Hope is Here!
A look inside HBRF’s October 11th, 2023 Luncheon Event
How hopeful do you feel about the future of biotechnology accessibility in the United States? If you joined Hope Biosciences Research Foundation (HBRF) on Wednesday, October 11th for our “Hope is Here” event, we hope that your answer is “very!”
Held at Milano Events in Sugar Land, Texas, HBRF’s first luncheon event unfolded as a brilliant display and sharing of communal hope. Catered by Café Natalie and featuring guest speakers Keith Garvin (emcee), Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman, and Dr. Ed Young (keynote), the “Hope is Here” event set out to inspire and inform about mesenchymal (adult) stem cell therapy, FDA-authorized work right here in greater Houston, and how we all have a role in delivering hope for healing from degenerative disease and illness.
HBRF exists to accelerate translational research in degenerative diseases and illnesses commonly considered “incurable” — in other words, HBRF gets promising technologies to people who need them now, through FDA-authorized protocols. Following a welcome from Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman, guests took in a short video detailing how HBRF thinks about degenerative disease and illness with a special focus on adult stem cell therapy, a specific modality studied in-depth at HBRF in conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, lupus, COVID, muscular dystrophy, arthritis, musculoskeletal pain, and others.
The HBRF team is privileged to have a front-row seat to powerful stories every day. It was a joy to share facts like these with the more than 200 guests:
* Since opening the doors in 2020, HBRF has administered more than 200,000,000,000 stem cells at $0 cost to patients through more than 35 FDA-authorized protocols.
* HBRF assumes all treatment costs associated with the FDA-authorized protocols sponsored here, because we never want lack of personal funding to create a barrier to entry into clinical research for patients seeking the opportunity. That means your support goes directly to people in need.
* HBRF’s “Compassionate Use” program is among the most ambitious in the world and includes cases such as pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy, work with patients over age 75 years, and more.
* HBRF is sharing news with the world through three peer-reviewed publications in the last 90 days, alone! (Visit hopebio.org and scroll down to “publications” to read them.)
Interspersed throughout the program, patient testimonials brought tears to seemingly every eye. Guests watched short videos before each featured clinical trial participant took the stage. Want to see for yourself, or share? Videos (all created in-house!) are now available online at the following links:
· Patient Spotlight: Cathy Jackson, Lupus
· Patient Spotlight: The Vyas Family, pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy
A highlight of the program was recognition of Gordon Bethune as a Visionary Sponsor through establishment of the Gordon Bethune Parkinson’s Research Fund.
Listen in to learn more about how and why Mr. Bethune chose to not only participate in FDA-authorized clinical research conducted by HBRF, but to make the opportunity available to others living with the disease at more than 75 years of age, an unprecedented undertaking in cell therapy research (the video includes his “Hope is Here” remarks):
If you feel moved to join Mr. Bethune and answer the call to support Hope, your gifts go directly to patients. Our appeal is simple — with more, Hope can do more. Click here to learn more about how to support Hope, including direction of donations to the active study of your choice. A gift of:
· $100 secures infusion supplies.
· $250 supports a full day of operations in our infusion center.
· $750 administers a treatment.
· $75,000 ensures a year’s worth of treatment under Compassionate Use.
· $250,000 provides 60 treatments in a clinical trial.
· $2MM initiates a new clinical trial for an indication of choice.
· $4.7MM completes all current Compassionate Use and clinical trials in progress.
The Hope community will gather again on October 26th, 2024 at The Post Oak Hotel in Houston, Texas for HBRF’s first gala. It is often said the strength of the community surrounding an organization is indicative of its likelihood of success. We pray that axiom is true, because the community gathered earlier this month was truly inspiring. We look forward to celebrating Hope with you, again!
