The Buffalo Institute for Medical Research Inc., (BIMR) is a New York State not-for-profit research corporation established to facilitate and carry on approved medical research at VA Western New York Healthcare System (VA WNYHS).Legislation enacted by Congress authorized formation of not-for-profit research corporations at Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.

BIMR is affiliated with, but legally distinct from the VA WNYHS. (BIMR is not “VA.”) BIMR serves as a “Flexible Funding Mechanism” for seeking, receiving and administering non-VA funding.

The VA WNYHS Research and Development Committee and all appropriate Subcommittees must approve a Principal investigator’s project. Funds received for a specific project can be accepted by BIMR only if the responsible Principal Investigator holds a valid appointment at the VA WNYHS.

Funding sources for Principal Investigators may include, but are not limited to, federal or private non-profit agencies, charitable foundations, professional societies, commercial organizations such as pharmaceutical companies, and personal contributions from individuals or groups.