Interthyr Research Foundation, Inc. (IRF) Formed in 1984, Interthyr Research Foundation Inc.( IRF) has promoted scientific research in the bio-medical field, particularly research in endocrinology, through grants to researchers located in the U.S. and foreign countries. It also has engaged in managing and licensing inventions and patents with the objective to make new bio-medical technology available to improve public health and to produce licensing revenue to fund such research. Its initial project was to develop a licensing program to bring to commercial laboratories, or other private firms, the patented FRTL-5 Fischer rat thyroid cell line and assays. These assays by measuring both functional and growth-related antibodies provide information for diagnosis and treatment of patients with thyroid auto-immune disease. IRF has continued to receive licensing revenue starting with its first FRTL-5 cell and assay license to a commercial laboratory in 1984. And, as a result of its research-support efforts, FRTL-5 cells have been used in research in hundreds of Labs located throughout the world.

Dr. William A. Valente of Baltimore, Maryland is President of IRF. Its founding members include Dr. Valente, Dr. Leonard Kohn, Dr. Evelyn Grollman, Dr. S. Ambesi-Impiombato of University of Udine, Italy, Dr. Salvatore Aloj of Naples Italy, and Dr. P. Vitti of Livorno, Italy.