Overview

The Department of Defense Medical Research Office links Mayo Clinic researchers to the medical research needs of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and its service branches. The relationship harnesses Mayo Clinic's wide-ranging expertise and the dynamic application of health-related innovation and technology.

The Medical Research Office helps advance specialized research by securing new and ongoing funding, fostering relationships, and identifying new defense medical research opportunities.

Working in concert with the Military Medicine Program at Mayo Clinic, the Medical Research Office promotes the multidisciplinary strength of Mayo Clinic's faculty and its collaborative history with the Department of Defense.

Strategically, the Department of Defense Medical Research Office oversees Mayo Clinic's diverse portfolio of DOD-funded research. It serves as a liaison for Mayo Clinic researchers to present their interests and introduce innovative ideas for special projects across the spectrum of DOD medical research objectives.

Dozens of Mayo Clinic researchers receive funding for special projects that are advancing areas of national health, sustainability, security and education by developing new technologies and solutions.

The main liaison of the Medical Research Office is the Mayo Clinic Strategic Funding Office for Research. The goal of the Strategic Funding Office for Research is to link the research needs of the DOD with Mayo Clinic research interests and secure funding for research and development.

Through new applications of advanced science and medicine, Mayo Clinic researchers have produced hundreds of solutions to address challenges faced by the Department of Defense in keeping the U.S. military operating efficiently and safely. DOD research entities include the Office of Naval Research, the Army Research Office and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

The Department of Defense Medical Research Office evolved from a long and successful partnership with the U.S. government. Numerous Mayo Clinic faculty and staff have been or are members of the U.S. military. The cornerstone of Mayo Clinic's rich heritage and commitment to military service can be traced back to the earliest days of Mayo Clinic history, starting with Dr. William Worrall Mayo's service to the U.S. Army and his medical contributions during the Civil War. This tradition of service is part of Mayo Clinic's strategic makeup and core beliefs and continues today through Mayo Clinic's efforts directly related to training, supporting and healing members of the military.