Foundation 41
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Foundation 41 was a medical research organisation, principally investigating the causes of mental and physical handicaps in babies, and was based at the Crown Street Women's Hospital, Sydney, Australia. It was founded in 1971 by Dr William McBride[1] and largely supported by the Apex Clubs of Australia.[2]
The name Foundation 41 derives from the normal duration of human gestation (40 weeks) plus the first week of life after birth.
McBride created Foundation 41 using prize money given by France's L'Institut de la Vie in connection with his discovery that thalidomide (N-α-phthalimidoglutarimide) caused malformations by interacting with the DNA of dividing embryonic cells.
Ongoing funding was by public philanthropy. This essentially ceased with the Debenox case.