About the BrightFocus Foundation

BrightFocus Foundation is a nonprofit organization supporting research and providing public education to help eradicate brain and eye diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. We are working to save mind and sight.

BrightFocus is at the forefront of brain and eye health, advancing early-stage, investigator-initiated research around the world. We also provide free educational materials to people affected by or interested in these diseases, empowering them to take action for themselves and others. They can take advantage of news and research results offered through BrightFocus websites, publications, social media, videos, podcasts, and TV and radio public service announcements.

Through our toll-free phone number, 1-800-437-2423, people can speak directly with a member of our information services staff, Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm Eastern time, for support, answers to questions, and referrals.

A nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States, we were founded in 1973 and known until February 1, 2013 as the American Health Assistance Foundation. We chose our new name—BrightFocus Foundation—to reflect our vision of a world where everyone experiences life fully and with clarity. Read about the work of our three programs:

• Alzheimer's Disease Research
• Macular Degeneration Research
• National Glaucoma Research

We disseminate vital information to the public-especially those affected by diseases that have an impact on mind an sight—through our website, print publications, social media, as well as TV and radio public service announcements (PSAs). Through our toll-free phone number, 1-800-437-2423, people can speak directly with a member of our information services staff, Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm Eastern time, for answers to questions, support, and referrals.

Read the most recent Annual Report from our last full year as the American Health Assistance Foundation. (Please note that the report is a high quality, 12.4 MB file and may take some time to download depending on your connection speed).

BrightFocus Foundation

Vision

We envision a world where everyone lives with clarity, grace, and good health.

Mission

BrightFocus Foundation seeks to save mind and sight by funding innovative research worldwide and by promoting better health through education.

Led by a highly qualified President & CEO, senior leadership team, and Board of Directors, BrightFocus is a global leader in the fight to save mind and sight. Our entire staff is committed to collaborating with our donors and a range of public and private partners to raise funds to invest in the world's most promising research. We also aim to serve as the go-to information source for patients and families suffering from Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.

• Learn more about our organizational goals and strategies for success.

Accomplishments:

• Goals and Accomplishments
• Financial Highlights

BrightFocus is committed to organizational transparency, and we invite you to review or download our most recent audited consolidated financial statement, and IRS Form 990. BrightFocus complies with important industry standards for charity accountability, including certification from the Better Business Bureau, and the Maryland Nonprofit Standards of Excellence, and America's Charities. BrightFocus respects the privacy of everyone who accesses our website and is committed to ensuring that web visitors and donors have the ability to let us know their preferences.

BrightFocus is one of America's leading supporters of basic scientific investigations to better understand and find cures for Alzheimer's disease, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. BrightFocus has awarded more than $120 million in research grants to some of the most prominent scientists at universities, hospitals and medical centers around the world, as of July 1, 2012.*

BrightFocus is currently supporting a total of 116 research grants:

• 54 projects through Alzheimer's Disease Research
• 31 through National Glaucoma Research
• 31 through Macular Degeneration Research

Find information concerning the grant application process and our scientific review committees.

BrightFocus Foundation's website includes helpful information about risk factors, symptoms, screening, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. The website also has the latest medical news and expert answers to real life questions:

• Alzheimer's Disease: Ask an Expert
• Macular Degeneration: Ask an Expert
• Glaucoma: Ask an Expert

Medical illustrations and videos provide easily understood descriptions of the brain, the eyes and the progress of these diseases.

Additionally, the website provides resources for those living with the effects of Alzheimer's disease, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. This includes ways to accommodate changing needs, stay safe, use low vision aids, find financial and legal assistance, and choose long-term living arrangements.

BrightFocus has a number of free booklets and brochures on these same topics, and these publications may be ordered by phone, mail or online. Most materials are also available in Spanish; booklets and brochures on eye diseases are in large print:

• Alzheimer's Disease Publications
• Macular Degeneration Publications
• National Glaucoma Publications

BrightFocus Foundation has entered into a new partnership with BioMed Central's open access journal, Molecular Neurodegeneration (MN), in which MN is now the official journal of BrightFocus. The open access publishing model provides articles for free to the general public as well as scientists, clinicians and other healthcare practitioners. Molecular Neurodegeneration publishes peer-reviewed, original scientific research on the causes of neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, and on the pre-clinical testing of potential therapies for these devastating diseases.

• Molecular Neurodegeneration