Veterans Research Foundation of Pittsburgh

What Veterans Research Foundation of Pittsburgh does

Veterans Research Foundation of Pittsburgh (VRFP) is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation established in 1991 under Title 38 USC §7361-7366, located on the University Drive campus of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The foundation is authorized to accept and administer private and non-VA federal funds in support of VA research and education, and it operates as the fiscal and administrative backbone for a research program that supports more than 100 researchers conducting over 300 active studies, with an underlying research budget of approximately $35 million at the University Drive campus and four VA Research Centers of Excellence. Its core operational product is the Clinical Trials Center (CTC), opened in 2007, which provides a single portal for regulatory/IRB management, feasibility assessment, ACRP/SOCRA-certified clinical research coordinators, dedicated Investigational Drug Service, and a CLIA/CAP certified laboratory housed within a $27.3 million, 6,100-square-foot research building opened in 2012. The VET-HEART Center, embedded within the CTC, provides specialized cardiac and functional testing services.

VRFP's revenue model is essentially dual: (1) sponsor-funded research administration, where it acts as prime or sub-awardee for government grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements (including NIH-funded investigator-initiated studies and industry-sponsored clinical trials executed under CRADA agreements), recovering indirect costs at 25% on federal awards and 35% on industry-sponsored trials; and (2) tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and organizations processed through PayPal, AmazonSmile, mail, and in-person channels. Customer segments are primarily government (NIH, VA Cooperative Studies Program, Million Veteran Program) and pharmaceutical/biotech industry sponsors, with veteran patients as the subject population served by the research and U.S. veterans as the volunteer study participants. The foundation is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Ali F. Sonel, MD, with Alanna Caffas serving as Executive Director and Laura Thompson, CPA as Director of Finance, and it operates as a member of the National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF).

Reaching beyond its regional footprint, VRFP leverages the VA's national electronic medical record system and the CRADA template mechanism, which allows a single executed agreement with one VA Medical Center to extend to other VA facilities, providing a form of national reach through regional infrastructure. Strategic partnerships with the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, the Million Veteran Program, and the VA Cooperative Studies Program further extend its research capability and academic integration.

Name

Veterans Research Foundation of Pittsburgh

Legal name

Veterans Research Foundation of Pittsburgh

Website

https://vrfpittsburgh.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Veterans Research Foundation of Pittsburgh is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that administers research grants, contracts, and clinical trials in support of VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System investigators, operating a Clinical Trials Center that serves federal agencies, pharmaceutical sponsors, and U.S. military veterans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medical Laboratories (621511), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical Trial Site Operations & Study Coordination (HLAGACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical Trial Monitoring Support (On-site/Remote) (HLAGACAG), Clinical Trial Financial Management & Payments (Site Budgeting) (HLAGACAM), Investigator & Site Training / GCP Support (HLAGACAF), Clinical Research & Trial Central Laboratories (HLAFAMAL)

Keywords

• Clinical trial management
• Veteran health research
• Grants administration
• Nonprofit research foundation
• Clinical research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Sponsor Funded Research: VRFP primarily relies on sponsor funded research including federal (NIH), state, private foundation, and industry funding. For most of its 25+ years of history, the foundation has relied on sponsor-funded research.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and organizations. Donations accepted via PayPal, AmazonSmile, mail, or in-person. VRFP is registered as a charity with PayPal for reduced transaction fees. Tax ID: 25-1666090.
3. Grants Administration: VRFP administers government grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements both as prime and sub-awardee. Indirect cost rates: 25% for federal proposals, 35% for industry-sponsored clinical trials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

VRFP operates the Clinical Trials Center at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, providing a single portal of resources, expertise, and best practices for investigators conducting multi-therapeutic clinical drug and device trials. It administers federal, state, private, and industry research funding as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit authorized under Title 38 USC §7361-7366, and delivers regulatory/IRB management, feasibility assessment, certified clinical research coordination, an investigational drug service, and CLIA/CAP certified laboratory capabilities. The foundation also processes tax-deductible donations supporting veteran-focused medical research.

