For the fourth year in a row, ICN President Jill Osborne has served as a panelist for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) administered by the US Army. Interstitial Cystitis is one of more than two dozen medical conditions that are considered critical to combat readiness. In Fiscal Year 2014, the US Government set aside $200 million dollars to fund research studies.

As the patient representative (aka consumer reviewer) on the IC research panel, her job is to assess proposed studies for their impact and relevance to the patient community. She said “I’m looking for studies that can provide both a short and long term benefit for patients who are struggling today with IC. We could fund studies that might yield a new treatment in 20 years but that’s just not good enough. We need timely studies that can produce new treatments and/or knowledge about IC that will improve patient care immediately.”

Today, Jill received a lovely letter from the program that we’d love to share.

The Department of the Army
Headquarters, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
Fort Detrick, Maryland, 21702-5000

Dear Ms. Osborne:
On behalf of the Department of Defense, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), I would like to express our sincere gratitude for your exemplary efforts as a consumer reviewer for applications submitted for the fiscal year 2014 Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). The continued success of this highly visible and competitive program is dependent on maintaining the highest standards of excellence in scientific peer review. We recognize that you have responded generously with your time and valuable perspective to fulfill the demanding requirements of this peer review process. Because of your hard work and dedication, the PRMRP draws that much closer to fulfilling its mission.

Please know you have the thanks and appreciation from researchers, fellow consumers, and the entire CDMRP community….

Sincerely,

Wanda L. Salzer, M.D.
Colonel, U.S. Air Force, Medical Corps
Director

The ICN is also proud of our work with active duty and retired veterans of the Armed Services. If you are in the Armed services (Officer or Enlisted), struggling with IC, chronic prostatitis and/or pelvic pain, please don’t hesitate to contact us! You’re very near and dear to our hearts.