Iowa City Va Medical Research Foundation

TO MOBILIZE RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF THE VETERAN COMMUNITY.

IOWA CITY VA MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION (ICVARF) MOBILIZES RESOURCES THAT HELP IMPROVE VETERANS' HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND LIVES. BASED IN IOWA CITY, A HUB OF RESEARCH AND HEALTH CARE IN THE MIDWEST, WE SERVE VETERANS IN IOWA AND EASTERN ILLINOIS. ICVARF HELPS THE IOWA CITY VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ADVANCE ITS HEALTHCARE GOALS. ICVARF SUPPORTS MEDICAL RESEARCH PROJECTS LED BY PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS AND STAFF TO ASSIST AND IMPROVE THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDED TO THE VETERAN COMMUNITY.FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2021 THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO MANAGE MORE THAN 10 GRANTS AND PROJECTS THAT HAD ONGOING TIMELINE DELAYS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE FOUNDATION WAS ABLE TO HELP RESEARCHERS RESUME AND MAINTAIN RESEARCH ACTIVITIES BY KEEPING GRANTS COMPLIANT AND ADMINISTERING GRANTS RECEIVABLES AND PAYMENTS. IT WAS A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR MANY INSTITUTIONS INCLUDING THE FOUNDATION, HOWEVER, THE FOUNDATION WAS ABLE TO ADMINISTER ACTIVE GRANTS, SECURE NEW RESEARCH PROJECTS, AND MADE PROGRESS ON NEGOTIATIONS FOR NEW AGREEMENTS.BY THE END OF 2021, THE FOUNDATION HAD SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED YEAR 1 OF THE NATIONAL ALL OF US GRANT. WHILE THE RECRUITMENT METRICS WERE BELOW THE PROJECTED GOALS, CENTRAL OVERSIGHT HELPED WORK WITH THE TEAM TO MITIGATE PANDEMIC-RELATED DELAYS. THE THREE EMPLOYEES MANAGING THE ALL OF US GRANT ARE FULLY ON-BOARDED WITH HEALTHCARE BENEFITS AND 401K PLANS. THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THEIR LIFE INSURANCE BENEFITS ARE UNDERWAY. THE FOUNDATION IS THE 8TH VA SITE AWARDED THIS GRANT AND IT IS EXPECTED TO BE A 3+ YEAR ENDEAVOR TO MAP THE GENETICS OF VERTERANS ACROSS AMERICA TO RESEARCH THEIR HEALTH AND NEEDS. ALSO BY THE END OF 2021, THE FOUNDATION WAS SUCCESSFUL IN GETING DOD CONTRACT W81XWH2010811, A GRANT AIMED AT STUDYING BLOOD BASED BIOMARKERS OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE IN VETERANS, FULLY COMPLIANT IN THE FEDERAL GRANTS ADMINISTRATION PORTALS WITH SUCCESSFUL SUBMISSION OF TARDY INVOICES. THIS GRANT HAD BEEN AWARDED IN SEPT. 2020, AND ALTHOUGH WORK HAD BEEN COMPLETED, NO PAYMENT VOUCHERS HAD BEEN SUBMITTED DUE TO FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL FINANCIAL PORTALS. THE FOUNDATION WAS SUCCESSFUL IN LAUNCHING A CRADA WITH DR. GOTO AND MERCK TO STUDY PNEUMOCCOCCAL AND INFLUENZA VACCINATION OUTCOMES IN VETERANS, WITH AGREEMENTS ESTABLISHED TO COVER SALARIES FOR UNIVERSITY OF IOWA BIOSTATISTICIANS. FINALLY, THE FOUNDATION MADE PROGRESS TOWARDS NEGOTIATIONS WITH NOVARTIS TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR INTERNATIONAL ONGOING PHASE III CLINICAL TRIAL LOOKING AT A TARGETED RADIONUCLIDE THERAPY FOR PROSTATE CANCER.THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOUNDATION RESIGNED IN JULY AND A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS HIRED AND BEGAN IN OCTOBER. THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ATTENDED NAVREF'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ESSENTIAL TRAINING 2-DAY COURSE IN DENVER IN MAR. 2022. THE TRIANNUAL NONPROFIT PROGRAM OFFICE (NPPO) ON-SITE REVIEW AND AUDIT IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 15-16, 2022.