Campaign Priorities
Translational Research
The translational approach to research at BRI represents a powerful synergy between laboratory and clinical discovery, each making the other more effective in helping people battle autoimmune diseases. Clinical samples fuel laboratory studies and lead to clinical trials which provide direction for continued research. In addition, BRI has developed groundbreaking "biomarkers" that enable clinicians and researchers to assess the effectiveness of new clinical trials more accurately and more quickly, accelerating research and the development of more refined or more effective clinical applications. The continuous and symbiotic nature of translational research requires significant and steady support, therefore BRI is establishing an endowment to support its translational work in all areas of autoimmune disease research. The goal for this endowment is $3 million.
Rapid Research
A critical characteristic of scientific research is that the timing and direction of discovery are uncertain. Finding the causes and cures for crippling or deadly autoimmune diseases must be pursued quickly and completely. Often, breakthrough work elsewhere can help advance BRI's discoveries and it becomes essential to rapidly direct funds to new avenues of research and attract the brightest minds to explore this work at BRI. This is particularly true in two areas of great opportunity: Molecular Genetics--taking advantage of new information about the human genome to accelerate discoveries, and Cardiovascular Research--pioneering advances in blood vessel and tissue formation through the Hope Heart Program at BRI. Rapid Research Funds in these areas will ensure that BRI will be able to respond to emerging discoveries as they happen, and bring the best researchers to the Institute to continue groundbreaking research. The goal for a Molecular Genetics Rapid Research Fund is $3 million and the goal for a Cardiovascular Rapid Research Fund is $2 million.
Research Technology
Research is poised to make an unprecedented leap forward as the ability to predict the onset or progression of disease is developed and advancements to intervene in a more proactive and effective manner are used. The springboard for this great leap is, and will continue to be, the rapid advance of technology. New tools will improve our ability to devise solutions to nature's mysteries and these solutions will provide lasting benefits for humanity. To support the accelerating increase in technology for research, BRI will establish a Research Technology Fund to enable BRI to acquire cutting-edge equipment critical to scientific discovery. Our goal for this fund is $2 million.
Learn about our focused endowments.
Become a Research Visionary today.
For more information, contact:
Jeanne Jachim, Director of Development
Virginia Mason Foundation
1218 Terry Avenue
P.O. Box 1930, D1-MF
Seattle, WA 98111-1930
Phone: (206) 583-6083
Email: foundation@vmmc.org