The Henrietta B. and Frederick H. Bugher Foundation, was established during Frederick Bugher's life and continues to support research in cardiovascular disease. Both of Mr. Bugher's parents suffered from heart ailments. Originally limited to research within the District of Columbia, the foundation now supports research throughout the world. In 1984 the foundation sought the guidance of the American Heart Association in identifying a focus for its research support. The association suggested much recent research had been done in the field of molecular biology, but very little had been done to bring molecular biology training to clinically-trained investigators.