7 Organizations Funding And Performing Vital Medical Research

Medical Organizations Doing Important Work

Name	Mission
Program in Placebo Studies and the Therapeutic Encounter	Enable researchers, clinicians, scholars, and students to examine the biological basis of the placebo response and the implications of medical ritual, the patient-provider relationship, cultural context, and the power of imagination, trust, and hope in the healing process
EB Research Partnership	Work to treat and cure Epidermolysis Bullosa, a group of devastating and life-threatening skin disorders that affect children from birth
Trudeau Institute	Safeguard human health and combat 21st century global health crises, from drug-resistant TB to emerging viruses and pandemics, by empowering specialized R&D pursuits in regional and global Translational Science Partnerships
Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center	Identify better diagnostic assays, better treatments, and a better pathophysiologic understanding of the mechanisms of Lyme disease symptom persistence
Parkinson Research Foundation	Help find a cure for Parkinson’s disease through funding research, while providing education and services that improve the quality of life today for Parkinson patients and their caregivers
Benaroya Research Institute	Advance the science that will predict, prevent, reverse, and cure diseases of the immune system
Centre for Altitude Space and Extreme Environment Medicine	Conduct research, teach courses, and offer advice in the areas of space, aviation, high altitude, extreme temperatures, and dive and hyperbaric medicine

Phases of Medical Research

Basic medical research: Establishes an understanding of the issue and its effects on humans
Preclinical research: Figures out how best to test an experimental treatment or cure
Clinical research: Research is done on real people, under the supervision of physicians in a medical setting

The Importance Of Trust In Healthcare

Fields of Biomedical Research

Aging
Anatomy
Angiology
Behavioral health
Biochemistry
Biomaterials
Cancer
Cellular biology
Chemistry
Endocrinology
Epigenetics
Epidemiology
Genetics
Immunology
Microbiology
Molecular biology
Nanomaterials
Neuroendocrinology
Neuroscience
Ophthalmology
Otolaryngology
Palliative Medicine
Pharmacology
Physiology
Preventive medicine
Psychopharmacology
Public Health
Tissue Engineering
Toxicology
Virology

The Sociology Of Health & Medicine

In Depth

Every advance in medicine results from the painstaking work of scientists, and the support of those who choose to invest in the expansion of knowledge. Fortunately, dedicated organizations around the world continue to fund and carry out investigations into treatments for the diseases that afflict humanity. In no particular order, we've highlighted seven groups making important contributions to the science of illness and wellness.

Leading us off at #1 is the Program in Placebo Studies and the Therapeutic Encounter, a research effort looking into the effects of patient mindset, and the factors influencing it, on clinical outcomes. Housed within Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School, the initiative brings together investigators from a variety of disciplines, to conduct an integrated examination of the biology, sociology, and ethics of placebo-based treatments for illness and chronic pain.

Born from the efforts of an informal network of medical scientists, who were fascinated by ability of fake treatments to have real effects on health, PiPS has helped to pioneer the concept of open-label placebos, suggesting that patients may be able to improve even with medicine that they know contains no active ingredients. The organization provides training for young researchers interested in placebo studies, as well as hosting informational seminars on the topics they explore. They also advocate for further investigation into the psychological dimension of doctor-patient interactions.

They also advocate for further investigation into the psychological dimension of doctor-patient interactions.

Next up at #2 is EB Research Partnership, funding investigations into effective treatments and cures for the cluster of dangerous congenital skin disorders known as Epidermolysis Bullosa, which afflicts children from birth with painful wounds and blisters. The organization has sponsored international collaborative efforts to improve scientific understanding, and clinical treatment, of EB, under the guidance of the specialists on their Scientific Advisory Board. The investment model of their Venture Into Cures initiative enables them to channel commercial returns from the work they fund into further research efforts.

Along with raising funds, investing, and advocating for progress towards a cure, EB Research Partnership shares the stories of people living with the disease. They hope to increase awareness, show the human face of this condition, and motivate action. They also spread information on registration for clinical trials of new treatments, create video presentations for researchers, patients, and caregivers, and provide resources for those impacted by EB. Individuals or corporate groups can get involved by donating or acting as sponsors, or by participating in events to raise money.

