BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation announced the appointment of Preston W. Campbell III, M.D., as president and chief executive officer, effective today. Dr. Campbell succeeds Robert J. Beall, Ph.D., who served as president and CEO of the Foundation for 21 years. Dr. Campbell previously served as the Foundation’s executive vice president for medical affairs, a position he held since 1998.
Dr. Campbell brings a deep understanding of the Foundation’s work to his new role, drawn from his 17 years with the organization. Most recently, he oversaw the Foundation’s research, drug discovery and development program, and directed clinical research, the Foundation’s network of CF care centers, clinical training programs and the national patient registry database. He has more than 25 years’ experience providing direct clinical care to people with CF, most recently at Johns Hopkins CF Care Center and at Vanderbilt’s CF Care Center.
“This is an exciting time for the Foundation as we enter a new era of research, engagement and support on behalf of the CF community,” said Dr. Campbell. “I am committed to advancing the mission that has guided the Foundation from its beginnings 60 years ago: to help people with CF live healthier, longer lives, while we search for a cure. As always, the needs of people with CF will guide all that we do.”
Under Dr. Campbell’s leadership, the Foundation will continue to work to find new CF therapies and improve existing ones to help people with CF manage the symptoms of the disease. The Foundation is focused on pursuing bold new strategies and technologies to attack the disease at its genetic level, which could one day lead to a cure. It also will connect people with CF with comprehensive programs and services that can help them afford their medications and treatments, as well as fully benefit from their health insurance coverage.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Campbell as our new president and CEO. He is a CF trailblazer in his own right and has the vision to propel the organization forward during a time of tremendous opportunity and discovery,” said Catherine C. McLoud, chair of the CF Foundation Board of Trustees. “At the same time, we express our enormous gratitude to Dr. Beall for his visionary leadership and lasting contributions, which will continue to impact the lives of people living with CF for years to come.”
Beall’s Legacy Marked by Tremendous Advances in Quality of Life, Research and Care
During his 35 years with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – 21 years as its president and CEO – Dr. Beall had a profound impact on the lives of people with CF. When he joined the Foundation, the median predicted age of survival for a person with the disease was 18 years of age – today it is more than 40 years. For the first time ever, more than 50 percent of people with CF are over 18 years of age. CF is no longer a pediatric disease.
Dr. Beall pioneered the Foundation’s successful venture philanthropy model, which has been a game changer in CF research and drug development. In 1997, he established the Foundation’s Therapeutics Development Program, a unique coalition that has advanced CF drug development through a centralized network of clinical trials and alliances with biotech companies. The program has been responsible for a continuum of breakthrough treatments, including Kalydeco™ and the recently approved Orkambi™, both of which attack the underlying cause of the disease.
“I cannot imagine a more fitting successor than my trusted colleague, Preston. The future of the CF Foundation could not be in more capable hands,” said Dr. Beall. “I want to thank my colleagues, partners and the families in the CF community for giving me the opportunity to work alongside them for 35 years. It has been one of the great privileges of my life.”
About the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the world's leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis. The Foundation funds more cystic fibrosis research than any other organization, and nearly every CF drug available today was made possible because of Foundation support. Based in Bethesda, Md., the Foundation also supports and accredits a national care center network that has been recognized by the National Institutes of Health as a model of care for a chronic disease. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a donor-supported nonprofit organization. For more information, go to www.cff.org.
