Rasmuson Mission

Clinical Research Opportunities for Alaskans

The mission of this program is to deliver to Alaskans:

  • Opportunities to participate in clinical trials often years before these therapies become available through the general medical community.
  • Access to the latest medical information about disease management. Hope for patients and their families whose distance from major medical facilities often leaves them isolated or disconnected from cutting-edge care.
  • Extension of the benefits of BRI's innovative research to Alaskans through existing medical networks that reach clinic and hospitals in more than 100 rural Alaskan communities.

The Rasmuson Foundation

In 1955, Jenny Rasmuson established the Rasmuson Foundation to honor her late husband and Alaskan pioneer, E.A. Rasmuson. The mission of the foundation is to promote a better life for Alaskans.

The foundation recognizes that clinical research provides a special opportunity for Alaskans to improve personal health and advance medical knowledge. The Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason is honored to help in this effort to benefit current and future Alaskans.

Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason

Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason is a unique institution in the Pacific Northwest, serving Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. The team of world-renowned scientists at Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BRI) is focused on identifying causes and cures for devastating diseases including diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and cancer. BRI is an international leader in immune system and autoimmune disease research with a focus on translating laboratory discoveries to real life applications. Virginia Mason Medical Center's (VM) affiliation with BRI ensures the latest advances in the prevention and treatment of disease are positioned to help patients as soon as they become available.