At the very heart of the Histiocytosis Association is the steadfast commitment to finding a cure for histiocytic disorders. The Histiocytosis Association Research Program was established in 1990 by the Association’s Board of Trustees with the objective of identifying and funding the most important and promising research initiatives – those that will lead to more effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure.
The Histiocytosis Association Research Program operates very much on a “parallel highway” – funding grants for laboratory research, financially supporting clinical trials, and managing and participating in the evolution of the Histiocyte Society. All of these functions make research possible. It is a concept known as “bench to bedside” – translating research at the “bench” in the laboratory into clinical trials, or at the “bedside.” The Association is extremely proud to be leading the search for a cure while ensuring that patients are being treated today.
Funding is focused on two types of scientific research – basic and clinical. Basic scientific research focuses on understanding the function of cells and the disease process, and is generally conducted in a laboratory under controlled settings. Clinical scientific research utilizes the knowledge generated through basic research and applies it directly to the treatment of patients through clinical trials. These two forms of research complement one another, and both are necessary in the quest for better treatments and, ultimately, a cure for histiocytic disorders.
