The Southern California
Institute for Research and Education (SCIRE) is a non-profit research
institution affiliated with the VA Long Beach Healthcare System in Long
Beach, CA.
In 1988 Congressional legislation gave the opportunity for each VA medical
center with a research program the option to establish an affiliated
non-profit organization. The organization would support the Research program
by promoting medical research, education and management of research funds.
The Southern California
Institute for Research and Education changed its name on October 2000. It
was formerly known as the Long Beach Research Foundation, which was
incorporated on January 23, 1989. It was incorporated under Public Law
100-322, May 20, 1988, amended 38 USC, Chapter 73, Sec. 204, Subchapter VI,
paragraph 4161-4168. The law authorizes the establishment of a non-profit
corporation at each VA medical center in which a medical research program
has been receiving research funding.
It works with
sponsors and the VA in conducting research to find new and improved ways to
combat human disease and to help people with disabilities. SCIRE benefits in
many ways from this relationship, but is also subject to certain constraints
imposed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and federal statutes.
The research projects administered by SCIRE are actually VA approved
research studies, conducted by VA investigators at the VA Medical Center.
SCIRE exists solely to provide the VA Medical Center with a funding
mechanism to administer non-VA sponsored medical research.
All research projects must
be approved by the Research and Development Committee, which has overall
responsibility for all research projects. All research educational
activities must be approved by the ACOS for Research & Development, SCIRE.
(VA nonprofit corporations cannot legally administer educational activities
that are not related to research.)
SCIRE has the
responsibility for administering funding from a sponsor in accordance with
the conditions or terms of the contribution, agreement, contract or grant.
