Hope Biosciences Research Foundation

What Hope Biosciences Research Foundation does

Hope Biosciences Research Foundation (HBRF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit clinical research organization founded in 2020 and based in Sugar Land, Texas (Houston area). Its mission is to advance regenerative medicine through clinical research and to deliver investigational stem cell therapies to patients free of charge. The organization operates on a community-funded model: every treatment provided under an FDA-authorized protocol costs the patient $0, with all expenses covered by donations, foundation grants, and fundraising events such as the inaugural Hope Gala 2024 (which raised $1,122,586).

HBRF's core technology is HB-adMSCs — allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells administered intravenously to treat chronic degenerative diseases. The foundation runs a full-service Contract Research Organization that designs protocols in-house, runs biostatistics programming, staffs a specialized infusion center (with clinical trial coordinators, cell therapy infusion nurses, pharmacists, and principal investigators), and recruits patients through its own Patient Registry of 966 participants across 50+ conditions. To date, HBRF has secured 34 FDA-authorized protocols (including over 25 compassionate use authorizations), served 427 patients ranging from age 1 to 85, completed a Phase II Parkinson's trial in 60 patients meeting its primary endpoint, and published 8 peer-reviewed studies.

The revenue model is fully donations-driven for patient treatments, supplemented by CRO services and trial sponsorship for biotech/pharma partners with regenerative products. HBRF serves three segments: (1) patients with chronic degenerative conditions who have exhausted conventional options, (2) biotech/pharma companies seeking a CRO partner for cell-based trials, and (3) partner research foundations such as the Lupus Foundation of America – Texas Gulf Coast Chapter. Operations are currently concentrated in Texas, with the foundation administered under the Greater Houston Community Foundation (EIN 84-3802908) and operating with 11–50 employees.

Name

Hope Biosciences Research Foundation

Legal name

Hope Biosciences Research Foundation

Website

https://hopebio.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hope Biosciences Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit clinical research organization in Sugar Land, Texas that runs FDA-authorized trials of its allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy (HB-adMSCs) for chronic degenerative diseases, delivering all treatments at no cost to patients and supported by donations, foundation grants, and CRO services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical Operations & Monitoring FSP (CRA/CTM/Start-up) (HLAGAOAA), Clinical Trial Informatics (EDC/CTMS/eCOA/eTMF) (HLAGAJAM)

Keywords

• Stem cell therapy
• Regenerative medicine
• Clinical research services
• Cell therapy trials
• Nonprofit CRO

Headquarters

HQ city

Sugar Land

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization administered through the Greater Houston Community Foundation (EIN 84-3802908), HBRF relies entirely on donations from the community. All treatment costs for FDA-authorized studies are covered by donor support. No revenue is generated from patients.
2. Gala and Events Fundraising: The organization hosts fundraising events including the inaugural Hope Gala 2024, which raised over $1.1 million. These events generate significant charitable contributions while building community awareness.
3. Clinical Research Services: HBRF operates as a full-service Contract Research Organization (CRO) offering recruitment, investigation, and sponsorship services to other organizations. Investigational drug products are provided by manufacturers at-cost or at no charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hope Biosciences Research Foundation (HBRF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) clinical research organization that designs, sponsors, and conducts FDA-authorized clinical trials using its proprietary allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy (HB-adMSCs) for chronic degenerative diseases. All FDA-authorized studies are provided free of charge to patients, funded by donations. HBRF also operates a Patient Registry, full-service CRO capabilities (protocol development, biostatistics, site services), and a Compassionate Use/Expanded Access Program, and offers sponsorship and investigation services to other organizations with regenerative products.

