AbbVie, a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company, and Cystic Fibrosis Research, a nonprofit organization, announced a partnership to expand awareness of proper nutritional habits in the cystic fibrosis (CF) community through the CFChef Shares programme. CFChef Shares will run from August 1 to September 15, 2014, as part of AbbVie's CFChef programme an online resource for CF patients and caregivers to encourage patients to maintain a healthy diet by submitting recipes to the Chef4CF.com Online Cookbook. The programme will begin at the CFRI 27th National Family Cystic Fibrosis Education Conference, on August 1-3, 2014, in Redwood City, California

"CFChef has been a vital nutritional resource for patients and caregivers for years, and we are confident that the CFChef Shares programme will continue to deliver the message that proper nutrition is extremely important for those living with CF," said Sue Landgraf, executive director, CFRI. "We are excited to partner with AbbVie, a company that is committed to the health and well-being of the CF community."

AbbVie is kicking off this partnership with a one-week call for recipes: AbbVie will donate an additional $5,000 if 50 recipes are submitted to the CFChef Shares website by August 8. The partnership will continue with additional donations of $10 to CFRI for each recipe submitted to the CFChef website during this six-week period, up to $10,000. CFRI will put the money raised during the donation period toward providing educational resources and support for increasing awareness among patients of the importance of maintaining a proper CF diet. The public has an opportunity to help donate an additional $2 per recipe by sharing any of the recipes in the Online Cookbook on social media.

"CFChef Shares aims to help CF patients find support, nutritional recipes and meal tips," said Jim Hynd, vice president, GI Care. "Over the last 20 years, AbbVie has demonstrated its commitment to supporting the unique needs of CF patients, and partnerships like this help to emphasize the importance of nutrition in this community."

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the respiratory, reproductive and digestive systems of approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States. More than 70 per cent of people with CF are diagnosed by age two. Today, more than 45 per cent of people living with CF are aged 18 or older.

In patients with CF, a thick, sticky mucus is produced in certain organs throughout the body, most commonly the lungs and digestive system, including the pancreas.  Many people living with CF are unable to properly digest food because of the thick mucus in the digestive system. Additionally, the pancreas does not produce enough digestive pancreatic enzymes in these patients, causing malabsorption of the calories and nutrients (vitamins and minerals) in food. To achieve proper nutrition, individuals with CF need to consume more calories than a person without the disease.

CFChef is an online nutrition website to help people living with cystic fibrosis (CF) and their families better understand the unique nutritional needs of people living with the disease. In addition to serving as an educational resource, CFChef aims to raise awareness of the importance of good nutritional habits and provide a place where families, friends and caregivers of people with CF can share recipes and get updated nutrition tips and guidance.

AbbVie is a global, research-based bio-pharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott Laboratories. The company's mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to develop and market advanced therapies that address some of the world's most complex and serious diseases.

Cystic Fibrosis Research, Inc. (CFRI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation, founded in 1975. CFRI exists to fund research, to provide educational and personal support, and to spread awareness of cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disease.