Open Science • Civic Tech • Community Impact
MMRF advances open science and community-driven innovation in Vero Beach.
The McCulloch Medical Research Foundation (MMRF) is a private, non‑profit foundation headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida. We promote open science, transparency, and practical innovation for the public good — focusing on knowledge sharing and community projects. MMRF does not provide medical services nor formal education programs.
Vision
An open, transparent, and accessible science ecosystem for everyone.
We envision a community where organizations and citizens can contribute to and reuse research outputs to solve local and global social challenges.
Goals
Open Data Infrastructure
- Build standardized, shareable open data toolkits for community research teams.
- Lower duplication and costs through reusable workflows.
Capacity & Governance
- Strengthen data, project management, and accountability skills for local nonprofits.
- Facilitate multi‑stakeholder dialogue between researchers, responsible businesses, and local government.
Citizen Science
- Design approachable projects for volunteers to collect & validate community data.
- Publish results using open licenses and plain‑language explainers.
Public Science Communication
- Workshops, podcasts, and infographics that translate complex findings for the public.
Focus Areas
Clear, approachable pathways for participation.
Most Accessible
Citizen Science & Open Data
- Neighborhood surveys, urban issue mapping (potholes, flooding points).
- Open publication of local datasets and simple community dashboards.
Local Fit
Coastal Environment & Climate Adaptation
- Beach clean‑ups, community‑led water quality monitoring at Indian River Lagoon.
- Planting native trees for resilience.
Civic Tech
Technology for the Common Good
- Open‑source tools, data hack‑days, transparent feedback platforms.
Programs
What we run
Coastal Citizen Science
- Community‑led water quality checks across Indian River Lagoon.
- Beach clean‑ups and nature observations using open tools.
Open Data & Civic Dashboards
- Standardize and publish local public‑interest datasets.
- Build clear dashboards for residents and decision‑makers.
Social Innovation Lab
- Mentoring on project design and impact measurement.
- Seed microgrants for evidence‑based pilots.
Public Science Communication
- Talks, podcasts, and visual explainers for a broad audience.
Who Benefits
Beneficiaries
- Local nonprofits in and around Vero Beach, Florida.
- Independent, public‑interest research groups.
- Citizens and students engaging in community projects.
Ways to Join
- Volunteer for data collection, cleanup events, and workshops.
- Propose a project to our Social Innovation Lab.
- Support our microgrants with funds or in‑kind contributions.
Upcoming Event
Vero Beach Citizen Science & Open Data Day 2025
Date: December 12, 2025
Venue: Vero Beach Community Center
- Build a community dashboard from local open data.
- Hands‑on water quality monitoring training.
- Microgrants 2025 launch & project call.
Can’t make it?
We will post a short recap afterward. Subscribe for updates via the contact form below.