Veterans Medical Research Foundation Looking For Public Funding

August 27, 2010 - The Veterans Medical Research Foundation (VMRF) is a non-profit organization located in San Diego, California. The VMRF has been around for 20 years and is, in every sense of the word, a national leader when it comes to researching veteran's health care at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) San Diego Healthcare system.

The way research is funded has changed, and because of that change, the VMRF is searching for public finding for the first time in 20 years. Simply producing a good idea no longer means automatic funding and with a $30 million budget, funding is critical. Of the 84 medical research organizations connected to the VA across the nation, the VMRF ranks 2nd and they receive no funding from the VA.

The VMRF's goal to help veterans cannot be met without money, and money for research seems to be in short supply. Conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are more common and more high-profile than ever. They are also fairly new. The research required to develop the necessary cutting-edge treatments requires millions in funding. At the same time, the VMRF continues to perform research on such "standard" veteran issues as:

• Diabetes;
• Shingles; and
• Obesity.

One of the VMRF's major concerns is being able to fund their staff between assignments. If they cannot do this, they will lose an unacceptable amount of researchers and leave themselves unable to perform as necessary. The VMRF's work is progressive and essential. If the VMRF cannot get their name and accomplishments out to the public, they may very well find themselves in dire straits.