Use of Funds

The GDF has raised millions of dollars that has enabled advancements in identifying the genetic basis of many diseases. Funds have also contributed to enhancing carrier testing, fostering greater physician/public awareness of genetic disorders and endowing the Francis Crick Professorship of Human Genetics at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Technology

Funds raised by the Foundation have made possible the purchase of state-of-the art equipment for Mount Sinai’s Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences. This technology helps expedite diagnosis and research for a range of genetic diseases. Some of these equipment purchases include:

Mass Spectrometer for Metabolite Analyses ($175,000)
37000 DNA Sequencer ($350,000)
“Wave” Mutation Detection ($95,000)

Public Awareness

Know Your Genes

The GDF recently launched Know Your Genes, a public awareness campaign to help people understand the importance of genetic testing. The campaign includes a website KnowYourGenes.org, which provides a comprehensive introduction to genes and genetic testing and explains why it’s important to take charge of your health.

One Test, Sixteen Answers

The Genetic Disease Foundation spearheaded an awareness campaign to educate physicians and their patients about the availability of screening for diseases for individuals and couples of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. For such individuals and couples, a physician can order one simple blood test to determine if either carries a gene mutation that can cause any of these diseases in their children More than 30,000 posters and brochures were distributed to OBGYNs and pediatricians nationwide. For more information about the importance of testing visit the GDF’s Know Your Genes website.
Learn more about the campaign.

Research

The Francis Crick Professorship of Human Genetics

The endowment of a Chair, the Genetic Disease Foundation -Francis Crick Professor of Human Genetics, enables the Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York to recruit or retain one of the world’s top researchers in genetic diseases. The Chair honors an esteemed scientist, Dr. Crick. Together with Dr. James Watson, Dr. Crick discovered the DNA double helix and then independently made a second seminal contribution, he cracked the genetic code, two of the most remarkable and historic contributions in genetics.

See our Research page for other breakthroughs at Mount Sinai that the GDF has helped support.