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WSER Medical Research Program
 

Research Project
Program Background

A need to formalize research activities at the Western States Endurance Run was recognized in 2005. In early 2006, the development of a Research Committee was approved by the Western States Board with the charge of,

  1. assuring proper human studies requirements were being met,
  2. expanding funding opportunities,
  3. promoting greater quality and publishable research from the event, and
  4. proposing specific lines of research.

The Committee was developed, and research proposal submission processes and funding opportunities were made available beginning with the 2007 Western States Endurance Run. Through this initiative, the Western States Endurance Run supports basic, applied, clinical and behavioral research associated with the event. Research directly applicable to ultramarathon running, as well as research using the event as a model for other conditions, will be considered.


Research Committee Members

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Marty Hoffman, MD, FACSM
Chief of PM&R, VA Northern California Health Care System
Professor of Clinical PM&R, University of California - Davis
martin.hoffmanva.gov

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Tamara Hew-Butler, DPM, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Kinesiology
Arizona State University
tamara.hewoverhydration.org

Rob Shave, PhD
Reader in Exercise Physiology
Centre for Sports Medicine and Human Performance
Brunel University
Rob.Shavebrunel.ac.uk

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Guillaume Millet, PhD
Professor, University Saint-Etienne, France
guillaume.milletuniv-st-etienne.fr

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Charles Savage
WSER Board Member

Research Project
Research Proposal Application Process

All research performed in association with the Western States Endurance Run, whether funded by the organization or not, must be approved by the Research Committee. Researchers contemplating submissions are encouraged to discuss with Dr. Marty Hoffman at martin.hoffmanva.gov.

Proposals should include the following sections:

  1. Cover Page: Include the title of the project, principal investigator's name and contact information;
  2. Lay Abstract of the Project (1 page): Include the headings Introduction, Purpose, and Methods;
  3. Biographical Sketches of the Research Team (maximum 3 pages each): Include information regarding Education, Professional Experience, Memberships and Honors, Research Support, and Publications;
  4. Budget (if requesting funds from Western States Endurance Run): Please note that funding is limited to the range of a few thousand dollars. Funding for major equipment items and salary support will not be considered. In general, it is recommended that gift certificates to the Western States store be used for subject reimbursement;
  5. Narrative of Proposal (maximum 5 pages): Include the headings Specific Aims, Background and Significance, Preliminary Data (if available), Experimental Design and Methodology, Anticipated Problems, and Reference Citations.

The annual deadline for receipt of proposals is February 15. All proposals should be submitted electronically to Dr. Marty Hoffman at martin.hoffmanva.gov.

Decisions regarding approval of proposed research will be based upon the importance of the work, feasibility of the work, likelihood that the work will result in a scientific publication, and evidence of an appropriate risk to benefit ratio and that the work will result in limited interference with the runners and the event.

Safeguarding the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in research performed at the Western States Endurance Run is the responsibility of the institution with which the researcher is affiliated. Research will not be allowed until a certificate is received assuring the work has been approved by an institutional review board (IRB). If the proposed work is approved to be performed at the Western States Endurance Run, the following information will be required prior to initiation of the project:

  1. Certification of IRB approval;
  2. Copy of IRB approved human subjects consent form;
  3. Copy of IRB approved recruitment information.

Want to Help Support our Research?

Good research doesn't come cheap! But we get a lot out of each dollar we put towards research, as you can see from the list of research publications. If you want to help with our advancement of new knowledge related to ultramarathon running, please consider a tax-deductible donation. You can contact Dr. Marty Hoffman to make your donation and to discuss how your contribution will be used.