Product overview

Hope Biosciences Research Foundation (HBRF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) clinical research organization based in Sugar Land, Texas, focused on regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy. The organization operates a unified platform of services centered around its allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy (HB-adMSCs), which is being studied across multiple therapeutic indications. HBRF's integrated offerings include a Patient Registry for recruitment, full-service clinical trial site capabilities, compassionate use programs, and trial sponsorship services. The core product pipeline includes Phase II trials in Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis, with additional programs in Multiple System Atrophy, Crohn's Disease, brain injury, and lupus. All treatments are provided at no cost to patients through FDA-authorized protocols, with the organization having 34 FDA-authorized protocols and 427 patients served to date.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Allogeneic Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy (HB-adMSCs)
• Patient Registry
• Clinical Trial Site Services (CRO)

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase II trial met primary endpoint with significant motor function improvements in 60 Parkinson's Disease patients over 52 weeks
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Lupus Foundation of America – Texas Gulf Coast ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2024HBRF announced partnership with Lupus Foundation Texas Gulf Coast Chapter to raise funds, execute, analyze, and share results of a year-long study of 15 patients in the greater Houston area living with lupus. Cathy Jackson's lupus protocol was HBRF's first peer-reviewed published piece in September 2022 (Journal of Translational Autoimmunity).
• Hope Biosciences, LLCsupportingOthersListed as a silent auction sponsor at the Hope Gala 2024. Appears to be a related corporate entity supporting the foundation's mission.
• Jimmy Pappas Sporting Clay ShootsupportingOthersPartner organization supporting HBRF's fundraising events and mission.
• Thomas Markle JewelerssupportingOthersSponsored the Hope necklace raffle at Gala 2024, providing a 2.27-carat diamond pendant valued as the evening's grand prize.
• The Post Oak HotelsupportingOthersVenue for the inaugural Hope Gala 2024, hosting over 400 guests for the fundraising event.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• AgeX Therapeutics: Regenerative medicine company focused on cellular therapies and tissue regeneration technologies targeting age-related degenerative conditions. Comparable in mission and target disease areas, though broader in modality than HBRF's MSC focus.
• Capricor Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing cell-based therapies (CAP-1002, exosome-based) for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other chronic degenerative conditions. Comparable as a small-cap, indication-focused cell therapy developer with overlapping therapeutic categories.
• Pluristem Therapeutics: Developer of off-the-shelf allogeneic placental cell therapies (PLX cells) for inflammatory, ischemic, and hematologic conditions. Comparable to HBRF in deploying a single allogeneic cell platform across multiple chronic indications under FDA-authorized studies.
• Hope Biosciences, LLC: The closely related commercial entity developing the HB-adMSC cell product that HBRF administers in its trials. Listed as a sponsor at HBRF's Gala 2024, indicating an operational link that makes it a critical peer for understanding the underlying technology HBRF depends on.

Broad incumbents

• Vericel Corporation: Commercial-stage cell therapy company with FDA-approved products (MACI, Epicel) in cartilage repair and burns. Comparable as a broader commercial cell-therapy player; useful as a benchmark for how HB-adMSC therapies might eventually be commercialized.

Direct peers

• Mesoblast: Commercial-stage regenerative medicine company developing allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell therapies (e.g., remestemcel-L) for inflammatory and degenerative conditions. Closest technology peer to HBRF's allogeneic HB-adMSC platform.
• BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics: Clinical-stage developer of autologous stem cell therapies (NurOwn) for neurodegenerative diseases including ALS and MS. Directly comparable to HBRF in applying mesenchymal-style stem cell platforms to chronic degenerative neurological conditions under FDA-authorized trials.
• Athersys: Clinical-stage cell therapy company developing MultiStem, an off-the-shelf allogeneic stem cell platform for indications including stroke, ARDS, and trauma. Comparable to HBRF in using a single allogeneic cell product across multiple chronic and acute indications.

Others

• California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM): California's state-funded stem cell research agency that funds and advances regenerative medicine clinical trials. Comparable to HBRF as a non-profit/grantmaking entity supporting stem cell therapy development, with complementary funding mechanisms.
• New York Stem Cell Foundation: Non-profit research organization advancing stem cell biology and translational research. Comparable to HBRF as a non-profit advancing regenerative medicine research, though NYSCF is more discovery-oriented while HBRF focuses on clinical-stage cell therapy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hopebio_org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hopebioorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hope Biosciences Research Foundation