GBT Launches Foundation to Help Underserved Patient Communities
Seeking to improve the health and life quality of underserved sickle cell disease (SCD) communities internationally, Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT) has established The GBT Foundation.
Created in part to mark the company’s 10 anniversary, the foundation will fund programs around the world that support SCD patients, their families, and caregivers through education, empowerment, and improved healthcare access and parity.
“Giving back to the community has been woven into GBT as a company since our founding a decade ago — guided by a belief in every person having an equal chance to reach their full health potential,” Ted W. Love, MD, GBT’s president and CEO, said in a press release.
“As an extension of our mission and corporate giving, The GBT Foundation will provide more opportunities to make a difference by helping to address the needs of patient populations who have been disenfranchised and left behind, like people living with sickle cell disease,” Love said.
For the last three years, GBT has awarded funding to U.S.-based groups working to ensure healthcare for disadvantaged patients through its ACCEL program, or Access to Excellent Care for Sickle Cell Patients. Nearly $1 million in total grants were given to 19 organizations since 2019, the company said. Starting next year, ACCEL grants will be funded by The GBT Foundation.
Moving forward, nonprofit organizations fostering programs that could “create meaningful and enduring change” are invited to submit grant proposals for potential funding. These proposals should fall under four main areas:
- Heightening sickle cell education and awareness to increase knowledge of the blood disorder’s physical, social, psychological, and societal impact
- Empowering patients, caregivers, and other SCD community members to help improve care and daily life
- Improving access to SCD care to help patients get high-quality health services
- Enhancing health equity through new and sustainable remedies that give underserved communities an opportunity to “reach their full health potential without any social barriers”
The foundation, which is funded primarily by GBT, is accepting applications on a rolling basis. Requests must be submitted at least 60 days before the desired start of the effort for which funding is being sought. Applicants will be notified of the decision within about two months from their submission’s receipt.
Funding may not be used to support past activities or events, nor for capital projects, professional development initiatives, or scholarships. Visit the foundation’s website to learn more about eligibility requirements, or send an email to [email protected].
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