Bedford Research Foundation comes home to Bedford

Earlier this month, Senator Mike Barrett, Representative Ken Gordon, and Bedford Research Foundation Director Dr. Ann Kiessling cut the ribbon on BRF’s new research facility at 124 South Road, Bedford. Barrett and Gordon expressed excitement at seeing the foundation finally “come home” to Bedford after more than 15 years in Somerville. “I am proud and excited to have such ground breaking research in our town,” announced Senator Barrett. Added Representative Gordon, “Dr. Kiessling and her staff have shown their determination to tackle some of the most difficult health problems of our time and it’s exciting that their work will now continue in Bedford!”

Visitors to the event, which was open to the public, enjoyed demonstrations and poster presentations on current BRF projects, including:

• BRF scientists deriving new lines of stem cells from mouse eggs as a model system.
• Dr. Joel Lawitts, Lab Director, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center demonstrating microinjection of mouse eggs, part of a project to develop stem cells resistant to the HIV virus that causes AIDS.
• Dr. Fred Davis, Professor of Biology, Northeastern University explaining circadian rhythms, challenging open house attendees to answer the question, “Are you a morning or evening person?”

An independent, not-for-profit research facility, BRF projects are entirely dependent on philanthropy since the National Institutes of Health budget was amended to prevent federal funding for research on human parthenote stem cells. More information on the foundation, as well as a list of current research funding needs can be found at http://www.bedfordrsearch.org.

Bedford Research Foundation would like to acknowledge Whole Foods, New England Nurseries and RR Donnelly for their generous contributions to the event.