OUR MISSION IS TO LEAD THE NATION IN ADVANCING VETERAN’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THROUGH RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.
Our Beginning
The Philadelphia Research and Education Foundation, PREF, is a VA affiliated nonprofit corporation. VA affiliated nonprofits are unique public/private partnerships authorized through a 1988 congressional order.
PREF, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit corporation, was established November 16, 2000 and has managed over 165 research and education projects for the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center (CMCVAMC). PREF is also a member of NAVREF, the National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations.
PREF is one of over 80 nonprofit corporations that have dramatically broadened VA's ability to benefit from private and non-VA public support for research conducted at VA medical centers.
Our VA Medical Center Has Over 100 Principal Investigators!
PREF has worked with 29 of those investigators and the number is growing!
PREF is small yet mighty! We have managed over 25 education projects and 140 research studies to include Department of Defense (DoD) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. Investigators enjoy working with PREF because of the low overhead, flexibility and quick response time.
To learn more about partnering with PREF to conduct VA research or participate in a study, contact Gwendolyn Cham, gcham@prefresearch.org, 215-823-5800 ext 3769.
THERE ARE BENEFITS TO WORKING WITH PREF. WE LIKE TO CALL THEM PREF PERKS!
Purchasing: Investigators enjoy working with PREF because of the low overhead, flexibility and quick response time-- especially when it comes to purchasing.
Purchases are often made within 2 days of request.
Payments are usually made within 5 days of receipt.
Reimbursement checks for $1,000 or less can be issued the same day!
Subject payments are mailed within 5 days of receipt.
Low Overhead: Administrative overhead begins at 10% for education grants and 25% for industry and federal awards. Lower overhead allows investigators to devote more funds to research.
Hiring Made Easy: PREF meets your staffing needs through Joint Personnel Agreements (JPA) with the University of Pennsylvania, Inter Personnel Agreements (IPAs) with the VA or direct hiring.
Emergency Personnel: Need help with the IRB submission? Need a Research Coordinator to fill in until you can hire a new one? Our Research Coordinator is at your service.
One Stop Shopping: We take the guesswork out of where to go. From application to post-award, your support will come from the same office.
Vera Dollars: PREF managed studies are weighted at 100% for VERA allocation! Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation, or VERA, serves as the basis for allocating the congressionally appropriated medical care budget of the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to its regional networks. It is indirect funding transferred to the Medical Center as part of the Medical Care Appropriation.
