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What is CBBF?
CBBF stands for the Children's Brittle Bone Foundation, a nonprofit that funds research into osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), the genetic condition commonly known as brittle bone disease. According to its site, it has raised more than $18 million for research into the causes, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and eventual cure of OI. Its work centers on research grants and fellowships, and it also runs the Linked Clinical Research Center (LCRC) program, launched in 2006 with the OI Foundation to push innovation in OI research and treatment.
Who it is for and what it does
- Families and patients: the site is mainly a way to understand OI research progress, find newsletters and events, and see where grant money goes.
- Researchers and clinicians: the grants and LCRC pages describe funding mechanisms and clinical research priorities.
- Supporters: donations, a corporate-partner program, board and volunteer opportunities, and an annual charity golf outing are the main ways to get involved.
A practical next step
If you are a family new to OI, start with the research and LCRC sections to see what is being studied, then check the calendar and newsletters for updates. If you are considering giving, the "Your Donations at Work" and past-recipients pages show how funds have been used; the site states donations are tax deductible. For comparison with a related organization, the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation is the partner named in the LCRC program.
How can I apply for a CBBF research grant?
Start by visiting the grants section of CBBF, where the "Apply for Grant" and "Research Grants & Fellowships" pages describe the current application route and any eligibility requirements. The site does not publish a single fixed deadline or form in the material available, so check those pages for the active cycle before preparing a proposal.
What the foundation supports
CBBF states that it has raised more than $18 million for research into the causes, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and eventual cure of Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). It also notes that it broadened its grant mechanism to cover more clinical concerns and, with the OI Foundation, launched the Linked Clinical Research Center program in 2006. That tells you the funder is interested in both laboratory science and clinical work relevant to OI, not only basic biology.
A practical application path
- Confirm the current call and deadline on the CBBF grants pages.
- Match your project to the foundation's stated focus on OI causes, diagnosis, treatment, prevention or cure.
- Prepare the standard materials a small foundation typically expects: a plain-language summary, specific aims, methods, budget and justification, and a short statement of how the work advances OI care or knowledge.
- If your work involves patients or clinical sites, explain any link to a clinical research center or comparable infrastructure.
- Email the foundation using the contact details on the site if the instructions are unclear; the listed address is PO Box 2462, Chicago, IL 60690, phone (773) 236-2223.
Decision criteria
If you are choosing between funders, apply to CBBF when your proposal is specifically about OI and can be explained to a lay board as well as to scientists. For broader rare-bone-disease work, look at whether the foundation's clinical or fellowship track fits better than a general research grant.
As a next step, draft a one-page concept note and check it against the language on the CBBF grants page before investing time in a full application.
What is the Linked Clinical Research Center program and how does it advance osteogenesis imperfecta research?
The Linked Clinical Research Center (LCRC) program is a research-funding and coordination initiative that the Children's Brittle Bone Foundation (CBBF) launched in 2006 together with the OI Foundation. Its purpose, as described on the CBBF site, is to broaden the foundation's grantmaking beyond a narrow research focus to include more clinical concerns, and to drive innovation in the research and treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). In practice, an LCRC is a designated clinical research center where OI patients can be seen and studied in a coordinated way, so that clinical care and research questions feed into each other rather than running on separate tracks.
How it advances OI research
- Connects care with study. By locating research within clinical centers that see OI patients, the program lets real patient experience shape the questions researchers pursue—useful in a rare condition where scattered cases make recruitment hard.
- Builds shared infrastructure. A linked network of centers can standardize assessments and pool data across sites, which is difficult for any single clinic to do alone.
- Broadens the research agenda. CBBF states that the LCRC launch coincided with widening its grants to clinical concerns, not just laboratory work—relevant for issues like fracture management, mobility and quality of life.
- Channels funding. CBBF reports having raised over $18 million for research into the causes, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and eventual cure of OI, with grants and fellowships as part of that effort.
Who it matters to
Families and adults with OI who want care at a center familiar with the condition; clinicians seeking collaborators and protocols; and researchers who need patient cohorts and clinical partners. The trade-off is familiar in rare-disease research: a coordinated network improves depth and consistency but depends on continued philanthropic funding and on enough participating centers to reach patients—so progress tends to be steady rather than fast.
