Our Research

The DBAF has been able to fund many important research projects through the continuous support of patients, families, friends, and all those affected by DBA syndrome. These awards are international, supporting peer-reviewed research on all aspects of DBA syndrome pathophysiology. DBA syndrome affects individuals of both sexes, all ethnicities, and has no regard for national boundaries. Likewise, cutting edge DBA syndrome research is carried out in laboratories world-wide, and thus, to have the biggest impact on moving research forward, grants are judged solely on the quality of the research proposed and its relevance to the DBAF’s mission to improve the lives of individuals affected by DBA syndrome.

Research Highlights

The DBAF has provided support for:

  • the North American DBA registry (DBAR).
  • clinical studies on DBA syndrome diagnosis, management, and treatment.
  • the identification of DBA syndrome genes.
  • the creation of animal models of DBA syndrome.
  • screening for drugs to ameliorate the hematological manifestations of DBA syndrome.
  • the development of gene therapy as a treatment for DBA syndrome.
  • a better understanding of cancer predisposition in DBA syndrome patients and paths to risk reduction.

Now more than ever…

With all that is going on in the world today, including a pandemic, war, natural disasters, and the ensuing impact of these factors on the economy and family finances, it is easy to lose sight of support for research on rare diseases like DBA syndrome. The DBAF continues to be a major resource of funding for physicians and scientists working to improve the lives of individuals affected by DBA syndrome. This funding is critical for early-stage work on DBA syndrome with the hope that positive results in these preliminary studies will lead to success in obtaining further funding from government agencies like the National Institutes of Health and pharmaceutical industry partners. As the economy struggles in these uncertain times, it is anticipated that competition for government and industry funding will become increasingly difficult, placing the onus on private foundations like the DBAF to continue to support high impact research likely to transform the lives of affected patients and their families. The DBA Foundation therefore needs your support now more than ever.