↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier →

THE CACTIS FOUNDATION

SCOTTSDALE, AZ · EIN 273330205 · Form 990EZ · FY2022 · NTEE H90 · Medical Research · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.cactisfoundation.org
revenue
$182K
expenses
$252K
net assets
$-71K
employees
mission · from form 990

THE CACTIS FOUNDATION IS A COMMUNITY-BASED 501(C)3 INSTITUTION FOCUSED ON ADVANCING THE DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND PREVENTION OF DISEASE. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS BY SUPPORTING RESEARCH-ORIENTED PRECLINICAL AND CLINICAL PROGRAMS, AND EARLY PHASE CLINICAL TRIALS AND CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION (CME) PROGRAMS FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. OUR CURRENT FOCUS IS IN THE AREA OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI) AKA CONCUSSIONS, IN YOUNG ATHLETES, VICTIMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE (IPV), INDUSTRIAL AND MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS, THE MILITARY AND FIRST RESPONDERS, WITH SIGNIFICANT ATTENTION TO ADDRESSING HEALTH CARE DELIVERY DISPARITIES AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.

profile · synthesized from sources

The CACTIS Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease through research, education, and community outreach. It emphasizes traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly in underserved populations such as domestic violence survivors and youth athletes. The foundation supports clinical research, provides continuing medical education, and partners with medical, law enforcement, and community organizations to improve care and awareness.

named programs · 4 · from sources

what they call their work

Concussion Baseline Testing for Young Athletes
Partnership with Tucson Medical Center and Banner Concussion Center to provide pre-season baseline cognitive testing for youth athletes to improve post-injury diagnosis and management
Concussions in Domestic Violence Research Initiative
Collaborative effort with law enforcement, prosecutors, and medical providers to study, identify, and treat concussions in domestic violence victims, aiming to improve clinical care and legal outcomes
Safer Soccer Campaign
National initiative to reduce concussions in youth soccer through education, baseline testing, and best practices for coaches, parents, and medical professionals
Translational Neurotrauma Research Program
Joint research initiative with the University of Arizona, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and the Phoenix VA Health Care System to improve diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury, especially in domestic violence survivors and veterans
activities · 6 groups

