Benaroya Research Institute

What it reported doing in 2024

Translational immunology and advancements of the immune tolerance network (itn) are highlighted below: funding for the immune tolerance network (itn) was initially awarded to jerry nepom, md, phd, at bri in 2014 by the national institute of allergy and infectious diseases (niaid) of the national institutes of health (nih). It was later renewed for a second grant cycle in 2021, providing approximately $27 million annually to support itn. This research consortium, established in 1999, primarily focuses on developing new tolerogenic approaches for treating and preventing diseases in three clinical areas: asthma and allergic diseases, autoimmune diseases, and immune-mediated rejection of transplanted solid organs, tissues, and cells. Bri, as the prime recipient of this grant, is responsible for managing the overall grant from niaid, including overseeing all aspects of the network's infrastructure. As of 2022 following the retirement of dr. Nepom, dr. Jane buckner assumed the role of principal investigator of the itn grant. Dr. Buckner serves on the itn steering committee (nsc) and the itn network executive committee (nec), and played an active role in 2025 in both committees at its biannual full meetings, playing a critical role in tracking progress towards network goals and developing strategies to meet network objectives.itn continues to advance innovative clinical trials and mechanistic studies aimed at developing new approaches to prevent and treat immune-mediated diseases, including autoimmune disorders, allergic diseases, and transplant rejection. Through a large international consortium of clinical and research centers, itn conducts complex multicenter clinical trials designed to test therapies that can reprogram the immune system to promote long-term immune tolerance rather than lifelong immunosuppression.key outcomes during this period include: measurable impact: itn's stated mission is to accelerate the clinical development of therapies that promote immune tolerance. One of the most significant examples of this work is the network's landmark leap (learning early about peanut allergy) clinical trial, which demonstrated that early introduction of peanut-containing foods in infancy can dramatically reduce the risk of developing peanut allergy. The findings from this study informed updated u.s. Clinical guidelines recommending early peanut introduction for infants at risk. In 2025, new population-level analyses became available confirming the real-world impact of these guidelines. These data indicate that new cases of peanut allergy in the united states have declined by approximately 43%, meaning that an estimated 57,000 fewer children are living with peanut allergy because of this change in clinical practice driven by itn-supported research.the itn cross-network integration: since 2014, itn has excelled with a strong focus on meticulous planning and collaboration across itn's major centers, located in seattle (bri), san francisco (university of California san francisco), durham (duke university), boston (brigham women's hospital), atlanta (emory university), and ann arbor (university of Michigan). That successful collaboration continued with the following key outcomes during this period:1. In line with the nih data sharing policy, the itn coordinating center reviewed and approved 16 sample and data sharing requests through itn trialshare, itn's data-sharing portal.2. Operations and clinical trial support: the itn coordinating center at bri issued 279 subaward/subaward actions during this reporting period to support 2025 infrastructure, active itn clinical trials and numerous supporting itn mechanistic trials.3. Supplemental funding / partnerships: the itn coordinating center continued to focus on identifying and advancing opportunities for supplemental funding and strategic funding partnerships.a) supplemental funding: in 2025, the itn coordinating center at bri successfully secured two supplemental funding awards totaling

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 82.6%; rating input score 83
• Program expense ratio: 83%; rating input score 83
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Limited
  • Conducts field audits: Limited
  • May suspend future funding: Limited
  • Requires financial reports: Pass
  • Conducts site visits: Limited
  • Requires grant agreements: Limited
  • May require repayment: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 0.7%; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.18; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.4; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.3%; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.4% per year; rating input score 100; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.4% per year; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.3% per year; rating input score 100; 16th percentile among comparable filings