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Innovation Gaining Momentum Annual Report 2021

Letter From MCA Board Chair & President

“Remember to celebrate milestones as you prepare for the road ahead.” – Nelson Mandela

And celebrate we should on this fifteen year anniversary of the MCA Foundation and the ten year anniversary of the MCA’s Impact Fund agreement with the City of El Paso! The first fifteen years of the MCA Foundation achieved impressive results and laid the groundwork for future development and greater success. Our achievements are entirely due to the outstanding team of directors, staff, volunteers, donors, and partners that have worked collaboratively, creatively and with a passion to dream big and execute with commitment. A long and arduous adventure lies ahead, but only in celebrating our successes can we have the confidence to continue on this exciting journey.

We greatly appreciate your trust and support over the past 15 years. We hope that you are as impressed and excited with the successes we have achieved as a region, and we look forward to your continued partnership as our journey continues.

Linda Troncoso, MCA Board Chair

Emma W. Schwartz, MCA President & BIO EPJ CEO

What We Do

Mission: To develop and catalyze the life sciences ecosystem in the region.

Vision: To cultivate a dynamic health industry and innovation/entrepreneurship ecosystem that competes globally.

15 Years of Impact

The MCA was established in 2006 as the “keeper of the vision” for the newly emerging biomedical campus. Its bold, long-term vision was to become a global leader in health delivery, education, and biomedical research concentrating on issues unique to Hispanic, border, and military populations. The mission at that time was to improve access to quality healthcare in the Paso del Norte by building better healthcare infrastructure, providing superior healthcare education opportunities, and attracting outstanding researchers and healthcare providers to the region. Since its formation, the MCA has addressed unique facets of the regional healthcare industry to help grow and achieve its potential for global recognition. Fifteen years later, the MCA and the region are now seeing its efforts come together and gaining traction to work like a well-oiled machine.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

In 2012, the MCA entered into an Impact Fund Agreement with the City of El Paso to create a health-sciences-focused economic development initiative that would support high-growth, high-wage job opportunities while also increasing the quality of life and access to quality healthcare. In addition to supporting campus growth and conducting master planning activities for the 440-acre MCA Campus, the Impact Fund Agreement focuses on high-tech job creation within the biomedical and life sciences industries.

2021 marked 10 years of the MCA’s Impact Fund Agreement with the City of El Paso. Significant economic impacts include:

  • Within the last ten years, the MCA has leveraged approximately $30M from Impact funding to produce a total economic impact on the community of $150.17M.
  • MCA grew its annual economic impact from $4.01M in 2012 to $11.82M in 2021.
  • The MCA’s work support 78 total jobs including direct, indirect, and induced and supports $3.49M in total workers’ earnings annually.
  • Over the ten-year period, MCA has supported a total of 1,111 jobs including direct, indirect, and induced and has supported total workers’ earnings of $53.2M.
  • MCA has supported $86.87M in direct spending in the El Paso economy over the 10- year period.
  • Top industry sectors impacted by total economic output include real estate rental and leasing, professional, scientific, and technical services, management of companies and enterprises, educational services, and healthcare and social services.
  • The Cardwell Collaborative facility and tenants support 92 FTE jobs with a total payroll of $5.9M, equating to an average annual salary of approximately $64,000.
  • The VA Wellness Center projects that full staffing will provide for approximately 114 permanent FTE jobs, comprised of psychiatrists, social workers, therapists, medical support assistants, security and facility support personnel.

With 8 years remaining under the Impact Fund Agreement, the MCA will continue to leverage and invest its funding into its programs, operations, and capital expenditures that multiply the economic impact on the El Paso community.

Campus Growth

Outlined in 2008, when the first master plan was published, the MCA’s vision was to create an integrated campus of facilities that would position the MCA as the premier center of health delivery, education, and research for tomorrow’s population. Three master plans later, the 440-acre biomedical campus has seen much growth and achievements showcasing the continued success of this vision and how this campus supports the programs and efforts that work toward the MCA’s mission.

Emma Schwartz Explains Master Plan 2012

The MCA has always taken a leadership role regarding campus planning and development, leading the master planning and zoning efforts, as well as working with the City of El Paso to develop campus tenant incentive programs, and looks forward to realizing the 20-year plan and vision.