what they do

  • Concussion Education & Baseline Testing 15 activities
    • Capacity building for healthcare and law enforcement professionals
      Trains law enforcement officers in oculomotor assessment for domestic violence victims, hosts town hall meetings to disseminate concussion knowledge, and provides educational resources to multi-sector professionals to improve identification and response to brain injuries.
    • Capacity building for healthcare and law enforcement professionals
      Trains police officers in using handheld oculomotor assessment devices, organizes town hall meetings to inform multidisciplinary stakeholders about concussions, and produces educational resources and archived CME courses accessible via mobile devices to promote best practices in patient management.
    • Capacity-building for healthcare and law enforcement professionals
      Trains law enforcement officers in using handheld devices to measure oculomotor data in domestic violence cases and conducts town hall meetings to inform healthcare providers, educators, first responders, and the public. Offers Continuing Medical Education programs with archived, mobile-accessible courses to promote best practices in patient management.
    • Community Education on Concussions
      Organizes Town Hall Meetings to empower healthcare providers, educators, first responders, law enforcement, administrators, and the public with information about concussions.
    • Community Education on Concussions
      Organizes Town Hall Meetings to empower healthcare providers, educators, first responders, law enforcement, administrators, and the public with information about concussions.
    • Concussion Education for Young Athletes
      Educates young athletes, parents, coaches, and staff about concussion risks, reduction techniques, and long-term effects, and provides baseline concussion testing for young athletes in Southern Arizona.
    • Concussion Education for Young Athletes
      Educates young athletes, parents, coaches, and staff about concussion risks, reduction techniques, and long-term effects, and provides baseline concussion testing for young athletes in Southern Arizona.
    • Concussion Education for Young Athletes
      Educates young athletes, parents, coaches, and staff about concussion risks, reduction techniques, and long-term effects, and provides baseline concussion testing for young athletes in Southern Arizona.
    • Concussion education for young athletes
      Provides concussion risk education and reduction training to young athletes, parents, coaches, and staff through established programs in youth sports, including baseline concussion testing in Southern Arizona.
    • Concussion education for young athletes
      Establishes programs to educate young athletes, parents, coaches, and staff about concussion risks, prevention techniques, and long-term effects, including baseline concussion testing in Southern Arizona. Provides educational resources to youth football programs to promote awareness and safety.
    • Concussion education for young athletes
      Provides concussion risk education and reduction training to young athletes, parents, coaches, and staff through established programs and resources, including baseline concussion testing in Southern Arizona.
    • Public and Professional Town Hall Meetings
      Organizes Town Hall Meetings to empower healthcare providers, educators, first responders, law enforcement, administrators, and the public with information about concussions.
    • Training Law Enforcement on Oculomotor Data Collection
      Trains officers from police departments, such as Mesa and Tempe, to use handheld devices for measuring oculomotor data of domestic violence victims.
    • Training for Law Enforcement on Domestic Violence Concussions
      Trains officers from police departments to use handheld devices for measuring oculomotor data of domestic violence victims to aid in identifying concussions.
    • Training for Law Enforcement on Domestic Violence Concussions
      Trains officers from police departments to use handheld devices for measuring oculomotor data of domestic violence victims to aid in identification and assessment of concussions.
  • Domestic Violence-Related Neurotrauma Research 13 activities
    • Advocacy and Insight for Federal Reports
      Provides insight for federal reports, such as a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, on the need for improved data and funding to identify brain injuries in domestic violence victims.
    • Neurotrauma research in maternal and geriatric populations
      Conducts in-press research on the effects of maternal traumatic brain injury during pregnancy on offspring brain development and immune responses in mice, and analyzes risk factors and outcomes of abusive neurotrauma in older adults using National Trauma Data Bank records.
    • Neurotrauma research in vulnerable populations
      Conducts in-press studies on the intergenerational and age-related impacts of traumatic brain injury, including effects on offspring of mothers with gravida TBI and abusive neurotrauma in geriatric patients using National Trauma Data Bank analysis.
    • Research on Abusive Neurotrauma in Geriatric Patients
      Conducts research on risk factors and outcomes of abusive neurotrauma in geriatric patients, based on analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank.
    • Research on Concussions in Domestic Violence
      Conducts and publishes research on concussions resulting from domestic violence, including studies on population-level epidemiology, forensic nursing examination, police involvement in early awareness, and the impact on victims. This includes collaborations with law enforcement and the medical community, and providing insights for federal reports.
    • Research on Concussions in Domestic Violence
      Conducts and publishes research on concussions resulting from domestic violence, including studies on population-level epidemiology, forensic nursing examination, police involvement in early awareness, and the impact on victims. This includes collaborations with law enforcement and the medical community, and providing insights for federal reports.
    • Research on Concussions in Domestic Violence
      Conducts and publishes research on concussions resulting from domestic violence, including studies on population-level epidemiology, forensic nursing examination, police involvement in early awareness, and the impact on victims, collaborating with law enforcement and the medical community to improve understanding, identification, and treatment.
