Activities

IIMS - Activities

The activities of the International Institute of Medicine and Science, Inc. devolve along the following main lines:

RESEARCH:

-       Preparation and conduct of research activities initiated by the Institute (its Directors, Officers, Staff, National and International Correspondents) that are consistent with the Institute's Strategic Plan. 

-       Conduct of research activities initiated by Academia (U.S., international), Governments (Federal, State, local), Industry, and private Foundations that are congruent with the Institute's Strategic Plan. This research can address either complete programs, aspects only, or phases of programs depending on existing expertise at the Institute.

-       Consultations on research methodology or conduct of research in the medical specialties and in scientific and technological fields of interest to the Institute;

-       Consultations on the ethical conduct of clinical trials, research with animal subjects, and related scientific integrity.

-       Consultations on the regulatory requirements (U.S., international) governing the conduct of research.

EDUCATION:

-       Lectures, seminars, and workshops on research methodology and conduct in the medical specialties or scientific disciplines covered by the Institute's Strategic Plan.

-       Workshops on the regulatory requirements attending the initiation and conduct of clinical trials, research on animals, and scientific integrity.

-       Workshops on clinical drug development focusing on the drug discovery process, trial phases, respective responsibilities of the investigators and the Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), and interactions between investigators, Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), sponsors, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or its international analogues.

-       Specialized courses, seminars and workshops on aspects of the medical specialties or/and scientific and technological disciplines.

SERVICE:

-       Preparation, submission and presentation of specialized reports on medical or/and scientific and technological issues to health commissions of governing bodies (local, State, Federal).

-       Testimonies to governmental authorities (local, State, Federal) on issues of public interest.

-       Lectures, seminars and workshops on subjects of interest to the local community and the public at large.

-       Humanitarian medical service to local, regional, national, and international communities.

In addition, the Institute is also interested in:

COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH & EDUCATION (CBRE):

Community-based research is research conducted by, with, or for communities (for example, with civic, grassroots, or worker groups throughout civil society). It differs from the bulk of the research and development (R&D) conducted in the U.S., most of which (at a total cost of more than US $200 billion/year - year of reference 2008) is performed on behalf of business, the military, and the Federal government, or in pursuit of the scientific and academic communities' intellectual interests.

There is a need for a nation-wide community research system that would make empowerment through mutual-learning universally accessible.

Our findings are:

-       CBRE process differs fundamentally from mainstream research in that it is coupled tightly with community groups that are eager to learn the results and use them in practical efforts to achieve constructive civil change;

-       CBRE is not only usable, it is also employed for beneficial purposes;

-       CBRE often produces unanticipated and far-reaching ancillary results, including the production of new social capital, as well as heightened social efficacy;

There is an unmet demand for CBRE (in the U.S.A, currently more than in the Netherlands!);

Compared to conventional research, CBRE is cost effective;

Most U.S. community research centers find their work chronically constrained or jeopardized by an inadequate funding base (currently ~ US $20 million). 

VOLUNTEER MEDICAL WORK IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: 

On March 14, 2009, Director/Trustee Dr. Gerard Sabbah, DDS, and his team held the first organizational meeting of their Foundation "Drive in Afrika" in Nice, France (see page "Press releases" of this website. Subsequent events will be held annually.

During Summer 2009, Director/Trustee Dr. Peter M. Scheer, MS, DDS and his team of "Flying Samaritans" sojourned in Costa Rica and Kazakhstan to provide free oral and maxilllo-facial surgery, including correction of cleft lips and palates, and helping patients with other disformities. Subsequent missions will take place annually.

CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION:

Every Spring, Director/Trustee Geoff Bond, MS, CEng, MICE, MISE, MIL, MITI tours Southern California to provide continuing medical education, including in-service training for medical doctors. Some of the facilities that hosted Mr. Bond include: Antelope Valley Hospital, Lancaster, CA; Desert Regional Medical Center, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Palm Springs, CA; Eisenhower Hospital and Medical Center, Rancho Mirage, CA; Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center, Tarzana, CA; Los Alamitos Medical Center, Los Alamitos, CA; Methodist Hospital, Arcadia, CA; Placentia-Linda Hospital, Los Angeles, CA; Providence St Joseph's Medical Center, Burbank, CA; and Ventura County Medical Center, Ventura, CA.

Every spring, Director/Trustee Gerard Sabbah, DDS organizes a thematic conference on dental science and its economic and ethical impacts. Venue is the Carlton Hotel, Cannes, France.

