May 2, 2015 the Philadelphia VAMC was renamed the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VAMC.
The Research Program at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz (CMCVAMC) supports over 200 clinical, translational and basic research studies conducted by over 100 principal investigators mostly with dual appointments between CMCVAMC and the University of Pennsylvania, the primary academic affiliate located directly across the street.
The main Medical Research Building includes 45,000 sq ft of wet bench laboratories, administrative offices and the Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU) spanning 5 floors and a basement of Building 21 directly connected to the main CMCVAMC hospital building. Clinical research activities take place throughout the Medical Center, with more focused daytime activities in the Clinical Research Center (CRC) on the 4th floor of the CMCVAMC hospital building.
In addition, administrative offices and support staff of the VA HSR&D Center of Innovation CHERP (Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion) are housed in ~6,000 sq ft of space in the CMCVAMC Annex within a short walking distance from the main CMCVAMC campus. All research-related activities are performed on-site, with the exception of off-site research based on approved VA Central Office off-site waiver.
RESEARCH MATTERS
The CMCVAMC Medical Research Program is directed by the Associate Chief of Staff for R&D (Kyong-Mi Chang MD) with the support of Research Operations Chief (Richard Moore). The regulatory oversight for all VA-based research studies is provided through the CMCVAMC R&D Committee (Chair: Peter W. Groeneveld, MD), two Institutional Review Board Committee (Chairs: Stuart Isaacs MD, Terri Laufer MD), Research Safety and Security Program/Institutional Biosafety Committee (Chair: Victoria Werth MD) and Institutional Animal Care Use and Care Committee (Chair: Laurence Buxbaum MD PhD). The nonprofit Philadelphia Research and Education Foundation (PREF) administers non-VA-funded but VA-relevant research conducted by VA investigators (Executive Director: Gwendolyn Cham, MBA).
VETERAN AFFAIRS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
For more than 90 years, the Veterans Affairs (VA) Research and Development program has been improving the lives of Veterans and all Americans through health care discovery and innovation.
The research process in VA starts with a tight focus on the everyday health needs and concerns of Veterans, and with consultation with national and regional VA clinical leaders. Solutions are identified and developed through careful, rigorous research in labs and clinics, and sometimes in the community. These solutions are then applied to patient care, or translated into new or improved programs, as rapidly as possible.
VA Research fosters dynamic collaborations with its university partners, other federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private industry—thus furthering the program's impact on the health of Veterans and the nation.
VA Research is unique because of its focus on health issues that affect veterans. It is part of an integrated health care system with a state-of-the-art electronic health record and has come to be viewed as a model for superior bench-to-bedside research.
-VA OFFICE OF RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
VA Research Accomplishments
THIS IS SMALL SAMPLE OF VA'S RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND MILESTONES.
2017
VA completed enrollment of 50,000 Veterans in the CONFIRM study on colorectal cancer-- the largest single clinical trial in VA history.
1967
VA performed the first successful liver transplants and developed techniques for suppressing the body's natural attempt to reject transplanted tissue.
1948
Introduced VA's mobility and orientation rehabilitation- training program for blind Veterans.
1925
Conducted the first hospital-based medical studies to be formally considered part of VA's newly established research program.
To learn more about how to partner with PREF to conduct research VA research contact Gwendolyn Cham, gcham@prefresearch.org, 215-823-5800 ext 3769.