CSL

At CSL, we actively contribute to the health and well-being of our communities. This year alone we initiated new access programs to support our patient communities, increased our efforts to foster talent in our medical research communities and contributed to disaster relief and charitable efforts in our local communities.

• Increasing Access to Medicines
• Fostering Medical Research
• Assisting Disaster Relief
• Contributing Locally

CSL has long supported the World Federation of Hemophilia, the Primary Immune Deficiency Foundation and the Alpha 1 Foundation, as well as their affiliated national foundations and local chapters. These organisations play a critical role in supporting people who live with rare diseases and use plasma-derived and recombinant therapies to manage their conditions.

CSL’s contributions help fund awareness, education, research, advocacy and outreach programs such as children’s camps, sports events and local fundraisers. This year in the US, CSL launched a new patient advocacy program which provides grants for grassroots advocacy initiatives and youth-focused advocacy training.

Increasing Access to Medicines

On World Hemophilia Day we announced a new multi-year commitment to the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH). Each year for the next three years, CSL Behring will donate two million units of Factor VIII to the WFH’s Global Alliance for Progress (GAP) program. GAP aims to improve the diagnosis and treatment of haemophilia in developing countries by creating sustainable national haemophilia care programs. Additionally, CSL Behring renewed its pledge to provide WFH with separate financial support, taking the full value of our contribution to almost US$3 million over the next three years.

We also continued to support international efforts to improve access to snake antivenom. Snake bite is a serious, yet much neglected, socio-economic problem affecting millions of lives, particularly in tropical developing countries. In November, CSL helped bring together experts from all around the world to agree on a new approach to snake bite control. A global initiative was launched and an interdisciplinary working group has since begun to formulate practicable solutions. At a regional level, CSL has commissioned the Nossal Institute of Global Health to review snake bite problems in Papua New Guinea and recommend ways in which we can best assist.

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Fostering Medical Research

In Australia, we announced partnerships with the National Youth Science Forum and the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, both of which aim to attract bright young minds to careers in the sciences. We also commenced sponsorship of the prestigious Florey Medal which recognises researchers for significant achievements in biomedical science, providing important role models for young scientists.

In Germany, we announced the winners of the 2009 Professor Heimburger Awards in memory of coagulation therapy pioneer and long-time CSL employee, Professor Dr Norbert Heimburger. Five young clinicians each received a €20,000 grant for preclinical or clinical research in coagulation. The awards are designed to help the next generation of coagulation researchers establish themselves professionally and to support their efforts to improve patient outcomes.

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Assisting Disaster Relief

In February this year, CSL’s home state in Victoria, Australia, suffered the most devastating bushfire in its history, with a significant number of lives and homes lost. To directly assist individuals and communities affected by the fires, the Victorian Government in partnership with the Australian Red Cross established the Victorian Bushfire Fund.

CSL responded immediately by pledging a $250,000 donation. Our staff also took swift action by organising fundraising events, having donations deducted from their pay and providing household goods to help relief efforts. The generosity of our people extended beyond Australian shores with CSL Behring staff contributing additional funds.

In recognition of the community spirit shown by our staff in response to this disaster, CSL matched all employee donations. Together we contributed a total of $412,760.90 to the Victorian Bushfire Fund, the proceeds from which are being distributed to the most fire-ravaged areas to help rebuild lives, homes and communities.

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Contributing Locally

CSL has a significant presence in the communities in which its manufacturing facilities and plasma collection centres are located. In the US, we partner with United Way to help address significant social challenges in our local communities. Together with our staff, we donated more than US$300,000 to United Way this year, supporting programs aimed at alleviating poverty, unemployment and social exclusion.

One of the most rewarding contributions made by our Kankakee workforce this year was being able to help Balei Chinksi, a local 13 year-old girl with undefined severe combined immunodeficiency. A donation of immunoglobulin was arranged, helping Balei to manage her condition, stay in school and spend time with her friends. Kankakee staff also rallied to raise funds for Balei, which her family used to purchase special shoes and install railings and a motorised hospital bed in their home.

In Bern this year, CSL supported Coin Bear, a fundraising campaign conducted by the Children’s Hospital in Bern to help sick and injured children get back to a regular and active life. Our staff also worked with the University of Bern to improve employment prospects for unemployed scientists by providing practical in-house training in Good Manufacturing Practice.

Movember was a big hit in Australia this year with 148 of our staff growing moustaches to raise funds for research into prostate cancer and depression. Our staff also helped to raise funds for a paediatric burns unit in El Salvador and rolled up their sleeves to help Foodbank and FareShare prepare food for the homeless and hungry.

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