Next step: if you are considering care or collaboration, check the CBBF grants and research pages at CBBF for current LCRC information and grant opportunities, and compare with the OI Foundation's clinical research resources to see which centers are nearest you.
How can I donate to the Children's Brittle Bone Foundation, and is my donation tax deductible?
You can donate to the Children's Brittle Bone Foundation (CBBF) through its website, CBBF, which offers an online donation option on a secured server. The site also lists a fundraising golf outing as another way to give, along with volunteer and corporate-partner paths described under its "Take Action" section. For questions or to give by other means, the site provides contact details: an email contact form, PO BOX 2462, Chicago, IL 60690, and phone (773) 236-2223.
On deductibility, the CBBF site states that all donations to the Children's Brittle Bone Foundation are 100% tax deductible and go directly to those who need it most. Treat that as the organization's own claim rather than tax advice: deductibility depends on your country and filing situation, and in the U.S. you would typically need a receipt and the organization's tax-exempt status confirmed. Keep the acknowledgment you receive after donating, and check the rules that apply to you before claiming a deduction.
A practical next step: use the online donation page for a one-time gift, and if you want your money directed to research, note that the site describes grants supporting research into the causes, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and eventual cure of Osteogenesis Imperfecta, plus a Linked Clinical Research Center program run with the OI Foundation.
What is osteogenesis imperfecta and who does CBBF help?
Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic condition that makes bones unusually fragile, so they break easily and often without obvious cause. Severity varies widely: some people have frequent fractures from early childhood, while others have relatively few. Because OI can also affect hearing, teeth, growth and mobility, care usually involves several specialists rather than a single treatment.
The Children's Brittle Bone Foundation (CBBF) is a U.S. nonprofit focused on OI. According to its site, it has raised more than $18 million for research into the causes, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and eventual cure of OI. Its work centers on:
- Research funding — grants and fellowships for OI research.
- The Linked Clinical Research Center (LCRC) program — launched in 2006 with the OI Foundation to connect clinical care and research.
- Community support — newsletters, a calendar of events and volunteer and board opportunities.
- Fundraising — an annual charity golf outing and online donations, which the site describes as tax deductible.
So the people CBBF serves are primarily families and individuals living with OI, along with the researchers and clinicians working on the condition. It is a research-and-fundraising organization rather than a direct medical provider; someone seeking a diagnosis or treatment plan should consult a physician familiar with OI, and can use CBBF's research and LCRC information to find relevant expertise.
How can I get involved with CBBF through volunteering, joining the board, or corporate partnerships?
You can get involved with CBBF in three main ways, each listed on its home page: volunteer, apply to join its board, or become a corporate partner. The site groups these under a "Take Action" section alongside donating and fundraising events.
Ways to engage, and who each suits
| Path | What the site indicates | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer | A "Volunteer" link under Take Action | People who want hands-on or event-based help without a formal commitment |
| Join the board | A "Join Our Board" link | Those with governance, finance, fundraising or nonprofit experience who can commit to ongoing oversight |
| Corporate partnership | A "Become a Corporate Partner" link | Businesses seeking visible community involvement, cause marketing or employee engagement |
| Donate or join the golf outing | Online donations on a secured server; an annual fundraising golf outing with live auction and hero grants | Supporters who prefer giving or participating in events over organizational roles |
A useful next step
Start with the "Take Action" area of CBBF and open the option that matches your capacity. Before applying for the board, prepare a short summary of relevant skills and the time you can give; boards typically weigh both. For a corporate partnership, decide in advance whether your company can offer funding, in-kind services, matched giving or volunteer days, since that clarity speeds up the conversation.
Decision criteria
Choose volunteering if your time is limited or event-driven. Choose the board if you want to shape strategy and can sustain a multi-year commitment. Choose a corporate partnership if your organization wants a structured, mutually visible relationship. The foundation's stated focus—research into the causes, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and eventual cure of Osteogenesis Imperfecta, plus its Linked Clinical Research Center program with the OI Foundation—is worth referencing when you explain why you want to help.
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