2021 Accomplishments:

  • Acquired 6-acre site located at 203/309 Chelsea St.
  • Awarded DMD Environmental Assessment grant for 203 Chelsea.
  • Started the process with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for site remediation through the Voluntary Clean-up Program.
  • Completed environmental assessments on the new site.
  • Placed 311 Chelsea St. under contract, acquired in early 2022.
  • Submitted EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant application.
  • Completed new site preliminary planning for MCA properties.
  • Achieved 94% Cardwell Collaborative occupancy.
  • Fully onboarded EXOVA Laboratory into Cardwell Collaborative
  • Acquired 0.5 acre site located at 324 Euclid St.

2022 Goals:

  • Win an EPA Environmental Clean-up Grant.
  • Begin environmental cleanup and complete the work by the end of 2022.
  • Purchase the 311 Chelsea St. Property.
  • Remodel and equip new MCA properties for “temporary use” before demolition.
  • Identify and acquire relevant parcels of land for future development.
  • Maintain Cardwell Collaborative occupancy above 90%.
  • Begin designing new buildings on MCA properties.

Cardwell Collaborative

Named after major contributor Jack Cardwell, this iconic building and the El Paso symbol of the MCA was one of the first additions to the developing skyline of the MCA Campus. The building was backed by a $1M grant from the EDA for its design and engineering. Completed on time and under budget, the Cardwell Collaborative opened its doors to the community on June 17, 2016. The 60,000 square-foot biomedical research and technology commercialization building features over 20,000 square feet of biomedical incubator space, including state-of-the-art wet- and dry-laboratories.

Cardwell Collaborative Building Groundbreaking 2015

VA Wellness Clinic

In January of 2018, the MCA won the competitive bid for a 20-year lease with the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs for a 33,000 square-foot VA Wellness Center located on the MCA Campus in South Central El Paso. The MCA obtained an interim construction loan for $15.35M from WestStar Bank and converted it to $16M in new market tax credit financing upon building completion.

VA Clinic Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

In August of 2018, the MCA broke ground on construction for the VA Wellness Center, and site work began in October of 2018. The state-of-the-art facility took over 16 months to complete and brought over 115 new jobs to the region. In February of 2020, the MCA co-hosted the VA Wellness Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and welcomed the community into another great addition to the MCA Campus.

VA Clinic Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
MCA is a close partner in ensuring that our facility requirements are met, allowing our team members to focus on providing great clinical services to our Veterans. MCA proactively solicits feedback on any building issues, is consistently responsive to addressing identified issues, and maintains regular contact with our staff. [...] We are grateful for the partnership as we continue to work together in providing the best medical care to Veterans in the El Paso area. -Rebecca Alvarado, Behavorial Health Clinic Adminstrative Officer, VA
INNOVATION CENTER

The MCA Innovation Center was created to catalyze and support innovation as a vital component of advancing regional healthcare and economic opportunity. The vision of an incubation center for translational and collaborative research grew into today’s strong and prolific MCA Innovation Center program.

The MCA Innovation Center provides founders with the tools to build their startups - from vision to minimum viable product to launch and scale. The center has grown to run a series of programs that combine education, individualized support, space, mentors, and networks, all geared towards accelerating startup success. Concurrently the MCA Innovation Center works to build and support the regional innovation ecosystem by organizing and hosting public events that promote innovation, develop regional partnerships and advance an inclusive and equitable regional economy.

2021 Accomplishments:

  • Hosted 32 public events
  • Onboarded 22 new companies in 2021.
  • Supported over 62 startups and 145 innovators since 2016.
  • Startups have raised over $4.5M in investment, grants, and revenue since 2019
  • Hosted over 225 training sessions and public events in 7 years
  • Raised over $2M to support programming since 2016.
  • Launched 2 new startup support programs in 2021: Nurse Innovator Accelerator and Devise Product Realization Hub.

2022 Goals:

The MCA Innovation Center will continue to build the community’s innovation climate, grow, and root tech companies in the region, and create jobs that will enhance the ecosystem.

Nurse Innovator Accelerator

The Nurse Innovator Accelerator launched in June of 2021 focuses on connecting frontline healthcare workers with product development experts to create solutions that will increase worker and patient health and safety. In partnership with Fab Lab El Paso and Fab Lab Juarez, this program helps nurses and other healthcare professionals develop solutions for problems they experience day-to-day in the clinical setting. This 18-week bilingual business and product development accelerator empowers nurses, and other health care professionals, to take their innovative ideas from concept to prototype to production.

2021 Accomplishments:

  • Awarded $75,000 from Workers Lab.
  • Awarded $25,00 from a Small Business Administration Visionary Award.
  • Graduated 9 participants with 6 products in pilot cohort.
Nurse Innovator Demo Day
“I have really enjoyed collaborating with nurses across the country. The discussions and exposure to all of the required steps have been enlightening.” -Celina Padilla, Nurse Innovator Accelerator Participant

Devise Product Realization Hub

Through the launch of the new Devise Product Realization Hub, the MCA looks to bridge the gap between the growing entrepreneurial space in the region and the existing medical device industry. Linking home-grown ideas to the local MedTech industry benefits the community and industry by growing our product development capacity, enhancing the regional supply chain, and supporting small and medium-sized manufacturers. This MCA Innovation Center program is in collaboration with BIO El Paso-Juarez, Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center Paso del Norte (TMAC), and Fab Lab El Paso.

The Devise Product Realization Hub is designed to support anyone within the product development lifecycle, including innovators and startups as well as established manufacturers and suppliers. Devise provides product development services from early concepts to functional prototypes and anything in between to become a self-sustaining resource that will assist in developing and introducing new products to the local manufacturing supply chain and in turn, the global market.

Devise Launch Event

2021 Accomplishments

  • MCA Innovation Center awarded $750,000 EDA SPRINT grant
  • Devise Product Realization Hub launched in September 2021
  • 9 companies on-boarded
We are very happy with the Devise Program because we are receiving guidance and training to be able to get ISO 9001 Certification. The Devise team is very professional and knowledgeable . -Juan Carlos Acosta, Plant Manager, Comercializadora G.T.Z.

With your help we are on our way to get to the next level in terms of quality control and process improvements.

Ecotone Investment Fund

The MCA champions successful startups and emphasizes that they add value to our community’s economic development by increasing living wage jobs and creating a culture of innovation that attracts R&D, higher-level manufacturing, and retains talented professionals. However, the region has struggled to have venture capital funds available to startup companies to continue their product development and grow their business. Therefore, the MCA launched the Ecotone Investment Fund, an early-stage venture capital fund based in El Paso, Texas in October 2021.

Ecotone Investment Fund Luncheon Launch

The Ecotone Investment Fund provides value and relationships between founders and assets in the El Paso region by investing in global companies with high potential. The fund aims to raise at least $3.5M and will make its first investments in Spring 2022, working regionally and nationally to develop an ecosystem that supports a tech economy by growing regional investment capacity, tech capabilities, and talent. The development of the Ecotone Investment Fund was supported by a $300,000 grant from the EDA.

Ecotone Women Investor Meeting
CLINICAL TRIALS

The MCA Clinical Trials Consortium was established as a forum for key stakeholders from across the region, including health systems, physicians, clinical research coordinators, imaging centers, and laboratories, to cultivate, expand, and accelerate our region’s infrastructure and competitiveness in clinical research and innovation.

The MCA Clinical Trials Network has grown to see the creation of a consortium, a new program, 3 initiatives, and a new website in the last five years. To achieve its mission the program has expanded patient access to trials, grown and diversified our clinical trial workforce, grown the number and overall quality of our region’s investigator sites, and supported existing sites to become a significant contributor to the global healthcare community through the advancement of novel diagnostics and medical breakthroughs.

