CHORDOMA FOUNDATION

Durham, North Carolina, 27702 United States

Mission Statement

The Chordoma Foundation is a nonprofit organization working to improve the lives of chordoma patients by accelerating research to develop effective treatments for chordoma, and by helping patients to get the best care possible. To accelerate the search for a cure, we initiate and fund high-impact research, facilitate information exchange and collaboration among researchers, and provide scientific resources needed to study chordoma.

About This Cause

Chordoma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the bones of the skull and spine. It is part of a family of cancers called sarcoma, which include cancers of the bones, cartilage, muscles and other connective tissue. Chordomas are thought to arise from remnants of the embryonic notochord, a rod-shaped, cartilage-like structure that serves as a scaffold for the formation of the spinal column. Notochord cells normally persist after birth lodged inside the spine and skull, and rarely these cells can undergo a malignant transformation that leads to the formation of a chordoma. Chordomas are generally slow growing, but are relentless and tend to recur after treatment. Because of their proximity to critical structures such as the spinal cord, brainstem, nerves and arteries, they are difficult to treat and require highly specialized care. To accelerate the search for a cure, we initiate and fund high-impact research, facilitate information exchange and collaboration among researchers, and provide scientific resources needed to study chordoma. To help patients get the best care possible, we provide information about the latest treatment options, refer patients to experienced doctors, and match patients with trained peer-support mentors. Since our inception in 2007, we have united the chordoma research community, attracted numerous new researchers to the field and created the conditions needed for chordoma research to flourish. Our efforts have led to advances in chordoma research, which are being translated into improved treatments for patients.

CHORDOMA FOUNDATION
Po Box 2127
Durham, North Carolina 27702
United States
Phone 919-809-6779
Twitter @ChordomaFDN
Unique Identifier 208423943