EXPERTS & KEY OPINION LEADERS:

Drawing from its membership (Directors/Trustees, Officers, Correspondents), the Insitute maintains a roster of Experts and Key Opinion Leaders in their respective fields of competency and expertise. These physicians and scientists can provide independent expert opinions (first, second, or multi-numerary) or furnish services (including Grant & Contract work, whether limited to project elements or complete projects; Position Statements; White Papers, etc.)

The above services are made available to individuals, institutions or organizations whether in the private or public sectors. They can be requested through this Institute. 

IIMS - Strategic Plan

The International Institute of Medicine and Science, Inc. is directly and continuously active in medical science research, education, and service (to the communities served, to humanity) in association with several hospitals and medical centers within and outside California, and within and outside the U.S.A.        

The following abridged Strategic Plan is a living document that evolves as the Institute further matures and demonstrates impact on the communities it serves (local, regional, national, and international).        

The Institute's VISION is to contribute to the betterment of  life by creating and fostering an intellectual environment that will catalyze and stimulate the cross-fertilization of medicine and science interpreted in their broadest sense.          

Its MISSION is to advance the state-of-the-art in medicine and science by identifying their commonalities and differences, extending the principles and methodologies of either field to the other, and bridging the gaps separating them.        

Its GOALS and corresponding OBJECTIVES are: 

1.     To identify and exploit areas, methods and techniques of medicine that may be, but have not been, fully applied in science:

In each of the medical specialties or sub-specialties:

a)     Identify those natural or pathological      phenomena that  could give rise to a new scientific understanding or concept;

                       

b)    Develop the new scientific understanding or concept into an established on; and

                       

c)     Derive a multiplicity of new technological concepts implementing the new scientific understanding or concept.

2.     To identify and exploit areas, methods and techniques of science that may be, but have not been fully, applied in medicine: In each of the scientific disciplines:

a)     Identify those situations or phenomena that could give rise to a new medical understanding or  concept;

                       

b)    Develop the new medical understanding or concept into an established one; and

                       

c)     Derive a multiplicity of new medical practices implementing the new medical understanding or concept

3.     To pursue, develop, and implement the identified areas of common applicability:

                       

a)     Protect the intellectual  property acquired;

                       

b)    Transfer the newly developed technologies to suitable commercial and industrial organizations for appropriate clinical and scientific applications;

                       

c)     Prepare and publish medical and scientific reports and publications;

                       

d)    Present new findings and discoveries at professional meetings and symposia (regional, national, international);

                       

e)     Prepare and submit novel education and research programs based on the above intellectual property, findings, discoveries, and publications; and

                       

f)     Seek financial support from all potential sources (private, governmental).

4.     To teach and disseminate  corresponding educational material to the public through publications, lectures, or otherwise:

                       

a)     Prepare and present public lectures at medical and scientific professional meetings, including presentations, workshops, and seminars at think tanks and organizations of higher learning;

                       

b)    Prepare and present lectures to the lay public and the community at large on medical and scientific findings of the Institute;

                       

c)     Prepare for publication and publish original and review articles in the appropriate professional journals;

                       

d)    Publish internal technical reports;

                       

e)     Publish other educational materials, pamphlets, and brochures;

                       

f)     Publish other promotional and advertising materials; and

                       

g)    Prepare and publish Public Service Announcements (PSAs) informing the public of important new findings and discoveries by Institute personnel and correspondents.

5.     To propose  new or modified approaches in the applications of medicine and science: 

                       

a)     Prepare "white papers" suggested by the new or modified approaches or discoveries for applications in medicine and science;

                       

b)    Submit and present the white papers to the governing bodies of local, regional, federal, and international professional medical and scientific societies (Note: At no time has, does or will the Institute attempt to interfere, alter, modify or promote policies of such governing bodies); and

                       

c)     Promote the enactment of these new or modified medical and scientific approaches.

6.     To apply the above advances to humanitarian service projects of benefit to local, regional, national, and international communities:

                       

a)     Design  a functional algorithm for an international humanitarian structure with objective to contribute in a dignified and efficient manner to the solution of health problems of medically under-served countries;

                       

b)    Develop solutions adapted to local existing and emergent potentials; and

                       

c)     Contribute  to the coordination and optimization of the medico-scientific logistical support at low cost so as to enable the right of access to health of medically under-served populations.

To offer the competence, expertise and services of Institute personnel and Correspondents (national and international) as Experts and Key Opinion Leaders in their respective fields