Aims include bringing more federal military medical research to Wisconsin
(Green Bay, Wis.) - The Disabled American Veterans Department of Wisconsin (DAV-WI) will kick off its Fall Conference in Appleton, Wis. with a bang. The first presentation, which is open to the public, will be by James Phillips, Ph.D., grant award manager for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP: cdmrp.army.mil). The CDMRP focuses on finding and funding the best medical research for program areas determined by Congress each year that include physical and mental injuries and diseases.
“We hope that bringing this key Defense medical research program to Appleton will help our veterans and our state, including bringing more federal military medical research and funding to Wisconsin,” said DAV State Commander John Hoeft of Omro, Wis.
Wisconsin has approximately 427,000 veterans, including more than 53,500 service-disabled veterans,[i] who are served by 18 community based VA outpatient clinics, four Vet Centers, and three VA medical centers and hospitals in Wisconsin[ii] and more in neighboring states. VA-Madison and VA-Milwaukee both have strong medical research partnerships with nearby research institutions. Wisconsin ranks 42nd out of 50 states in bringing in federal dollars.[iii]
Dr. Phillips’ presentation, which is expected to be attended by a panel including the directors of all three Wisconsin VA medical centers and hospitals, will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, October 15, 2010 in Appleton, Wis., in the Empire Room at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel on 333 W. College Ave. Dr. Phillips will give an overview and background of CDMRP, including unique features and partnerships.
As an example of one of the funded CDMRP programs, which also include psychological health (including post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury, ALS, and numerous cancers, Dr. Phillips will discuss the CDMRP’s Gulf War Illness Research Program funding history, project highlights, and key strategies.
Immediately following the presentation until about noon, Dr. Phillips will be further available in a breakout room for a Q&A with scientists, clinicians, potentially interested medical researchers, and potentially interested consumer reviewers about any of the CDMRP’s programs.
Over the last 18 years, the CDMRP has managed approximately over $5.4 billion – including $626.4 million in FY09 alone – in targeted Congressional appropriations for nearly 9,000 medical research grant awards aimed to prevent, control, and cure targeted diseases.[iv]
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CDMRP relies on scientists, clinicians, and other medical researchers from public and private institutions to submit research proposals for possible funding. Researchers also participate in the peer review process.
Scientists and Consumers are fully integrated in the CDMRP, and Consumer patients, survivors, family members and advocates play a pivotal role in all aspects of the review process. The nearly 1,200 Consumers[v] who have participated with CDMRP add perspective, passion, and a sense of urgency that ensures the human dimension is incorporated in all program aspects. Interested consumers are also invited to attend the Appleton presentation, and do not have to be current or former military service members.
Congress has not yet determined next year’s CDMRP funding. This year, CDMRP’s medical research programs include the following:
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Autism
- Bone Marrow Failure
- Breast Cancer
- Genetic Studies of Food Allergies
- Gulf War Illness
- Lung Cancer (Funding Opportunities currently available)
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neurofibromatosis
- Ovarian Cancer
- Peer Reviewed Cancer (Funding Opportunities currently available)
- Peer Reviewed Medical
- Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic (Funding Opportunities currently available)
- Prostate Cancer
- Psychological Health/Traumatic Brain Injury
- Spinal Cord Injury (Funding Opportunities currently available)
- Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
WHO: DAV’s Appleton presentation is open to the public and will be valuable to medical researchers with an interest in researching – and military veterans and other potential Consumer reviewers affected by – the health conditions funded for research through the CDMRP. Current and prospective public officials may also be interested in attending to learn more about this key federal defense medical research powerhouse and how it can help current and former military servicemembers and Wisconsin-based researchers and research organizations and entities.
[i] State of Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs: www.WisVets.com/data
[ii] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/fac_list_by_state.cfm?State=WI&dnum=All&isflash=0
[iii] U.S. Census Bureau, "Federal Aid to States for Fiscal Year 2007,” published September 2008; Table 422, Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010. http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/rankings.html
[iv], v Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, U.S. Medical & Materiel Command, U.S. Department of Defense, “Annual Report: September 30, 2009.” http://cdmrp.army.mil/pubs/annreports/annual_reports.shtml
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