Vertex Awards $400,000 in Scholarships to People Living with Cystic Fibrosis and Their Immediate Family Members
All in for CF Scholarship Program Doubles to Help 80 Recipients Pursue Higher Education
The Vertex All in for CF Scholarship program was established in
2017 to help people living with cystic fibrosis (CF) and their immediate
family members pursue two-year, four-year or graduate degrees. Part of
Vertex’s 10-year,
“From people living with cystic fibrosis returning to school following lung transplants, to brothers and sisters inspired by their sibling’s courageous fights, the determination of All in for CF Scholarship recipients is remarkable,” said Jeffrey Leiden, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vertex. “They are examples of the many families who inspire us in our relentless pursuit to discover and develop transformative CF medicines.”
Scholarship recipients were chosen by an independent committee of CF community members based on a submitted essay and an applicant’s demonstrated level of community involvement, financial need, and academic achievement. Vertex thanks the members of the CF community who volunteered to serve on the selection committee for their time and commitment.
“The Vertex All in for CF Scholarship has been the difference
between continuing my education and putting my studies on hold,” said
More information about the All in for CF Scholarship, including recipient profiles and stories can be found here. Applications for the 2019-2020 academic year will be available in the fall.
About CF
CF is a rare, life-shortening genetic disease
affecting approximately 75,000 people in
CF is caused by a defective or missing cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein resulting from mutations in the CFTR gene. Children must inherit two defective CFTR genes — one from each parent — to have CF. There are approximately 2,000 known mutations in the CFTR gene. Some of these mutations, which can be determined by a genetic test, or genotyping test, lead to CF by creating non-working or too few CFTR proteins at the cell surface. The defective function or absence of CFTR protein results in poor flow of salt and water into and out of the cell in a number of organs. In the lungs, this leads to the buildup of abnormally thick, sticky mucus that can cause chronic lung infections and progressive lung damage in many patients that eventually leads to death. The median age of death is in the mid-to-late 20s.
About Vertex
Vertex is a global biotechnology company that
invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for
people with serious and life-threatening diseases. In addition to
clinical development programs in CF, Vertex has more than a dozen
ongoing research programs focused on the underlying mechanisms of other
serious diseases.
Founded in 1989 in
For additional information and the latest updates from the company, please visit www.vrtx.com.
(VRTX-GEN)
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180501005942/en/
Source:
Media Inquiries:
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Chris
Stamm, 617-341-6992
mediainfo@vrtx.com