Elizabeth R. Griffin Research Foundation

The Elizabeth R. Griffin Research Foundation (ERGF) is a US based private 501 (c)(3) non-profit foundation dedicated to the support of professional scientific and educational organizations that endeavor toward the common good of humankind. ERGF is committed to the Prevent - Detect - Respond vision of the Global Health Security Agenda to make the world safe and secure from global health threats posed by infectious diseases.

The Foundation was established by the family of Elizabeth R. “Beth” Griffin following her tragic death in 1997. Beth’s death at age 22 was the result of an occupationally acquired infection that occurred while she was working as a non-human primate researcher in Atlanta, GA. The original mission focus of ERGF was to promote safe research practices with non-human primates and occupational awareness for those involved in such research. From this original area of concern, the Foundation has grown in interest and influence in the broader biological, agricultural, biomedical research and clinical communities through promoting safe research practices, occupational and public health awareness, infection control, professional development in biosafety and biorisk management practices, and the safe, secure, responsible and sustainable development of research capacity.

Through its global health security focus, ERGF recognizes many researchers, animal, laboratory, clinical and other support professions stand on the front lines in trying to solve the riddles of some of the most complex diseases and biological threats that confront human and animal populations. Establishing health security, protecting public health, lives and economies, these endeavors are of paramount importance to the Foundation.

ERGF is a co-host of the annual 'Eagleson / ERGF Colloquium on Occupational Health for Biological Exposures and provides support of key biosafety and biosecurity meetings and conferences around the world. The Foundation is frequently represented on plenary programs and professional panels in national and international programs addressing safety and security.

As a committed non-governmental partner of the Global Health Security Agenda Consortium, ERGF currently serves as the coordinating non-governmental organization of the Global Health Security Agenda Non-Governmental Stakeholder Steering Group to make the world safe and secure from global threats posed by infectious diseases. ERGF also works with partners in improving national and international CBRNE preparedness.

The Foundation supports a One Health approach and proactively seeks “whole community” solutions that are innovative, effective, local, practical and sustainable in advancing safe, secure and responsible research capacity throughout the world. ERGF is a founding partner of the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA) and supports the development, growth and application of biorisk management throughout the world.

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