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About MEBO Research

Background

MEBO Research, a 501(c)(3) Public Charity in the United States and a Not For Profit Limited by Guarantee Company registered in England and Wales aspiring to become a Charity, was founded by Maria de la Torre, who lives in Miami, Florida, with the help of others from around the globe, to proactively search for research and discovery of diagnosis, treatment, and cure for all possible systemic and metabolic body odor and halitosis conditions. 

In order to achieve this, MEBO's primary strategy is to unite sufferers and experts from around the world to organize through multiple projects, including MEBO's two blogs, MEBO's Forum, and this website, to initiate scientific research and medical treatment. It is hoped that this endeavor will result in significant data compilation of the symptoms manifested in these conditions initially through small self-funded case studies, while pursuing benefaction for large-scale scientific research and clinical trials to discover effective medical treatment.  It is MEBO's intentions to complement similar campaigns initiated by others around the world also aimed at solving the spectrum of metabolic malodors. MEBO's efforts to be transparent will focus on keeping donators and readers updated of its financial activities. The amount of money raised, intentions, and spending of the funds will customarily be transparent and published on this company website and/or English and Spanish blogs. 

A Not For Profit Organization

MEBO Research is a sufferer-founded Public Charity in the United States, and a Not for Profit Limited by Guarantee Company registered in England and Wales aspiring to become a Charity. MEBO Research, Inc., #N10000003979 (Registered in the State of Florida, US, on April 21, 2010) is a patient-advocacy organization of volunteers dedicated to the betterment of the international body odor and halitosis community. As an organization exempt under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code and further classified as a Public Charity, MEBO declares,

The Corporation is not organized nor shall it be operated for the primary purpose of generating pecuniary gain or profit. The Corporation shall not distribute any gains, profits or dividends to the Directors, Officers, or Members thereof, or to any individual, except as reasonable compensation for services actually performed in carrying out the Corporation's charitable and educational purposes. The property, assets, profits and net income of the Corporation are irrevocably dedicated to charitable and educational purposes no part of which shall inure to the benefit of any individual.

and as declared in the Memorandum of Association of MEBO Research, Company Number 06810631 (created 12 February 2009) registered in England and Wales,

4(a) The income and property of the company shall be applied solely towards promoting the company's objects (as set out in clause 3).
(b) No part of the income or property of the company shall be paid or transferred (directly or indirectly) to the members of the company, whether by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise.
(c) No director and or trustee of the company shall be appointed as a paid employee of the company; no director and or trustee shall hold any office under the company for which a salary or fee is payable.
(d) No benefit (whether in money or in kind) shall be given by the company to any director and or trustee except (i) repayment of out-of-pocket expenses or (ii) reasonable payment in return for particular services (not being of a management nature) actually rendered to the company.

Strategy:
  • Small, self-funded case studies : To organize testing opportunities for sufferers to fund their respective tests, in order for MEBO Research to gather data and a list of potential human subjects that may be used at a later time for larger research projects. Examples of such self-funded case studies would be as noted below in greater detail, the Trimethylaminuria Urine Test via Smart Nutrition in the United Kingdom, the TMAU Test Program currently being set up in the United States with One of America's Top 4 Hospitals, U.S. News & World Report 2010-11, 'Best Hospital' Rankings (more information forthcoming soon), and MEBO Gut Dysbiosis Study initiated in August 2009 in an attempt to look for patterns which could be used for future research efforts, to then better explore possible treatment options.
  • All informal case study results: will be published in a timely manner while upholding the privacy of the individuals tested. 
  • Transparency : All moneys received, fund balances, planned and actual spending activities will be disclosed on this website and/or MEBO English and Spanish blogs.
  • To encourage research amongst the scientific and medical communities.
  • Raise awareness: To promote social awareness of uncontrollable systemic and metabolic body malodorous conditions, as well as the special needs and accommodations as needed to promote a healthy and productive work or school environment for everyone involved. This could be carried out in a number of ways, including promoting political awareness.
  • One ultimate goal of MEBO Research is the founding of a Body Odor and Halitosis Research Center and Clinic. 

Provisional ideas for 'self-help' testing strategies:

One of MEBO's aims is to develop a rapport with labs to enable informal case studies to be as reasonably priced as possible. The idea is to promote a testing culture, to see if any patterns can readily be identified, and to look for leads that may be helpful in future larger-scale research. Although trimethylaminuria is now accepted by the medical system in medical literature, most doctors may be unaware of it. To make things more confusing, TMAU sufferers often are not confident 'fish odor' is their only issue, if at all.


MEBO Research's Sufferer-Funded Informal Test Programs: