International FOP Association

The International FOP Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supporting medical research, education and communication for those afflicted by the rare genetic condition Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP). FOP is one of the rarest, most disabling genetic conditions known to medicine, it causes bone to form in muscles, tendons, ligaments and other connective tissues. Bridges of extra bone develop across joints, progressively restricting movement and forming a second skeleton that imprisons the body in bone. There are no other known examples in medicine of one normal organ system turning into another. Our mission is to fund research to find a cure for FOP while supporting individuals and their families through education, public awareness and advocacy. Our vision is a cure for FOP. Our primary sources of funding come from FOP family fundraising, public contributions, IFOPA special events, and private foundations. Founded in 1988 by Jeannie Peeper, a woman ...