2021 Accomplishments

  • Awarded a $163,000 grant from BMS to launch a Clinical Trail Academy.
  • MCA recognized as a Workforce Champion member of the Association for Clinical Research’s Partners in Workforce Advancement.
  • Facilitated two Clinical Trial Consortium meetings and 12 speakers for monthly Clinical Trial Pipeline Taskforce meeting.
  • Created 31 sites (11 new sites) in El Paso and Las Cruces since 2017 that represent a 57.89% increase over the last 5-years.
  • Added 17 new high-wage jobs to the region since 2017, a 36.17% increase in the last five years.
  • Completed 245 trials.
Clinical Trial Academy Kickoff Meeting

2022 Goals

  • Rebrand the Clinical Trial Pipeline Taskforce to CTx Briefings showcasing national speakers virtually once per month.
  • Target a broader audience of academic, healthcare, and investigator site representatives, and associations to drive up attendance.
  • Add 3 new market entrants and regional investigator clinics by 2023.
  • Drive 1 major partnership and increase the number of jobs.
  • Expand the Clinical Trial Academy to include rural areas, internships, academic elective opportunities, and online resources.
  • Provide entry-level training to 20+ clinical research coordinators and 15 + investigators (MDs, DOs, PAs, NPs, PhDs) to receive training certificates from Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP).
  • Develop a long-term vision for generating revenue that can sustain the Clinical Trial Academy.

Regional Clinical Trial Highlights

  • Edward Michelson, M.D., Professor and Chairman Department of Emergency Medicine awarded a $1.7M NIH grant as part of a multi-center effort with Charles Miller, Ph.D., at the University of Texas at Houston to test treatments on COVID-19 patients.
  • El Paso Pediatric Urgent Care was selected as a trial site for a critical pediatric-based Moderna vaccine trial supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority.
  • UTEP secured $6.1M from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to further advance El Paso as a Hispanic-focused oncology clinical trials hub.

Clinical Trial Academy

The MCA through its Clinical Trial Programs seeks to elevate the overall care provided in the region. In August of 2021, the MCA Foundation was awarded a $163,000 grant from Bristol Meyers Squib (BMS), a global pharmaceutical company, to launch a Clinical Trail Academy that seeks to grow the clinical research workforce and the number of outpatient clinics conducting clinical research in El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces, New Mexico.

2021 Accomplishments:

  • The Medical Center of the Americas Foundation (MCA) was awarded a $163,000 grant from Bristol Myers Squibb’s (BMS) to launch a Clinical Trail Academy
  • 23 Clinical Research Coordinator Participants selected from 50+ applicants
  • 11 Investigators selected.
“Our region is ripe with opportunity and well on its way to become a major hub of medical innovation! I feel fortunate to be a participant at the CTA because the training I’m receiving from passionate local researchers makes me hopeful that I may also play a role in reducing my community’s healthcare disparities, helping its people enjoy happier, healthier lives.” -Daniel De Leon, Clinical Trial Academy Participant
MCA'S RESPONSE TO COVID-19

When COVID-19 hit the Paso del Norte community in March of 2020, the MCA facilitated regular discussions with key healthcare and community leaders in El Paso and Ciudad Juarez to address various COVID-19 issues and concerns. In collaboration with our partners, the MCA worked hard to address the scarcity of PPE, testing, and vaccinations; an uninformed or misinformed public; and the cross-border pandemic situation.

In 2021, the MCA’s efforts did not stop. The MCA was a big proponent of the fact that the El Paso region could not surpass the COVID-19 pandemic if we didn’t help our sister city across the border surpass it as well. Ciudad Juarez and all of Mexico were behind the timeline in addressing COVID-19 due to political and financial barriers. MCA saw this as an opportunity to support Mexican officials on future steps they could anticipate in the battle against COVID. The MCA led a collaborative effort with community partners to assist Ciudad Juarez in implementing a vaccine distribution strategy. In partnership with the City of El Paso, UTEP, and UMC, the MCA organized tours of their vaccination sites for the State of Chihuahua and Ciudad Juarez community partners to learn, first-hand, about site plans, logistics, technology, and processes of administering COVID-19 vaccines, possible roadblocks that they may encounter and best practices they could implement.

2021 Accomplishments:

  • Coordinated a site tours of the City of El Paso’s, UTEP’s, and UMC’s mass vaccination site for Mexican officials.
  • Organized a Webinar Vaccine Distribution El Paso’s Models for Ciudad Juarez Partners.
  • Organized and moderated a webinar Planning Events during COVID-19.
  • Participated in organizaing the vaccination of 36,000 Mexican citizens at the Tornillo Port of Entry.

