History of the Foundation
In May 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill into law establishing the Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, a private, not-for-profit organization. The charge given the Foundation by Congress was to:
- Support medical research and education at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) and throughout military medicine
- Serve as a link with the private medical sector
Five months later, the Foundation was named in honor of Henry "Scoop" Jackson, who sponsored the original legislation. Senator Jackson had a long-standing commitment to military medicine and health.
At the end of our first year, the Foundation administered two federally sponsored research projects. Today, we manage more than 1000 research grants and projects. The research conducted and our list of sponsors continues to grow in scope and diversity. Over the last five years, the Foundation and USU have ranked in the top 10 percent of all institutions receiving NIH research grants.
Since 1994, HJF has helped establish several large military research and clinical programs with the University and military medical centers. These include the Center for Prostate Disease Research, the Clinical Breast Care Program and the Center for Deployment Health Care. HJF provides a broad range of services for these programs, including laboratory and clinic renovations, project management, information technology services and graphics and communications.
HJF manages more than 60 endowments and 800 education funds that support military medical education and training. We have also expanded our meeting planning capabilities. Each year HJF supports more than 80 education events for the three Armed Services as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Public Health Service. The size of these meetings, which varies in level of complexity, ranges from 30 to 1,200 attendees.
The Foundation has been an active partner in the U.S. Military HIV Research Program since its inception in 1988. This program continues to make significant progress, and has become a leader in the international effort to develop a vaccine for HIV.
In 1998, HJF established its Clinical Trials Office to support military researchers. These studies help improve patient care in the military medical system by providing access to cutting edge technologies and therapies. Research opportunities also help retain talented medical professionals. Today, we support nearly 200 clinical trials each year at military medical facilities.
The Foundation has undergone tremendous growth since its inception in 1983, as more and more military medical personnel turn to us for assistance. Our scope and reputation have helped establish HJF as a reliable resource for collaborative scientific talent and research support services.
The Foundation remains committed to providing solutions to improve the health of our military, as well as quality of life throughout the world.