The Choroideremia Research Foundation (CRF) is an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting the choroideremia (CHM) community. There are an estimated 6,600 affected male CHMers in the United States.

Our Mission
To raise funds in support of scientific research leading to a treatment or cure of Choroideremia, a hereditary retinal-degenerative disease that causes blindness; to educate people affected by the disease; and to inform the public.
What’s new
CRF has funded nearly $4 million in research on the causes and potential cures for choroideremia since being granted nonprofit status in 2000.
The organization hosts a two-day conference for patients and family every other year and a research/scientific symposium on alternating years. It also offers one-day regional meetings several times a year around the world. Webinars and interactive online chats are offered (and recorded) several times monthly on topics such as emotional support, research, assistive technology, clinical trials and genetic testing.
CRF hosts a CHM patient registry at https://www.curechm.org/chm-patient-registry/ The organization advocates for patients legislatively nationally and internationally, provides education for medical professionals, and offers information and one-on-one support to patients and family members.
To learn more about CRF’s 2020 accomplishments, please view our “State of the CRF” webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Board of Directors
Officers At-Large
Directors
The Choroideremia Research Foundation has adopted a conflict-of-interest policy that prohibits or limits business transactions with board members and requires board members to disclose potential conflicts to promote transparency.
Choroideremia Research Foundation Staff
Science Advisory Board

Ian MacDonald, MD (chair)
Professor, Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Tomas Aleman, MD
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Kapil Bharti, PhD
Senior Investigator, Ocular and Stem Cell Translational Research Unit, National Institutes of Health, Intramural Research Program
Bethesda, Massachusetts

Sanford Boye, MS
Associate Scientist, Department of Ophthalmology, Shannon E. Boye Laboratory, University of Florida Health
Gainesville, Florida

Shannon Boye, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Shannon E. Boye Laboratory, University of Florida Health
Gainesville, Florida

Jacque Duncan, MD
Professor in Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, California

Rachel Huckfeldt, MD, PhD
Associate Surgeon and Director, Inherited Retinal Degenerations Fellowship, Massachusetts Eye and Ear; Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
Boston, Massachusetts

Alex Iannaccone, MD, MS, FARVO
Director, Center for Retinal Degenerations and Ophthalmic Genetic Diseases, and Professor, Ophthalmology, Duke University Department of Ophthalmology
Durham, North Carolina

Mark Pennesi, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor in Ophthalmic Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) Casey Eye Institute
Portland, Oregon

Stephen Tsang, MD, PhD
Professor of Ophthalmology and Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Department of Pathology and Cell Biology
New York, New York

Ajoy Vincent, MBBS, MS
Staff Ophthalmologist, Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences; Medical Director, Visual Electrophysiology Unit; Associate Scientist Genetics and Genome Biology Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Michael Young, PhD, FARVO
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Co-Director, Ocular Regenerative Medicine Institute; Director, Minda de Gunzburg Center for Retinal Regeneration, Harvard Medical School; Associate Scientist, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear
Boston, Massachusetts

Chris Moen, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Choroideremia Research Foundation
Medical Director, NaviHealth
Wilmington, Delaware

Jess Thompson, MD, MS
Chair, Research Committee, Choroideremia Research Foundation
Yavapai Cardiac Surgery
Prescott, Arizona
Contact Us
Mailing Address
Choroideremia Research Foundation, Inc.
23 East Brundreth Street
Springfield, MA 01109-2110
Phone
(800) 210-0233
Email
E-mail the CRF
International Contacts
Australia, Email Tim Galvin
United Kingdom, Email Emma Salisbury
France, Email Cecile du Colombier
Canada, Email Robert Hillier
New Zealand, Email Fraser Alexander
Germany, Email Michael Laengsfeld
What’s new
CHOROIDEREMIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION FUNDS GROUND-BREAKING RESEARCH ON TWO BROTHERS WITH CHM
Stacey Hume, PhD, FCCMG, Molecular Geneticist and Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at University of Alberta One Brother is Symptomatic while the Other is Not SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED STATES, August 4, 2020 /EINPresswire.com/ --
GIVING HOPE TO PEOPLE IN DARKNESS
The Choroideremia Research Foundation gave me hope and a sense of community.”— Brent Rische, CRF member The Choroideremia Research Foundations Provides Education and Community about a Little Known Degenerative Eye Disease SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED STATES, August 7,
CRF FUNDS EXPLORATORY RESEARCH PROPOSALS COMMENCING SUMMER 2020
Abigail Fahim to Study the Impact of RPE Proteins on Choroids "Understanding the relationship between RPE and choroids is vital to finding treatment for choroideremia, or even better, a cure.”— Neal Bench, CRF board president SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS,
CRF ANNOUNCES NEW RESEARCH AWARD TO STUDY THE EFFICACY OF NOVEL THERAPEUTICS
Dr. Yi Zhai receives the Oster Family Research Award "This important research will provide a best-in-class way to evaluate the impact of future scientific research into choroideremia.” — Neal Bench, CRF board president SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED STATES,
CHOROIDEREMIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION STRENGTHENS LEADERSHIP
Four New Members Join the Board of Directors Springfield, MA., July 16, 2020 The Choroideremia Research Foundation (CRF) is pleased to announce the appointment of four new members to its board of directors. These members fill vacancies
Kim Edwards Receives 1st Annual CRF Randy Wheelock Research Award
Choroideremia Research Foundation Awards $50,000 Grant in New Program Springfield, MA., May 26, 2020 The Choroideremia Research Foundation (CRF) is pleased to announce that Kim Edwards is the recipient of the 1st Annual CRF Randy Wheelock Research