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April 2006: BRF Incorporated in State of Oregon
November 2006: BRF begins program with Oregon State University to investigate Blastocystis as a cause of chronic gastrointestinal illness in Willamette Valley.
January 14, 2007: Corvallis Gazette-Times publishes story on Blastocystis infection in Oregon.
February 7, 2007: Representative Sara Gelser introduces HB2699 into Oregon State Legislature to require Blastocystis infection to be reported.
February 14, 2007: KVAL-TV broadcasts story on Blastocystis infection in Corvallis.
March 1, 2007: Ken Boorom, director of BRF, testifies to Oregon State Health Policy Committee in support of HB2699.
March 10, 2008: UK Journal Gut Reaction publishes article by Ken Boorom on potential to develop an antibiotic treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.
April 7, 2008: BRF Founder Ken Boorom provides written testimony to Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illness (click here to read minutes - see page 19)
April 12, 2008: New Scientist publishes article by Ken Boorom on the role of protease in irritable bowel syndrome.
April 27, 2008: Representative Richard Neal (D-Mass) writes letter to NIH and CDC asking them to designate Blastocystis as a Class B Pathogen, and to address the disease clinically.
May 28, 2008: NIAID Deputy Secretary Hugh Auchinchloss replies that NIH will not initiate any action concerning Blastocystis, but will consider grant applications.
May 24 2008: Parasitology Research publishes study on identifying Blastocystis using PCR techniques. This is the first advanced microbiological study on Blastocystis published by a US author in over 13 years.
October 19, 2008: Parasitology Research publishes BRF co-authored study on association of Blastocystis sp. subtypes 3 and 1 with chronic gastrointestinal illness in an Oregon community. The paper is the result of a collaboration between BRF, an infectious disease laboratory with the Department of Defense, and Oregon State University.
October 21, 2008: BMC Parasites and Vectors publishes BRF co-authored paper which provides systematic review of Blastocystis research, and also identifies the association of Blastocystis with irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Study identifies increasing trend in Blastocystis infection in Oregon and Washington in the 1990's. BRF organized this study, and is the principal author.
November 17, 2008: Corvallis Gazette Times publishes article on impact of long-term Blastocystis infection on local family, describing BRF's work in the Willamette Valley.
February 19, 2009: NIH Researcher Charles Zierdt joins BRF's Board of Directors
February 26, 2009: Lancet Infectious Diseases publishes BRF authored article, "Emerging Infectious Diseases are Not Always Obvious."
March 9,2009: Pasteur Institute publishes study on Blastocystis infection in France (BRF co-authored study)