Product overview

The Veterans Research Foundation of Pittsburgh (VRFP) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that operates primarily as a clinical research support organization rather than a technology product company. Its core offering is the Clinical Trials Center (CTC), which serves as a unified portal providing clinical trial management services including regulatory/IRB support, feasibility assessment, certified clinical research coordinators, and dedicated clinical trial space. Supporting services include the VET-HEART Center for functional cardiac testing, Investigational Drug Service, and CLIA/CAP certified laboratory facilities. VRFP also administers grants and contracts for VA researchers, processes donations through PayPal and AmazonSmile, and facilitates veteran participation in clinical trials across multiple therapeutic areas including cardiology, neurology, rehabilitation, and behavioral health.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Clinical Trials Center (CTC) A single portal of resources, expertise, and best practices for VA Pittsburgh investigators and research staff to facilitate efficient, compliant, and ethical conduct and management of multi-therapeutic clinical drug and device trials. Provides physical location, regulatory support, and operational resources for study execution.
• Regulatory/IRB Management Dedicated regulatory support with an on-site experienced regulatory team that interfaces with the clinical team and local Institutional Review Board (IRB) to ensure pristine and timely submissions with timely turnaround of regulatory documents for clinical trial sponsors and investigators.
• Veteran Health Enhancement Research Testing (VET-HEART) Center Functional testing services for clinical trials including ECG Exercise Stress testing, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing, Six Minute Walk Test, 400 Meter Walk, gait speed, Timed Up and Go Test, Hand Grip Strength, Sit to Stand Test, Short Physical Performance Battery, Muscle Strength and Fatigability, Skeletal Muscle Biopsies, Pulmonary Function Test, and Exercise Training. Staffed by ACLS-credentialed cardiologists, nurses, and exercise physiologists.
• Investigational Drug Service Dedicated pharmacy service staffed by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians that manages investigational drugs within clinical trials, supporting proper storage, dispensing, accountability, and regulatory compliance for investigational products.
• CLIA and CAP Certified Laboratory Fully equipped laboratory certified under CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) and by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) for clinical sample collection, processing, analysis, and storage in support of clinical trials.
• Grants and Contracts Administration Administration of government grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements as both prime and sub-awardee for VAPHS investigators, including budget development with fringe benefit rates (40% full-time, 30% part-time) and indirect cost rates (25% federal, 35% industry-sponsored clinical trials).
• Clinical Research Coordinator Services Experienced and certified Clinical Research Coordinators (ACRP or SOCRA certified) trained on internal SOPs, GCP, and FDA guidelines who handle all aspects of trial management including patient recruitment and local recruiting strategies.
• Feasibility Assessment Services In-depth analysis of all protocols prior to accepting new trials to ensure sufficient patient population to maximize recruitment during proposed study timelines, with continued feasibility monitoring throughout trial conduct.
• Clinical Trial Participation for Veterans Program enabling U.S. military veterans to participate in clinical research across intervention-based trials (new drugs, surgical procedures, behavioral therapies), observational and cohort studies, device and prosthetics trials, and mental health and behavioral research.
• Donation Processing Acceptance of tax-deductible donations via PayPal (online), AmazonSmile, mail, or in-person to support veteran-focused medical research. VRFP operates as a nonprofit designated tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) with tax ID 25-1666090.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 active studies across multiple therapeutic areas
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Million Veteran Program (MVP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011VRFP collaborates with the MVP initiative to support local and national genetic studies. MVP is among the world's largest genomic databases with over 950,000 participating veterans, aiming to understand roles of genes, lifestyle, and exposures in illnesses.
• VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner in advancing medical research and quality of care for veterans. VRFP is an independent nonprofit corporation devoted to partnering with Veterans and VAPHS in the name of enhancing clinical care through research and education. The foundation collaborates with VAPHS to support the $35 million research program with 100+ researchers conducting 300+ studies.
• University of PittsburghcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner collaborating on research initiatives. VRFP supports investigators who have access to University of Pittsburgh's research infrastructure. Due to the close relationship, VRFP does not engage in consulting agreements with Pitt employees but may enter into Joint Personnel agreements.
• Carnegie Mellon UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner collaborating with VRFP and VAPHS on research programs. Mentioned as part of the research community enabling groundbreaking studies across diverse medical fields.
• National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerVRFP is a member of NAVREF, which serves as a resource for information about VA nonprofit corporations. The website provides guidance on VA nonprofit corporation policies and best practices.
• VA Medical Centers (National Network)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with VRFP allows sponsors access to the country's largest integrated health care system. Once a CRADA is executed with one VA Medical Center, sponsors may use that template to work with any other VA Medical Center.
• VA Cooperative Studies ProgramsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe VA Cooperative Studies Program has conducted over 100 multisite clinical trials including large-scale trials of blood pressure medications and prostate cancer screening, with significant veteran participation.
• Pharmaceutical and Biotech CompaniessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry sponsors conducting clinical trials through CRADA agreements. Sponsors include pharmaceutical companies collaborating on clinical trials, with studies chosen based on relevance to the overall mission of improving veteran health.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine: The largest U.S. nonprofit dedicated to advancing military medicine, HJF manages research administration, clinical trials, and education programs across military and federal medical settings. Closely mirrors VRFP's nonprofit, military-adjacent research support model but at significantly larger national scale.
• Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research (PAVIR): A nonprofit research institute affiliated with the VA Palo Alto Health Care System that administers research funding and supports clinical investigations for veterans. Highly comparable as a peer VA-affiliated research foundation on the West Coast.
• Veterans Research & Education Foundation (various VA sites): Other site-specific VA Research & Education Foundations (e.g., Memphis, Atlanta, Boston) operate under the same Title 38 §7361-7366 authorization, administering grants and clinical research at their respective VA Medical Centers. NAVREF serves as their industry association.
• Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center (MAVERIC): A VA Cooperative Studies Program center within the VA Boston Healthcare System conducting large-scale epidemiologic and clinical research in veterans. Comparable as a VA-embedded clinical research entity with veteran-focused longitudinal data assets similar to MVP.
• Veterans Medical Research Foundation of San Diego: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit research corporation supporting the VA San Diego Healthcare System, administering grants, contracts, and clinical trial operations. Operates under the same Title 38 framework as VRFP and serves an analogous function at a different VA site.

Broad incumbents

• Labcorp Drug Development (formerly Covance): A large commercial CRO with central laboratory services that overlap VRFP's CLIA/CAP lab capability, plus global site management. Competes for sponsor-funded multi-therapeutic trial business.
• IQVIA: The world's largest CRO/SMO, offering end-to-end clinical trial management across therapeutic areas. Represents the scaled commercial competitor that VRFP's sponsor-facing Clinical Trials Center is measured against in site-selection decisions.

Others

• National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF): The industry association for VA-affiliated nonprofit research and education corporations like VRFP. Provides policy guidance, best-practice sharing, and a collective voice on Title 38 issues affecting the entire VRFP peer set.

Regional players

• University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI): University of Pittsburgh's CTSI provides clinical and translational research infrastructure, regulatory support, and training across the Pittsburgh academic medical ecosystem. A close institutional partner of VRFP with overlapping investigator base and competing for similar sponsor-funded research.
• UPMC Research Institute: UPMC's research enterprise conducts large-scale clinical and translational research across Pittsburgh, with overlapping investigator relationships via the University of Pittsburgh partnership. Comparable as a regional nonprofit-affiliated clinical research operator sharing the same patient catchment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/veterans-research-foundation-of-pittsburgh

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Veterans Research Foundation of Pittsburgh