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The Human Growth Foundation (HGF) was founded in 1965, by five families of children with growth disorders. Their primary purpose was to identify other similarly situation parents and children, and to seek the support of the public for the support of research and treatment, principally for growth hormone deficiency.
Today, with the advent of recombinant (synthetic) growth hormone for humans, HGF has broadened its to encompass many other disorders growth disorders, including intrauterine growth retardation, Russell-Silver syndrome, Turner's syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Noonan's syndrome, chondroplasias, and more. The Foundation has a membership of over 1000. It publishes a quarterly newsletter and multiple booklets, and answers questions from the members and the public in support of the above goals. HGF sponsors "starter grants" to encourage research in both physical and pyschosocial areas of growth disorders and chondroplasias. HGF also sponsors Discussion Forums for parents of children, and adults, with growth disorders. From time to time, the Foundation conducts awareness/outreach programs to identify and encourage persons with growth disorders to seek appropriate diagnosis and treatment. The Foundation also maintains contact with pediatric and adult endocrinologists.
In the future, HGF will continue to adjust its goals, programs, and activities to meet the ever-changing needs of its constituency. In addition to its current programs and activities, the Foundation intends to take full advantage of computer pathways and technologies in conducting awareness/outreach programs. In the same manner, the Foundation intends to bring to its members personal support, features, and up-to-date information on newly discovered and existing disorders, diseases, and syndromes of growth abnormalities; and; on the latest diagnostic and treatment modalities.
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