The rarity of vasculitis has led to this family of illnesses being classified as “orphan” diseases, for which very limited funding has been available from the federal government. Several philanthropies have been generous in helping to support vasculitis research at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. These include the Harold C. Schott Foundation, the George Storer Foundation, the Grant Family Foundation, the Edward Lozick Foundation and former Congressman and Mrs. Marvin Esch. Collaborations with commercial companies have also been appreciated, particularly in regard to studies of diagnostic markers which was funded by Specialty Laboratories, Inc. A study of Etanercept (Enbrel) therapy in Wegener’s granulomatosis is being coordinated by Dr. John Stone at John’s Hopkin’s University and is in part funded by Immunex.
In spite of what has been recognized as considerable success, the future of vasculitis research at the Cleveland Clinic is not yet secure. During the modern era of managed care, the ability of medical centers to support research and other non-income generating activities has diminished in parallel with reductions in payment for services. There is continuous erosion of investigators’ time to organize and manage projects. This is not a unique problem to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation or even to our national medical community. This is a global problem.
To ensure progress through research, it is necessary for centers that are devoted to the care of such patients to identify means by which such activities can be sustained. This will have to be accomplished through federal and foundation grants, as well as philanthropy. Investigators who are committed to vasculitis research need most of all “protected” time to perform studies and generate grant applications that will be attractive to the federal government. Competing for grants is indeed a formidable task, when one considers the priorities that have been established for research funding of common disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis, cancer and AIDS.
There is a great deal that must be learned about different forms of vasculitis (blood vessel inflammation) before we can identify the cause of each of these diseases and provide curative therapies. This can only be accomplished by the kind of multidisciplinary research effort that is ongoing in our Center and the International Network for the Study of the Systemic Vasculitides (ISSYS). Government funding for such an enterprise has been modest over the years. Consequently, outstanding investigators have been reluctant to join the battle against vasculitis. An endowed center, supported in part by philanthropy, the Cleveland Clinic and external sources of funding, could provide scientists with the security that is necessary to know that their work will be supported, even at times when government funding is severely restricted. It is our goal to procure the funds to make this dream a reality.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible charitable contribution in support of the Center for Vasculitis Care and Research, please contact the Cleveland Clinic Department of Institutional Advancement at (216) 444-1245 or (800) 223-2273, extension 41245. Please indicate whether your donation is a gift in memory or in honor of an individual.
