Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have awarded a $100,000 grant to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to support the development of new drugs to treat and help control the effects of cystic fibrosis (CF). CF is a life-threatening, genetic disease that affects approximately 30,000 Americans. CF causes the body to produce an abnormally thick, sticky mucus, which causes chronic and life-threatening lung-infections and impairs digestion. Today nearly 40 percent of people with CF are age 18 and older.

Research funded by Aetna's grant will be carried out in 14 CF Foundation Therapeutics Development Program centers located throughout the country.

"Aetna and its employees have long been committed to the fight against CF," said Michael Dobbs, vice president of Aetna National Accounts for the Southeast Region and board member of the CF Foundation's Georgia Chapter. "Throughout the country, Aetna's clinical and case management staff participate in the management of patients with CF and Aetna employees also volunteer at CF Foundation fund-raising events. In turn, the CF Foundation participates in Aetna's employee health fairs. It's a true collaboration between our organizations as we work to educate the public about CF and improve the length and quality of life for those living with CF today."

CF is most commonly diagnosed via a sweat test and also can be detected through a genetic test. Once diagnosed, various forms of therapy can be utilized to lessen the effects of the disease. Aetna covers genetic testing for individuals shown to be at risk for conditions such as CF where the results may affect the course of treatment of the insured. In fact, Aetna has taken the lead in encouraging all health plans to cover genetic testing and has established guidelines to encourage testing while protecting individual privacy.

"Over the last few decades, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has made tremendous progress in the fight against CF. Not only are our patients living longer but they are experiencing an improved quality of life that has allowed many of them to graduate from college, take on careers and in some cases, even start families," said Robert Stanzione, major gifts campaign chair for the CF Foundation. "Donations from companies like Aetna are the backbone of this progress and will be the driving force behind tomorrow's advances. We are so grateful to Aetna for its support in helping add tomorrows every day for all people with CF."