Our #3 entry is the Trudeau Institute, a renowned not-for-profit research institution focusing on infectious disease and immunity. From its origins in the 1800s as a tuberculosis sanatorium, it has transformed into a leader in the fight against some of the world's deadliest illnesses. With facilities capable of securely handling highly dangerous pathogens, the Institute can pursue therapies for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and virulent pulmonary diseases, like tuberculosis and plague. They aim to build a global network of researchers, sharing knowledge and strategies to advance medical science.

With facilities capable of securely handling highly dangerous pathogens, the Institute can pursue therapies for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and virulent pulmonary diseases, like tuberculosis and plague.

The Trudeau Institute seeks novel approaches to combating deadly infections, with projects like their computational chemogenomics initiative, aimed finding genetic targets for new drugs, or the use of advanced imaging techniques to better understand the life cycle of pathogens like the tuberculosis bacterium. Their numerous educational programs also offer opportunities for university students, who can learn cutting-edge methods for infectious disease research. The Institute welcomes contributions from supporters, which help fund their mission of eradicating lethal illnesses.

#4 on the list is the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center, a multidisciplinary exploration into persistent symptoms of illnesses spread by ticks. Housed in the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, it was created by researchers seeking to understand why some patients experience chronic effects of Lyme disease, even after treatment that eliminates the infectious agent. The organization conducts ongoing investigation into the neurology, psychology, and treatment of these conditions, with the help of the University's repository of biological samples from sufferers.

The Research Center offers numerous resources for people suffering from or concerned about tick-borne pathogens, such as diagnostic options, information on relevant terminology, and tips for preventing infection. Dr. Brian Fallon, the program's Director, has also co-authored a book shedding light on the state of the science on these illnesses, and the organization is one of the hosts for the annual Lyme Disease Association Conference. They encourage patients to participate in their studies to work towards a cure, and they welcome donations in support of their work.

They encourage patients to participate in their studies to work towards a cure, and they welcome donations in support of their work.

Coming in at #5 is the Parkinson Research Foundation, a nonprofit health organization dedicated to funding investigation into Parkinson's disease, providing services to sufferers, and advocating for policies to combat this devastating condition. They fund the Parkinson Place treatment center, where afflicted individuals can take advantage of a wide array of programs to combat the degenerative symptoms of their illness, and caregivers can receive support and helpful information. The group has also successfully lobbied for increased federal funding in support of scientific research into the disease.

The Parkinson Research Foundation spreads the word about treatment options, and about clinical trials offering promise for new therapeutic possibilities. They also host educational conferences, and other events aimed at improving understanding of Parkinson's, and work to raise awareness. Their experienced medical staff help to answer the public's questions about various aspects of this complex disease. Those wishing to support the Foundation's work can make a donation online.

Next in the order at #6 is Benaroya Research Institute at the Virginia Mason Medical Center, which works to discover cures for autoimmune diseases, from rheumatoid arthritis to multiple sclerosis. Because these diverse disorders share a common cause - inappropriate immune system response - the scientists at BRI take a unified approach to investigating possible treatments. They lead the Immune Tolerance Network, a collaborative clinical research effort, which conducts trials of experimental therapies and shares information between colleagues around the world.

Because these diverse disorders share a common cause - inappropriate immune system response - the scientists at BRI take a unified approach to investigating possible treatments.

BRI oversees numerous research programs, including their investigation of the role of the extracellular matrix in disease progress, or their Systems Immunology Division, which uses mathematical and computational tools to better understand the body's self-defense mechanisms. The organization also shares information such as helpful tips for those living with autoimmune disease, new developments in the field, and opportunities to contribute to research. Supporters can make an individual contribution, host a fundraising event, or inquire about corporate sponsorship.

We'll conclude with #7, the Centre for Altitude Space and Extreme Environment Medicine. This organization was founded on the belief that the responses of human bodies, when exposed to intense conditions, can offer insights into their functioning during critical illness. Created as part of the medical program at University College London, the Centre investigates the physiological effects of extreme speed, depth, temperature, and other exceptional environmental states. It has even partnered with NASA to research the biological impacts of weightlessness and space flight.

In addition to their research work, CASE Medicine runs an educational program on Space Medicine and Extreme Environment Physiology, through their home university's medical school. They also offer an annual conference series, discussing scientific insights gained from endeavors that push the human body to its limits, such as undersea diving, aviation, and space exploration. The organization also pioneered the Xtreme Everest research project, using the high-altitude Himalayan environment to study hypoxia and its effects on human physiology; those inspired by this project can donate or help as volunteers.