). TO MINIMIZE THE IMMUNOLOGICAL REACTIONS, A NEWLY DEVELOPED RAT MODEL OF RETINAL DEGENERATION THAT DOES NOT REJECT HUMAN CELLS WILL BE USED FOR TESTING. IN DEPTH ANALYSIS OF THE FUNCTIONALITY OF TRANSPLANTED RPE WILL BE CONDUCTED TO ESTABLISH THAT IPS-RPE MONOLAYER TRANSPLANTATION IS A SUITABLE APPROACH TO TREAT VARIOUS DEGENERATIVE DISEASES AFFECTING THE EYE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016186
SCHEDULE I, PART II, LINE 1, COLUMN (H):	NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY MALIA EDWARDS, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016198) RETINAL GLIAL CHANGES IN AMD. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD), THE LEADING CAUSE OF BLINDNESS IN PEOPLE OVER 60 YEARS OF AGE, IS A COMPLEX DISEASE THAT INVOLVES MANY CELLS. TWO CELLS THAT HAVE BEEN LARGELY IGNORED WITH REGARDS TO AMD ARE ASTROCYTES AND M LLER CELLS. SINCE THESE CELLS MAINTAIN A STABLE RETINAL ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNICATE WITH MANY CELLS, DISRUPTION TO THEIR NORMAL BEHAVIOR COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE AMD DISEASE PROCESS. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL INVESTIGATE WHY ASTROCYTES EXIT THE RETINA IN AMD, POTENTIALLY IDENTIFYING NOVEL THERAPEUTIC TARGETS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016198 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SW MEDICAL CENTER. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY JOHN HULLEMAN, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016200) MANIPULATION OF A SINGLE GENE FOR THE TREATMENT OF MALATTIA LEVENTINESE AND DRY AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: MALATTIA LEVENTINESE (ML) AND AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD) ARE TWO EYE DISEASES THAT DISRUPT THE NORMAL PHYSIOLOGY OF THE RETINA, THE BACK PORTION OF THE EYE WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SENSING LIGHT. IF THESE DISEASES ARE LEFT UNCHECKED, THEY CAN INTERFERE WITH A PERSON'S VISION, AND IN SOME CASES, RESULT IN BLINDNESS. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO REDUCE THE LEVELS OF A SINGLE PROTEIN WHICH IS INVOLVED IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF BOTH ML AND AMD. BY REDUCING THE LEVELS OF THIS PROTEIN, WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL SIGNIFICANTLY SLOW OR HALT DISEASE PROGRESSION. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016200 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY PATRICK DAUGHERTY, PHD ENTITLED: (M2016219) ANTIBODY SPECIFICITY REPERTOIRE CHARACTERIZATION IN AMD. INVESTIGATOR'S SUMMARY: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IS INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD). THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO IDENTIFY MOLECULAR TARGETS OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE IN AMD. THE LARGE SET OF ANTIBODIES CIRCULATING IN BLOOD WILL BE COMPREHENSIVELY ANALYZED TO IDENTIFY ANTIBODIES THAT OCCUR IN AMD, AND THAT WILL ALLOW US TO IDENTIFY ORGANISMS FROM THE ENVIRONMENT THAT PRODUCE ANTIBODIES PRESENT IN INDIVIDUALS WITH AMD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE BRIGHTFOCUS WEBSITE: WWW.BRIGHTFOCUS.ORG/GRANT/M2016219 NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: SCHEIE EYE INSTITUTE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY BENJAMIN KIM, MD ENTITLED: (CM2016971) THERAPEUTIC EVALUATION OF ALPHA LIPOIC ACID FOR GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY. NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT: DUKE UNIVERSITY EYE CENTER. (H) PURPOSE OF GRANT: MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH BY MIKAEL KLINGEBORN, PHD ENTITLED: (M2015221) THE ROLE OF EXOSOMES IN DRY AMD.

Schedule R IRS990ScheduleR

Id Disregarded Entities IdDisregardedEntitiesGrp (2 entries)

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NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LLC
22512 GATEWAY CENTER DRIVE	CLARKSBURG	MD	20871	237337229	PROPERTY RENTAL AND MANAGEMENT	MD	$540,868	$4,528,761	BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION
AMERICAN HEALTH ASSISTANCE LLC
22512 GATEWAY CENTER DRIVE	CLARKSBURG	MD	20871	237337229	OWNER OF BRIGHTFOCUS HEADQUARTERS	MD	$0	$4,076,037	BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION