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VR FOUNDATION INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 452498489 · Form 990EZ · FY2025 · NTEE H99 · Medical Research · Small ($100K-$1M) · vrfoundation.org
revenue
$195K
expenses
$204K
net assets
$18K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

Firmly committed to curing vitiligo, the VR Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization funding and fast-tracking medical research globally. Our mission is to accelerate the end of suffering for millions of people who suffer from vitiligo through research, support and education. VR Foundation is a consultative member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC).

profile · synthesized from sources

The Vitiligo Research Foundation (VRF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to curing vitiligo through funding and accelerating global medical research. It supports scientific studies, maintains biobanks and data repositories, and promotes education and awareness. The foundation operates under an open-source research model, making data and biosamples accessible to researchers worldwide.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Master Classes on Vitiligo and Pigmentary Disorders
Educational events featuring leading dermatologists and researchers to share the latest advancements in vitiligo treatment and science.
Research Grants Program
Provides funding for novel research projects aimed at developing new treatments, drugs, and diagnostic tools for vitiligo. Supports both independent and collaborative pre-competitive research.
Vitiligo Biobank
A global network collecting and storing hair, blood, serum, and DNA samples from vitiligo patients, integrated with clinical records for research access.
Vitiligo CloudBank
A digital platform allowing patients to track their condition and treatment; anonymized data is made available to researchers.
World Vitiligo Day
Annual global campaign on June 25 to raise awareness, combat stigma, and fundraise for vitiligo research and support.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Medical Professional Education & Training 1 activity
    • Building professional and community capacity in vitiligo care
      Organizes international Master Classes on vitiligo and pigmentary disorders, educating over 3,000 medical professionals across 11 countries, including collaborations with Nobel Laureates. Provides templates and resources to support the creation of vitiligo support groups and clinics across four continents.
  • Scientific Conference & Symposium Management 1 activity
    • Convening global scientific and patient communities
      Organizes the Vitiligo International Congress and related scientific programs to convene the global dermatology and vitiligo community. Hosts events such as the 7th Vitiligo International Congress and a 1.5-day program focused on the lived experience of vitiligo, featuring advances in research, treatment, and patient outcomes.
  • Autoimmune Disease Research Funding 1 activity
    • Funding vitiligo research and infrastructure development
      Funds and accelerates global medical research on vitiligo, including novel treatment modalities, drug development, and diagnostic tools. Awards grants to build research infrastructure, attract scientific talent, and enhance research capacity. Supports clinical and translational studies, such as testing inhibitors of the IFN-γ-chemokine axis, evaluating triple combination therapy, and investigating the CCR6/CCL20 axis as a therapeutic target.
  • Disease-Specific Clinical & Patient Education 1 activity
    • Providing AI-powered education and patient support tools
      Develops and maintains the AI-Guide on Vitiligo, an interactive, multilingual online encyclopedia with avatars offering personalized information on care, diet, and lifestyle. Also created the Vitiligo Patient Journey Map, a public-domain guide to help patients navigate therapies and lifestyle choices, and makes educational materials including a multilingual Q&A brochure widely available.
  • Rare Genetic Disease Research and Advocacy 1 activity
    • Supporting vitiligo research through biobanking and data infrastructure
      Operates the Vitiligo BioBank network across 9 locations, supplying biosamples and initial funding to local researchers. Facilitates access to hair, blood, serum, and DNA samples linked to clinical records. Maintains Vitiligo CloudBank, an open-access electronic health record system providing anonymized longitudinal patient data to researchers globally.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Conducting and supporting vitiligo research initiatives
      Conducts original research through anonymous patient questionnaires and supports data collection for pathogenesis and treatment progression studies. Launched the National Vitiligo Atlas of India and the Global Vitiligo Observatory to monitor research and patient care. Publishes scientific literature including over 50 articles, four books, and numerous reviews in prestigious journals.
    • Operating global awareness and advocacy campaigns for vitiligo
      Leads the World Vitiligo Day campaign, established on June 25 and recognized in over 50 countries, to raise global awareness and combat stigma. Secured inclusion of World Vitiligo Day in the United Nations International Calendar of Disability Events in 2016. Organizes annual events exploring the patient experience and announces host cities for future events.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$195K
Contributions & grants$195K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$204K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$32K
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$18K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$18K
4 years on record · 2022–2025 · YoY revenue +176.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
YAN VALLE CEO 30 $16K
board members · 3
  • ANVAR KALIMOV — DIRECTOR
  • DMITRI AKSENOV — DIRECTOR
  • TORELLO LOTTI — DIRECTOR
relationships · 42

Who they work with

  • ACHE Laboratorios Farmaceuticos Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of drug candidate ACH24 for vitiligo.
  • ARRIEN Pharmaceuticals Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of orally available JAK3 inhibitor ARN-4079 for vitiligo.
  • AXIM Biotechnologies Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of drug candidate AX-1602 containing cannabidiol and cannabigerol for vitiligo treatment.
  • Aksenov Family Foundation Funder — Lifetime benefactor supporting the VRF mission
  • Almirall Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of BNZ-1 for vitiligo in partnership with Bioniz Therapeutics.
  • Arcutis Biotherapeutics Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of SHR0302 (ARQ-252), a JAK1 inhibitor, for vitiligo treatment.
  • BOSTON Pharmaceuticals Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of topical compound BOS-475 for vitiligo and psoriasis.
  • Bioniz Therapeutics Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of BNZ-1 for vitiligo as part of an immuno-dermatology franchise.
  • CASTLE CREEK Pharma Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of drug candidate CCP-070 for a rare dermatologic condition including vitiligo.
  • Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of parvysmelanotide (VLRX001) for vitiligo treatment through VALLAURIX collaboration.
  • DERMAVANT Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of topical JAK/Syk inhibitor Cerdulatinib for vitiligo treatment.
  • Global Vitiligo Observatory Network — VR Foundation Inc is introducing and likely hosting or co-leading the Global Vitiligo Observatory as part of its advocacy and research efforts.
  • Google Inc. Funder — Distinguished benefactor supporting the VRF mission
  • INCYTE Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of topical ruxolitinib cream for vitiligo treatment.
  • Incyte Funder — Distinguished sponsor supporting the VRF mission
  • Life Science Investments Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of plant-based cosmeceutical formulation VITILSI for vitiligo.
  • Loyola University Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of modified HSP70i used in TT-01 DNA-based therapy for vitiligo developed by Prof. Caroline Le Poole.
  • No.1 Hospital of China Medical University Partner — Funded clinical studies on triple combination therapy and CCR6 in vitiligo pathogenesis.
  • Nobel Laureates Partner — Collaborated with two Nobel Laureates in organizing Master-Classes on Vitiligo.
  • Northwestern University Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of modified HSP70i used in TT-01 DNA-based therapy for vitiligo developed by Prof. Caroline Le Poole.
  • PALATIN Technologies Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of melanocortin receptor-1 peptides (MC-1) for vitiligo treatment.
  • PFIZER Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of PF-06651600 and PF-06700841 for vitiligo treatment.
  • PSG Institute of Medical Science & Research Partner — Funded research on melanin extraction from hair for vitiligo camouflage and tattooing.
  • Peking University People’s Hospital Partner — Funded pilot study on Benvitimod cream for vitiligo treatment.
  • Portola Pharmaceuticals Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of Cerdulatinib, in-licensed by DERMAVANT for topical indications including vitiligo.
  • Post Graduate Institute for Medical Education and Research Partner — Funded research on dermal stem cells in vitiligo patients.
  • RHEOS Medicines Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of therapy to suppress T-cell effector responses for vitiligo.
  • Roviant Sciences Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of Cerdulatinib (RVT-502) for vitiligo treatment.
  • TEMPRIAN Therapeutics Partner — Collaborates with or tracks development of TT-01, a DNA-based therapy for vitiligo.
  • United Nations Government — Recognized World Vitiligo Day in its International Calendar of Disability Events
+ 12 more
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Open-Source Research Model to Accelerate Discovery
    methodology: open_source_research
    By making research data and biosamples freely accessible to academic researchers, we accelerate vitiligo discovery, because open sharing reduces duplication, enables rapid validation, and broadens scientific engagement.
  • Patient-Centered Data and Education Empowerment
    methodology: empowerment-through-education
    By collecting patient-reported data and delivering personalized, multilingual education, we improve understanding and management of vitiligo, because engaging patients as active contributors enhances research relevance and treatment adoption across diverse populations.
  • Research Acceleration Through Global Funding and Collaboration
    methodology: research_acceleration
    By funding and initiating global vitiligo research and convening experts across the research-to-treatment continuum, we accelerate the development of effective treatments and progress toward a cure, because coordinated, science-driven collaboration shortens the path from discovery to clinical impact.
  • Targeted Immunological Pathway Research for Treatment Development
    methodology: immunology-targeted_research
    By focusing research on specific immunological pathways such as IFN-γ, Th17, and CCR6/CCL20, we advance the development of biologically grounded treatments, because understanding the root immune mechanisms enables precise therapeutic intervention.