Healthcare Programs

MCA’s Healthcare Program works with our region’s leaders to co-create a 20-year vision for our region’s healthcare industry and thereafter advance additional strategic initiatives—including perhaps regional Centers of Excellence, to help our healthcare community achieve its vision for becoming globally competitive. The key strategic question that we aimed to solve is: “What must we do now and over the next 3 years in El Paso to reach the top quartile amongst Texas counties for health access and outcomes over the next decade so that we are improving quality of life and accelerating new economic opportunities for the region?”

Strategic Planning

  • Orchestrated a healthcare strategic planning process for El Paso with the help of Syntegrity, a consulting firm that designed a Six-Topic Distributed Solving Sprint that enables a group of up to 24 participants to productively work through the planning process and meet desired outcomes.

Solving Sprint Recommendations

  • Support the creation of a regional healthcare leadership infrastructure and governance model to direct regional-wide vision and initiatives and strategies designed to attain this vision.
  • Secure funding to perform a region-wide needs assessment and map the healthcare ecosystem.
  • Support Workforce Borderplex Solutions for the creation of a career center for healthcare workers across the board.
  • Support PHIX Network, the region’s health information exchange (HIE)—to grow to serve the El Paso Community
  • Create a social health HIE, and expand the network across Southern New Mexico and West Texas.
  • Support local hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers to provide cutting-edge care that can improve healthcare outcomes, quality, and access.

Workforce Development

Since its founding, the MCA has soughtto fulfill its mission to drive economic growth in the Paso del Norte region through the development of a robust and targeted medical and bioscience ecosystem. This requires growing a skilled workforce, retaining talent, and fostering the development of innovative, life-changing technologies. The MCA’s Workforce Development initiatives aim to foster awareness of STEM and life sciences industries through community outreach, internships, developing and hosting MCA STEM camps, poster sessions, job andcareer fairs, and much more.

2021 Accomplishments

Grants

  • Received a $20,000 grant from Workforce Solutions Borderplex to support the STEM Innovation Lab
  • Received a $15,000 grant from the Moleen Foundation.

Workforce

  • Hired 3 interns through the UTEP CARES Internship Program.
  • Hired 1 additional intern to help coordinate and execute the Healthtech STEM camps.
  • Hired 2 Hiring our Heroes Fellows.
  • Hired 1 Mike Loya Graduate Research Fellow.

STEM Camps & Workbook

  • Released the MCA STEM Innovation Lab Camp Workbook, distributing over 500 hard copies to the region.
  • Released the Periodic Table to Careers that consists of regional workforce statistics in the life sciences industry.
  • Gave virtual presentations to over 1,800 students at 8 schools and 5 school districts during remote learning.
  • Hosted the first-ever HealthTech STEM camp: a one-week STEM camp that would take students through the computer science field in the healthcare industry.
  • Hosted 4 in-person STEM camps for middle schools. We saw over 100 students from 3 different schools and 3 school districts.

Networking & Events

  • The MCA participated in 9 outreach and career events.
  • Presented and participated in the Health Occupations of America Fall Leadership Conference for SISD students.
  • Presented Hidden Healthcare Careers in the Paso del Norte Region at the Preparing the Workforce of Tomorrow Conference 2021.
  • Presented and participated in the Health Occupations of America Fall Leadership Conference for SISD students.

Goals for 2022:

  • Increase outreach to rural school districts and counties throughout the region
  • Distribute bilingual version of the MCA STEM Innovation Lab Camp Workbook.
  • Pilot and distribute MCA STEM Kits.
  • Host 4 more week-long STEM camps.
  • Increase grant funding for the program.

BIO El Paso-Juarez

BIO El Paso-Juarez drives innovation, collaboration, growth, and resilience in the regional medical device sector by bringing together medical, industrial, academic, governmental, and entrepreneurial leadership. BIO El Paso-Juarez works binationally to strategically enhance the medical device industry with a focus on supply chains, innovation and product development, and talent and workforce development.

Cd. Juarez is the largest exporter of Medical Devices in all of Mexico, with the U.S. being the #1 recipient of Medical Devices manufactured in Cd. Juarez.

