by
Murphy
News B-1
Research
080229
NARR: Dr. Rick Komotar is between surgeries and his rounds. He and a few colleagues are busy calling potential sponsors, and discussing the efficient use of mail merge at a meeting in a small, stuffy office.
SOUND: Bring up meeting sound.
Komotar is a pediatric neurosurgeon at Columbia University Medical Center. He's also the founder of its' Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund. The fund has only one source of income - the proceeds from a yearly charity softball game held every June in Central Park.
ACT: KOMOTAR: IT KIND OF GIVES DOCTORS A CHANCE TO COME TOGETHER AND RAISE MONEY FOR THIS CAUSE. NOT ONLY TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF THIS CONDITION, BUT POSSIBLY TO MOVE CLOSER TOWARD A CURE AND RESEARCH.
NARR: Komotar started his research fund five years ago. In that time, he's raised some $200,000. Komotar, a 31-year- old from Tenafly, New Jersey, relies on corporate sponsors - among them the New York Yankees. The other donors are mainly medical companies who get to advertise at the tournament and schmooze with potential clients… that's the 250 neurosurgeons around the country who play in Komotar's tournament.
ACT: KOMOTAR: I THINK THE ULTIMATE GOAL WOULD BE TO MAKE THIS INTO A NATIONAL CHARITY.
NARR: Unfortunately …some would say the fact that Komotar wants to expand his fundraising mission is a sorry statement about medical funding in the United States today. There are many more doctors and medical institutions looking for money than there are funding institutions. One place doctors like Komotar can go to is The National Institute of Health. It offers grants for biomedical research. Dr. Antonio Scarpa is director of their Center for Scientific Review - which studies and approves the requests. He says the application is difficult and takes a month to fill out. They receive about 80,000 requests for funds every year. Scarpa says the NIH grants about 14,000 of those.
ACT: SCARPA: THE BUDGET OF NIH HAS BEEN ESSENTIALLY FLAT FOR THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS, BUT THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN INCREASED QUITE DRAMATICALLY - BY 30 TO 40%.
NARR: Scarpa said the last time the NIH had a significant budget increase was a full decade ago. Back then, there were incredible opportunities for research. As more people began to apply for funds, it also made getting grants much more competitive. There is no scheduled increase of funds for the next budget. Komotar has applied for various grants - both private and federal. He says all were rejected.
ACT: KOMOTAR: ALTHOUGH YOU MAY HAVE SOME GREAT IDEAS, THE FUNDING TO ACTUALLY CARRY THROUGH THE RESEARCH IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT THESE DAYS TO OBTAIN.
NARR: Komotar's decided it would be more productive to raise money on his own. That's when he came up with the idea of his charity softball game. One of the spectators at last year's game and also one of Dr. Komotar's patients was 12-year-old Dan Palumbo of Westfield, New Jersey. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in the summer of 2006.
ACT: DAN: YEAH I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE AT THE DOCTOR AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD A BRAIN TUMOR. AND WHAT DID THAT FEEL LIKE? IT MADE MY STOMACH FEEL LIKE…IT MADE ME FEEL BAD.
NARR: Although not malignant, Dan's tumor, one of the most common types found in children, was life threatening and had to be removed. He is currently in remission. The tumor is under control, but has to be constantly monitored. Komotar hopes that research will provide better treatment, and one day find a cure. Dan's parents were thrilled with the care he received, and even though Dan himself spent eight nights in the hospital followed by six weeks of radiation treatment, he tries to look at the bright side.
ACT: DAN: GOOD THINGS COME OUT OF IT. THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGH TAND IT'S NOT ALWAYS SO BAD CAUSE I GOT TO DO A BUCH OF STUFF LIKE MEET THE YANKEES, GO MAKE A WISH. I GOT TO GO TO FENWAY PARK. A BUNCH OF BAD THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN THAT HAPPENED IT'S NOT SO BAD BECAUSE YOU GET THROUGH IT.
NARR: Komotar says if you don't have any plans yet for the first Saturday in June, stop by Central Park and catch a few softball games. There's no charge. Komotar says it's more of a comedy show, but what do you expect from a couple hundred brain surgeons?
SOC: Kyle Murphy, Columbia Radio News. Total Time with Intro: 4:23