Fund For Research & Progress in Urology

The Brady Urological Institute has always been a center for the discovery of new pathways for patient care. Two and a half floors of the historic Marburg building are dedicated to research on prostate cancer. This space houses the laboratories of six full-time Ph.D. faculty members and 60 support staff. Support for this mission has been provided by grants from the National Institutes of Health, fund-raising, and income from patient care. However I am worried about the changes in health care financing that could have a profound impact on our ability to maintain this mission of discovery.

Recognizing that reductions in Medicare reimbursement and income through managed care contracts will reduce this major source of funding, a campaign to raise endowment was established by a group of my patients who collectively are termed "The Friends of Patrick Walsh." A goal was set to raise $5 million over 5 years to supplement the endowment of The Brady Urological Institute. Without this support, the rapid progress of research in the field of prostate cancer will falter.

Recognizing that prostate cancer kills one man in the United States every 15 minutes, we must do something soon. To reduce deaths from prostate cancer, four approaches are necessary: prevention, early detection, effective and acceptable treatment of localized disease, and new approaches to advanced disease. In our laboratories and in our clinic we are aggressively exploring all of these avenues.

As Director of The Brady Urological Institute, I feel that our resources must be available to maintain and hasten the progress of this research and for this reason I am asking all of my patients to join the Friends of Patrick Walsh. Together we can save lives. Your gift will help us reach that end. Most patients who have joined have done so by making a fiveyear pledge of support. A tax-deductible check should be made out to the "Johns Hopkins University" with a notation that the gift is for the "Fund for Research and Progress in Urology." Contributions and pledges should be sent in care of The Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine, Room 2201, 1620 McElderry Street, Baltimore, MD 21205. Information on donating appreciated securities or creating bequests to support this work can be obtained by calling 410-955-3644.