    • Research on Gravida Traumatic Brain Injury
      Conducts research on the effects of gravida traumatic brain injury, including studies on distorted brain circuitry and altered immune responses in mice born to affected mothers.
    • Research on Traumatic Brain Injury in Specific Populations
      Conducts research on specific aspects of traumatic brain injury, including the effects on offspring of mothers with gravida traumatic brain injury and risk factors/outcomes of abusive neurotrauma in geriatric patients.
    • Research on Traumatic Brain Injury in Specific Populations
      Conducts research on specific aspects of traumatic brain injury, including studies on mice born to mothers with gravida traumatic brain injury and risk factors/outcomes of abusive neurotrauma in geriatric patients.
    • Research on traumatic brain injury in domestic violence
      Conducts and publishes translational and epidemiological research on concussions and neurotrauma resulting from domestic violence, including studies on screening tools, risk factors in geriatric patients, and long-term outcomes, in collaboration with law enforcement and medical partners.
    • Research on traumatic brain injury in domestic violence
      Conducts and publishes research on concussions and abusive neurotrauma resulting from domestic violence, including population-level epidemiology in Arizona, forensic nursing screening, and outcomes in geriatric patients, with studies in press and collaborations informing federal reports.
    • Research on traumatic brain injury in domestic violence
      Conducts and publishes research on traumatic brain injury (TBI) related to intimate partner violence, including population-level epidemiology in Arizona, screening via forensic nursing, and outcomes in geriatric patients. Collaborates with law enforcement and medical professionals to improve identification, care, and legal responses for victims.
  • Molecular Imaging Technology Development 6 activities
    • Advanced molecular imaging research
      Conducts translational research in molecular imaging technologies, including molecular breast imaging (MBI), Quantitative PET/CT, Diffusion-weighted MRI, and novel biomarkers, and evaluates new detector systems in collaboration with the Arizona Institute for Advanced Imaging (AI2).
    • Molecular and advanced imaging research
      Advances preclinical and clinical research in molecular imaging technologies such as molecular breast imaging (MBI), Quantitative PET/CT, and Diffusion-weighted MRI, including evaluation of new detector systems in partnership with the Arizona Institute for Advanced Imaging (AI2).
    • Molecular imaging and biomarker research
      Advances translational research in molecular imaging technologies such as molecular breast imaging (MBI), Quantitative PET/CT, and Diffusion-weighted MRI, along with novel biomarkers. Evaluates new detector systems in collaboration with the Arizona Institute for Advanced Imaging (AI2).
    • Translational Research in Medical Imaging and Biomarkers
      Promotes and conducts translational research, including preclinical and clinical investigations of molecular imaging technologies such as molecular breast imaging (MBI), Quantitative PET/CT, Diffusion-weighted MRI, and new biomarkers. This includes evaluating new detector systems in cooperation with the Arizona Institute for Advanced Imaging (AI2).
    • Translational Research in Medical Imaging and Biomarkers
      Promotes and conducts translational research, including preclinical and clinical investigations of molecular imaging technologies such as molecular breast imaging (MBI), Quantitative PET/CT, Diffusion-weighted MRI, and new biomarkers. This includes evaluating new detector systems in cooperation with the Arizona Institute for Advanced Imaging (AI2).
    • Translational Research on Molecular Imaging and Biomarkers
      Promotes and conducts translational research, including preclinical and clinical investigations of molecular imaging technologies such as molecular breast imaging (MBI), Quantitative PET/CT, Diffusion-weighted MRI, and new biomarkers, and evaluates new detector systems in cooperation with the Arizona Institute for Advanced Imaging (AI2).
  • Nursing and Industry Certification Programs 4 activities
    • Continuing Medical Education Programs
      Holds ongoing Continuing Medical Education programs and archives courses for long-term availability via mobile devices to promote best practices in patient management.
    • Continuing Medical Education Programs
      Holds ongoing Continuing Medical Education programs and archives courses for long-term availability via mobile devices to promote best practices in patient management.
    • Continuing Medical Education Programs
      Holds ongoing Continuing Medical Education programs and archives courses for long-term availability via mobile devices to promote best practices in patient management.
    • Continuing Medical Education and knowledge dissemination
      Offers ongoing CME programs and archives courses for mobile access to promote best practices in patient management; produces educational podcast content featuring experts on women's health and brain injury.
  • Advocacy & Education Podcasts 2 activities
    • Podcast Production
      Produces podcast episodes, such as "Visible Women with Caroline Criado Perez - Featuring Hirsch Handmaker, MD and Jonny Lifshitz, PhD."
    • Podcast Production
      Produces podcast episodes featuring experts on various topics, such as "Visible Women with Caroline Criado Perez - Featuring Hirsch Handmaker, MD and Jonny Lifshitz, PhD."
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Dissemination of research and public awareness content
      Produces public-facing educational content, including podcast episodes featuring experts, to raise awareness about women's health and brain injury topics.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$182K
Contributions & grants$182K100%
Program service revenue
Investment income
Other revenue
expenses
Total expenses$252K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits
Grants paid out$910
balance sheet
Total assets$17K
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$-71K
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue +682.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

