My OP-Ed Posted in my Local Paper for my Participation in the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) to whom gets research Funding.

The Ennis Daily News

Area woman selected for medical peer review board Staff Report

Area woman Pamela Steele recently participated in the evaluation of research applications submitted to Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) sponsored by the Department of Defense.

 Steele was nominated for participation in the program by a recommendation from The Arthritis Foundation.

As a consumer reviewer, Steele was a full-voting member, along with some prominent scientist, at meetings to help determine how the $278.7 million appropriated by Congress for Fiscal Year 2016 will be spent covering 39 topic areas.

Consumer reviewers are asked to represent the collective view of patients and family members when they prepare comments on the impact of research on issues such as diagnosis, treatment and quality of life.

“I felt pride in giving an opportunity to actually be able get funds
into the hands of worth researchers, who may be able to help and/or cure many different illnesses, syndromes and give better quality of life to both enlisted and those not enlisted,” Steele said. Consumer advocates and scientist have worked together in this unique partnership to evaluate the scientific merit of vision, clinical and rehabilitative research applications.


Colonel Wanda L. Salzer, M.D., director of the congressionally-directed medical research programs, expressed her appreciation for the perspectives of the consumer advocates in the scientific review sessions.

“The Consumer Reviewers on each panel are instrumental in helping the scientist understand the patient’s perspective and provide valuable insight into the potential impact of the proposed project. They bring with them a sense of urgency and remind all of the human element involved in medical research” she said.

Scientists applying propose to conduct innovative research focused on the treatment and rehabilitation of arthritis, one of the topic areas included in the PRMRP, which fills important gaps not addressed by other funding agencies. The PRMRP supports groundbreaking, high-risk, high-gain research while encouraging out-of- box thinking.


p.s. by the way....On my article that was published in the paper a couple of days ago, yesterday I went to see my Cardiologist for my follow up visit, and SHE told me she was proud of me and thrilled it was in the paper! So, I know some people saw it, and when your doctor says that it really makes you proud! :) So, thanks to Dr. Meg Sullivan for being an excellent Cardiologist and for really "taking care" of her patients heart, mind, body and soul. She really "cares"