About Cystic Fibrosis Research Fund
Accelerate research and drug development for individuals in the final 10% of the cystic fibrosis (CF) community who do not benefit from existing CFTR modulator therapies, speeding lifesaving breakthroughs and a cure.
Focus Areas
Cystic fibrosis (final 10% not served by modulators)Gene therapy and gene editing (CRISPR, base/prime editing)Nucleotide-based therapies and delivery technologiesInhaled formulations for CF pathogens (MRSA, NTM, etc.)Antimicrobial resistanceClinical trial recruitment and matchmakingPreclinical models and research resources
Who They Fund
people with cystic fibrosis who do not benefit from current mutation-targeted therapies (the final 10%)patients with rare or ultra-rare CF mutations
Funding Style
About Cystic Fibrosis Research Fund
Cystic Fibrosis Research Fund Inc backs research for the final 10% of the cystic fibrosis community that does not benefit from existing CFTR modulator therapies. That mission shapes a portfolio aimed at therapeutics, translational science, and clinical trial access rather than broad disease philanthropy. In the latest grants on file, the largest award went to the University of California, San Diego for $497,500 in 2025, pointing to support for substantial research programs. Other major awards reached the State University of Iowa at $398,682 in 2023 and the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute at $185,138 in 2025, showing work across academic and hospital-based research settings. The funder also appears to support multiple routes toward treatment development, including gene-based approaches, nucleotide-based therapies, drug delivery, and inhaled antimicrobial formulations. Leadership is listed as Michael Golinkoff, and the organization reported annual grants of $2,484,056 with assets of $5,958,828 on its latest 990 on file.
What Cystic Fibrosis Research Fund Funds
The foundation’s cause areas are tightly centered on cystic fibrosis therapeutics for patients not helped by mutation-targeted therapy. In gene-based work, it awarded $110,000 to Case Western Reserve University in 2025, aligning with its stated interest in gene therapy and gene editing. For translational research, it gave $165,000 to The University of Texas at Austin in 2023 and another $55,000 in 2024, indicating support for work that can move from lab to clinic over time. It also supports research resources and preclinical work: The Wistar Institute received $55,000 in 2023. Clinical trial recruitment is part of the program structure as well, through CF Clinical Trial Connect, a matchmaking effort focused on connecting people with cystic fibrosis to trials.
How Cystic Fibrosis Research Fund Gives
Typical grant size clusters in the middle six figures to low six figures: the p25 grant is $55,000, the median is $84,922, and the p75 is $137,500. The recent record shows both one-time and repeat support, including multiple awards to the University of Pittsburgh across 2023 and 2025, repeated funding for University of IA, and recurring support for Regents of the University of Michigan and Case Western Reserve University. The funder is a private foundation led by Michael Golinkoff. It accepts unsolicited proposals in its Collaborative Grants, Translational Grants, and CF Clinical Trial Connect programs, and it also lists venture philanthropy investments as a separate funding mechanism.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.2M
Total Assets
$6M
Total Revenue
$3.5M
Total Expenses
$3M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $55K and $138K, with a median of $85K.
25th Percentile
$55K
Median
$85K
75th Percentile
$138K
Geographic Reach
National8 states funded
About 26% of grants go to recipients in MI.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Michael Golinkoff
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