 Patient and Veterans advocates, industry leaders, and non-profits call on Congress to support “100 days faster” clinical trial startup at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs May 16, 2019 - PRESS RELEASE Contact: Roger Murry, Executive Director, Coalition to Heal Invisible Wounds WASHINGTON, D.C. – A coalition of organizations that support research at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) this week called on Congress to support reforms at the VA to become “100 days faster” in clinical trial startup to ensure enhanced and timely access for our nations Veterans. “Clinical trial startup at VA sites averages more than 100 days longer than at non-VA sites,” according to the letter sent to Congress. “For Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, hearing loss, alcohol and other substance disorders, cancer, and other conditions for which a clinical trial may be the next or only treatment option, these delays can restrict their access to these opportunities.” The Coalition to Heal Invisible Wounds and National Association of Veterans’ Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF) organized the letter. Joining the letter were organizations that serve Veterans, including the Navy SEAL Foundation, Military Veteran Project, and NAMI Montana. Patient support groups signing included the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Veterans Against Alzheimer’s, and the LUNGevity Foundation, the nation's leading lung cancer-focused nonprofit. Representatives of the research community supporting the letter included PPD, Cohen Veterans Bioscience, Advantagene, and the Association of Clinical Research Organizations. The letter continued: “As a first step towards ‘100 days faster,’ which we suggest the VA adopt as a reform mantra, we ask that the VA take all steps necessary to permit the use of commercial IRB [institutional review boards] accredited by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP). This policy revision would allow for a more predictable and timely IRB process.” The letter seeks to engage congressional support for an ongoing effort co-led by the VA Office of Research and Development and NAVREF to improve access of Veterans to clinical trials. By setting an objective, measurable goal of 100 days faster, the VA can drive reforms throughout the clinical trial process, whether within the purview of ORD or not. Targeted reforms, beginning with allowing trial sponsors to use commercial institutional review boards, can bring VA’s practices in line with those of the leading clinical research institutions. “Clinicians need better tools to treat and diagnose TBI and PTSD” said Roger Murry, Executive Director, Coalition to Heal Invisible Wounds, an advocacy coalition based in Washington, DC. “Smarter clinical trial startup procedures will broaden and speed up the development of new tools. With targeted support from Congress, and the concrete goal of 100 days faster, we believe VA can close the gap and change how the private sector views the VA as a potential clinical trials partner.” “NAVREF appreciates ORD’s strong support of the ACT for Veterans initiative to enhance access to clinical trials for Veterans at VA medical centers, said Rick Starrs, the Chief Executive Officer for NAVREF. We want to see the entire Veterans Health Administration get behind the initiative to achieve the goal of 100 days faster for clinical trial start-up. Veterans deserve the opportunity to participate in these studies.” More info can be found at healinvisiblewounds.org *** 
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 Joshua Russell Akers, beloved of his wife Victoria Mizell Akers, committed suicide on March 8, 2019. A 2006 graduate of Plano Senior High and Wild Cat Football team, Joshua proudly served our country as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps for 5 years.
Josh was pursuing his degree in Petroleum Engineering at UNT where he was a member of The Association of Energy Engineers, Kappa Alpha, and The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Outside of school, Joshua enjoyed woodworking, gaming, his puppies, and spending time with friends and family. Joshua was the light of our lives. His laughter was contagious and he was a good and loving husband, son, brother, cousin, and friend. He was a leader, and powerful influence on all who knew him. He inflicted his dad jokes and humor on all who would listen, and was always ready with random trivia, a word of advice or just a listening ear. Joshua is survived by his loving wife, Victoria Mizell Akers, his Mother Sara Egelston Akers and Father Jeran Akers and wife Victoria Harres, brother, Ty Akers, and sister, Jan Michael Wells. Josh is also survived by his aunts and uncles Rebecca Egelston Caso and Chris Caso and John and Gena Egelston and grandmother Marcia Stathos Egelston. Josh will be missed by his cousins Christopher and Catherine Caso, and James Russell and Andrew Egelston. The services were on Saturday, March 16 at 2 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 3101 Coit Road, Plano, Texas.  FFor Immediate Release
Military Veteran Project Partners with Hestons Gladiator upcoming event OrganizedChaosXVI for Military Suicide Awareness Military Veteran Project and Hestons Gladiator Academy are partnering to combat military suicide by honoring men and women who have lost their battle to suicide on American soil this Saturday, May 18, 2019 7pm at Historic Harley Davidson. TOPEKA, Kansas – Heston's Gladiator Academy to combat military suicide by honoring men and women who have lost their battle to suicide on American soil this Saturday, May 18, 2019 7:00pm at Historic Harley Davidson. Organized Chaos XVI will be dedicated to military men and women who have lost their battles on American soil to suicide by displaying boots with photos and biographies for community outreach. MVP Ambassador Colton Hill will be leading the charge to combat Military Suicide by fighting in honor of a veteran who succumbed to suicide. The Military Veteran Project is a 501c3 charity dedicated to military suicide prevention by providing research and treatments not provided by the VA or Department of Defense. Gladiator Fighting Association https://www.cagetix.com |
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The Military Veteran Project is a non-profit 501 (c)3 organization, IRS identification number 46-0877378. Donations made to the Military Veteran Project are tax deductible in the U.S. ·