Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge, National Institutes of Health

The Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge provides no-cost accommodation and a home-like place of respite for families and loved ones of patients receiving care at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center, the premier clinical research hospital in the United States. Since its opening in 2005, the Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge has welcomed over 270,000 guests from six continents. A “home away from home,” the English manor-style residence includes 34 guest rooms, a library, a business and telecommuting center, a fitness center, a large kitchen and dining area, comfortable social areas, and the Claudio and Evelyne Cohen Garden.

Mrs. Safra and the Edmond J. Safra Foundation have supported regular improvements over time, including expanding the kitchen, making it possible for several families to cook their meals at the same time. Recently, the Foundation supported the complete renovation of the Lodge, which now welcomes guests with fully refreshed bedrooms and public spaces.

Mrs. Safra and the Foundation also support the biomedical research initiatives spearheaded by the Foundation for the NIH (FNIH), including a leadership gift in 2020 to the Futures Fund Initiative, helping the FNIH to address immediate needs and leverage opportunities with flexibility. One of the first distributions from the Futures Fund supported the design phase of the Accelerating Medicines Partnership in Bespoke Gene Therapy. This project facilitates the process and approval for gene therapy for very rare diseases, helping to pave the way to personalized or precision medicine.