As an organization founded in and dedicated to Alaska, it is rare that Rasmuson Foundation makes grants to organizations Outside. One exception is the support to Virginia Mason Medical (VM) Center and its efforts to include Alaskans in its system of research and trials of new treatments for autoimmune diseases. While VM is located in Seattle, the Rasmuson family and Foundation’s goal is to make sure Alaskans benefit from their expertise.

Elmer and Mary Louise Rasmuson began their relationship with the VM in the 1970s, and Mary Louise served on the Board of Governors for a number of years. The Rasmuson family established two research funds, the Elmer and Mary Louise Rasmuson Endowed Fellowship and the Rapid Research Fund in Arthritis and Rheumatic Disease Research. This combination of funds supports both emerging and ongoing autoimmune disease research in the field of rheumatology, enabling Benaroya Research Institute (BRI) at Virginia Mason Medical Center to stay at the forefront of discovering the causes and cures for debilitating diseases of the joints and muscles.

In 1996, the Rasmusons funded VM’s Telemedicine Outreach Program connecting expert clinicians in rural Alaska to VM to better serve Alaska-based patients.

Most recently, Rasmuson Foundation provided BRI with $1 million to bring Alaskans education about and access to clinical trials for those suffering with immune system and genetic diseases. Because BRI is the only research institute in the Pacific Northwest focused on inflammatory diseases immune to medications, it serves as the regional, and sometimes national, coordinating center for clinical trials of this nature. There are currently 88 studies open and enrolling Alaskans, and up to 60 new studies will be launched in 2009. To date, 12 Alaskans have been enrolled in clinical studies at BRI in the areas of diabetes, oncology and neurology.

On May 9, The Virginia Mason Foundation honored the Rasmuson family at the 18th Annual Dreambuilders’ Ball to benefit autoimmune disease research at BRI. Watch the VM tribute to Elmer and Mary Louise Rasmuson below:

But the real honor is that Alaskans get the benefit of BRI’s advancements in developing new treatments for those who suffer. If you are interested in learning more, ask your physician about clinical trial opportunities with BRI.

Tags: autoimmune diseases, Benaroya Research Institute, Elmer and Mary Louise Rasmuson, rheumatology, Virginia Mason Medical Center

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