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Overview

About the Scoliosis Research Society

The purpose of the Scoliosis Research Society is to foster the optimal care of all patients with spinal deformities.

Founded in 1966, the Scoliosis Research Society is an organization of medical professionals and researchers dedicated to improving care for patients with spinal deformities. Over the years it has grown from a group of 35 orthopaedic surgeons who met to discuss scoliosis treatment to an international organization of health care professionals.

The SRS is a 501(c)3, non-profit corporation, which files a form 990 report each year with the Internal Revenue Service. Our federal tax ID number is 23-7181863. Financial summaries and copies of form 990 reports for SRS are available on the Guide Star Web site, at www.guidestar.org. Additional information on scoliosis and the SRS is available through our Web site, www.srs.org.

Donations:

If you are considering a donation to the SRS research fund, the most important fact might be that all donations are used entirely for research seeking improved treatments, the causes, and possible prevention of spinal deformities. No portion of any contribution is used for any other purpose. The Scoliosis Research Society is a 501(c)3 organization operated exclusively for educational and scientific purposes. Contributions to the SRS Research Fund are deductible by donors in computing their taxable income in the manner and to the extent provided by IRS codes. Operating funds for the SRS come from membership dues, our annual meeting and courses, publication sales and other sources.

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SRS Research Initiatives

Relying on profits from meetings and donations from members and medical companies each year, the SRS began limited research funding in 1980. In the late 1980's, SRS leaders decided to establish a Research Endowment fund in order to guarantee the availability of funds for scoliosis research. Mostly through donations from SRS members, a goal of $1.2 million was reached in 1992. Income from this fund has been used each year to fund projects selected through a peer-reviewed grant application process. Grant recipients are required to provide regular financial reports and to report on the results of their research at an SRS meeting.

Since 1980, the SRS has provided a total of $1,720,460 to fund 53 spinal deformity research projects. These have included studies on improved spinal cord monitoring during surgery, brace treatment effectiveness, methods to improve fusion rates, and three large studies looking for the cause of idiopathic scoliosis. We are pleased to have provided the "seed money" that recently allowed one of our members to obtain a $1 million dollar grant from the National Institute of Health based on her preliminary work on genetics related to scoliosis.

With a great deal of work still to be done and competition for shrinking research dollars growing, the SRS has recently embarked on a new campaign to increase the SRS Endowment Fund in order to fund more and larger studies. A goal of "Ten by Ten", or $10 million by 2010, was announced in November. A few of the many questions still to be answered include:

Predicting curve progression in order to begin aggressive treatment earlier when it is needed and avoid treatment when it isn't
Identifying the cause(s) as a first step to identifying methods to stop curves before they start.
Improving care and quality of life for older patients who have had scoliosis surgery and are now dealing with degenerative spine issues.

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