Research at Shriners Hospitals for Children

Biomedical Research Highlights (Blue Book)
(a publication of the Corporate Division of Medical Research)

At Shriners Hospitals for Children, medical research is having a strong, positive impact on the care and cure of children with orthopaedic problems, burn and spinal cord injuries. What began as a token $12,000 allocation in the 1960s has grown into a multimillion dollar international research program for the Shriners Hospital system.

In 2008, Shriners Hospitals will spend over $44 million on research in the pediatric orthopaedic, burn and spinal cord injury fields. The research budget includes:

• 145 research projects
• 37 research fellowships
• 19 shared research facilities

The Research Advisory Board, a group of non-Shriners scientists, annually reviews all research projects undertaken by the hospitals for scientific merit and clinical usefulness. Their recommendations are presented to the Research Committee and to the Boards of Directors and Trustees of Shriners Hospitals for allocation of financial support.

As with any research, solutions to today's medical problems are not discovered in a day, a week or even a year. This important work takes time. Shriners Hospitals are committed to the sustained investment in clinically useful research so that fundamental knowledge can be acquired, improving the quality of life for children with orthopaedic problems, burn and spinal cord injuries.