board members · 2
  • GARY CHIATE — Director
  • JONATHON LEVY MD — Director
relationships · 32

who they work with

  • Arizona Cancer Specialists, P.L.C. Partner — Employer of Coral Quiet, M.D., a member of The Cactis Foundation's Scientific Advisory Board
  • Arizona Institute for Advanced Imaging (AI2) Partner — Cooperates on studies and evaluation of new detector systems.
  • BARROW Neurological Institute Partner — Jonathan Lifshitz serves as director of the Translational Neurotrauma Research Program in a joint venture through this organization.
  • Banner Concussion Center Partner — Partners to prevent soccer injuries, utilizing inventions and techniques from CACTIS's optometry consultant.
  • Banner Orthopaedic Residency Program Partner — Collaborates on new methods for noninvasive imaging of benign and malignant diseases.
  • Barrow Neurological Institute Partner — Hosts Jonathan Lifshitz, Ph.D., Director of Translational Neurotrauma Research, who serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of The Cactis Foundation
  • Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital Partner — Study partner in the concussion research.
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale Partner — Partnered with to provide resources for a youth football program focused on concussion education.
  • Cancer Healthcare Disparities Institute (CHDI) at the University of Arizona Partner — Collaborates on new methods for noninvasive imaging of benign and malignant diseases.
  • Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Partner — Collaborates on new methods for noninvasive imaging of benign and malignant diseases.
  • Conquering Concussions LLC Partner — Partnered to establish a program educating young athletes about concussions.
  • Conquering Concussions LLC Partner — Study partner in the concussion research.
  • Conquering Concussions, LLC Partner — Teamed up with to establish baseline concussion testing for young athletes.
  • Facebook Partner — Maintains a presence on Facebook.
  • Government Accountability Office (GAO) Partner — Provided insight for a federal report published by the GAO.
  • HonorHealth Partner — Study partner in the concussion research.
  • Maricopa County Attorney's Office Partner — Partnered to launch a study into concussions caused by domestic violence.
  • Maricopa County Attorney’s Office Partner — Partnered on a study based on concussions inflicted during domestic violence incidents.
  • Mesa Police Partner — Teamed up with this organization to research the prevalence of concussions in domestic violence victims.
  • Mesa Police Department Partner — Provides data collection for the concussion study.
  • Optical Sciences Department at the University of Arizona Partner — Collaborates on new methods for noninvasive imaging of benign and malignant diseases.
  • Phoenix Children’s Hospital Partner — Jonathan Lifshitz leads a research team as a joint venture with this organization.
  • Phoenix VA Health Care System Partner — Jonathan Lifshitz leads a research team as a joint venture with this organization.
  • Sojourner Center Partner — Offers shelter to victims identified in the concussion study and is a study partner.
  • Sporting Innovations Partner — Employer of Sasha Victorine, Director of Business Development and Operations, who serves on The Cactis Foundation's Scientific Advisory Board
  • Tempe Police Department Partner — Provides data collection for the concussion study.
  • Tucson Medical Center Partner — Teamed up with to establish baseline concussion testing for young athletes.
  • Twitter Partner — Maintains a presence on Twitter.
  • University of Arizona Partner — Jonathan Lifshitz leads a research team as a joint venture with this organization.
  • University of Arizona-College of Medicine-Phoenix Partner — Study partner in the concussion research.
+ 2 more