2021 Accomplishments:

Higher Education

  • Hosted the first Biomedical Day at UTEP on March 31st. The full-day virtual event featured industry-led workshops and panels and student and faculty research presentations.
  • Hosted the first “Encuentro UACJ-BIO El Paso-Juarez” featuring industry workshops and student engagements.
  • These events serve to align industry needs with higher education curriculum as well as boost student interest and engagement in medical device manufacturing
Biomedical Day at UTEP

Innovation and Product Development

  • Partnered with the MCA Innovation Center, the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center, and FabLab El Paso to create and launch the Devise Product Realization Hub which is creating opportunities for medical device manufacturers and suppliers to pursue ISO 13485 implementation and training.
  • Partnered with Instituto Axis and the Secretaria de Economia de Desarrollo Economico for the State of Chihuahua to develop a New Product Introduction course for medical device manufacturers in Cd. Juarez.

4th Annual Medical Device Summit

  • Full-day virtual event featuring nationally recognized speakers and industry leaders discussing the future of the medical device manufacturing industry, global supply chain impacts, COVID-19 impacts and lessons learned, and the uses of artificial intelligence and augmented reality in manufacturing.

Economic Development and Supply Chain Support

  • Hosted webinars featuring regional economic development partners to discuss programs and incentives that can support manufacturers' and suppliers’ growth.
  • Developed and survey and issue paper on Regional Sterilization Needs, supporting and advocating for greater access to sterilization for medical device manufacturing in the region.
Biomedical Day at UTEP

2022 Goals:

  • Industrial and Regulatory Educational Webinars and Events
  • Member – Only Networking Events
  • 2nd Annual Biomedical Day at UTEP
  • 5th Annual Medical Device Manufacturing Summit
  • Continued Support of ISO 13485 Implementation and Training, Product Development, and New Product Introduction to spur innovation
  • Develop and launch a Manufacturing Advisory Committee to support BIO El Paso-Juarez activities.
PROMOTION

THANK YOU TO OUR 2021 DONORS

Non-Pledged Donors & Funders

  • Susan A Schwartz
  • Broaddus & Associates
  • Lupe Saenz
  • Ricardo Mora
  • Scott and Mylena Walker
  • Dayna Govea
  • Judy & Rick Amstater
  • Laura Butler
  • Jackie Butler
  • Emma Schwartz
  • Navid Daniel Rastein
  • Mario Moreno
  • Monica Moreno
  • Hello Amigo
  • Mark Matthys
  • Cindy Fields
  • Bill Pieratt
  • Frank Burrull
  • Better Business Bureau Paso Del Norte
  • Larry Wollschlager
  • Judy Prasad

Pledged Donors & Funders

  • Hunt Family Foundation

Contributing Grant Institutions

  • EP Marcus Investments, L.P.
  • MIMCO
  • TRE & Associates, LLC
  • Paso del Norte Health Foundation
  • Amazon Smiles
  • Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
  • University Medical Center
  • BBVA
  • Meyer Marcus Family Foundation
  • Norma Wong-Santaguida
  • U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration
  • El Paso Electric
  • Wilma Donohue Moleen Foundation
  • Workforce Solutions Borderplex
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS OF 2021

Our Team

Emma W. Schwartz, President

Carlos Ortega, Chief Financial Officer

Jackie Butler, Senior Director of Operations

Nancy Lowery, Senior Director of Innovation

Xavier Cardenas, Senior Director of Engineering & Special Projects

Michaele Linden Johnson, Director of Clinical Trials and Business Development

Martha Hood, Accounting Support to CFO

Nahum Apodaca, Manager of Campus Planning

Jose Mateo, Facilities Engineer

Marianne D. Mijares, Office & Events Manager

Yvana Sanchez, Marketing Manager

Vianey Romo, Workforce Coordinator

Philip Morton, Product Development Lab Manager

Alberto Ponce, Innovation Center Coordinator

Cristian Botello, Marketing Coordinator

Beverly Rebe, Corporate Governance

Erik Pavia, Entrepreneur in Residence

STAY CONNECTED

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Credits:

The MCA Foundation