The Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER) is appealing for immediate funds to support applications in its fellowship, residency and granting programs.1 According to the foundation, although several chiropractic colleges have received federal grants, the fellowships and residencies that focus on building the research infrastructure at these schools receive no such funding.
Additionally, federal funding supports large studies, but not the smaller pilot studies that pave the way for larger research projects. Because of FCER-supported pilot studies, chiropractic schools have been awarded approximately $20 million in federal research grants to conduct full-scale studies.
Most recently, Northwestern Health Sciences University (NHSU) received two $1 million research grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to study the benefits of conservative health care.2 NHSU has received nearly $5.4 million in federal funding for research since 1999.
Current FCER funding includes $26,200 in fellowship programs, $20,000 in residency programs, and more than $500,000 in grants for various research projects:
- scoliosis: $9,680
- multisite asthma trial: $266,627
- motoneuron activity: $68,340
- elderly carpal tunnel: $149,810
- flexion/distraction: $42,499
The FCER urges all DCs to support ongoing chiropractic research by donating the value of one treatment per month, and suggests two easy ways to help this worthy cause: a one-time "gift" or an automatic monthly donation. For more information or to make a donation, contact the FCER by phone (800-622-6309), fax (515-981-9427) or e-mail (
fcer@fcer.org). You can also send a donation by regular mail to:
Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research
P.O. Box 400
Norwalk, IA 50211 For additional information, visit www.fcer.org.
References - Urgent need for funding of fellowships, residencies and pilot studies: some worthy applicants will be turned away. E-mail from FCER President Dr. Vincent P. Lucido, March 11, 2004.
- Northwestern awarded $2 million in research grants. Dynamic Chiropractic, March 11, 2004. www.chiroweb.com/archives/22/06/01.html.
