Debt Ceiling Negotiations Come Down to the Wire
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PAGE 5 PAGE 6 INSERT Report: U.S. Lagging in Stem Cell Lawsuit The Role of the CDC in University R&D Dismissed Global Health R&D JULY-AUGUST 2011 ReTHEsearch ADVOCATE BRINGING RESEARCH CLOSER TO HOME Debt Ceiling Negotiations Come Down to the Wire At the time of this writing, debt ceiling tus to cut funding for health research these caps would limit the amount by negotiations between the White House and all discretionary programs has which agency budgets are able to grow. and congressional leadership have never been greater and it is up to you The National Institutes of Health stalled. Recent proposals for raising to turn the tide. budget, for example, is currently about the debt ceiling have included manda- If an agreement is reached, it could $31 billion for this fiscal year. A long- tory long-term spending cuts and result in deep cuts in funding for term spending cap would hamstring spending caps. Everyone in the health health research and long-term restric- funding for health research at NIH and research community needs to step up tions on any potential future increases other agencies. their advocacy efforts now. The impe- in discretionary spending. Ultimately, Continued on page 4 One Mind Forum Lays Out Plan the anniversary of tors and create partnerships toward the for Neuroscience Research former President goal of a greater understanding of brain John F. Kennedy’s disorders. The group hopes to raise an The One Mind for Research Forum, 1961 challenge to send a man to the additional $1.5 billion for brain held in Boston and featuring world- moon within a decade. Vice President research for each of the next 10 years renowned experts from academia, Joe Biden joined many current and for- while also reducing the cost of brain dis- government and industry, detailed a mer Members of Congress to speak at ease care by at least 10%. 10-year plan for neuro- the event; National Institutes of Research!America and several of its science research that Health Director Francis Collins, MD, members and partners—the American could bring new thera- PhD, and Research!America board College of Neuropsychopharmacology, pies and cures for neuro- member Mark McClellan, MD, PhD, the Council for American Medical logical and psychiatric also spoke. Research!America President Innovation, the Critical Path Institute, diseases. and CEO Mary Woolley presented clos- Johnson & Johnson and the Society The forum, organized The ing remarks for the event. for Neuroscience among them—are Honorable by The Honorable Patrick Patrick One Mind’s decade-long plan aims to partner organizations of One Mind Kennedy, coincided with Kennedy unify brain researchers from across sec- for Research. AMERICA Many Believe Increased Funding for SPEAKS Federal Agencies is Important The following federal agencies play a role in improving the health of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 46% 37% 8% 4% 5% Americans through research and National Institutes of Health 34% 39% 14% 5% 8% development. How important is it to increase funding for… Food and Drug Administration 34% 39% 17% 5% 5% SOURCE: YOUR CONGRESS–YOUR HEALTH SURVEY, MARCH 2011, CHARLTON RESEARCH Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 27% 40% 17% 6% 10 % COMPANY FOR RESEARCH!AMERICA Very important Somewhat important Not too important Not at all important Don’t know Texas Biomedical New ON THE Members Research Institute TAKE Texas Biomedical Research Institute was founded in 1941 by Thomas Slick, Jr. Web Action It was the first institution of its kind in Texas and the harbinger of extraordinary www.researchamerica.org growth in San Antonio’s biomedical sector, which today employs one of every The American Society of Clinical six people in the city. The Institute has a staff of 385 people, including 75 Oncology launched Cancerprogress.net, doctoral-level scientists. Texas Biomed hosts one of eight National Primate an interactive website outlining 40 years Research Centers, a biosafety level-4 laboratory and the world’s largest com- of research progress. puter cluster devoted to human genetic analysis. Kenneth P. CFIDS Association of America Trevett, JD Located on 200 acres animal models for human disease; launched Research1st.com, a website for near downtown San Antonio, the Texas undertaking research in AIDS, hepatitis current information about research being conducted on chronic fatigue syndrome. Biomedical Research Institute, formerly B and C, and, emerging infections; and the Southwest Foundation for pursuing genetic studies of cardiovascu- All PDF versions of books published by Biomedical Research, is on a mission to lar disease, diabetes, mental illnesses, the National Academies are now avail- able for free download at www.nap.edu. build upon its strengths and enhance arthritis and cancer. its research environment. In addition to And for Trevett, Texas Biomed’s The International Aging Research a new name, Texas Biomed is planning membership with Research!America is Portfolio launched FundingTrends.org, a search engine of millions of biomedical 93,000 square feet of new research and an important way to help ensure that research projects and funding. support space, the initiation of a regen- elected officials understand the value erative medicine program and the of research. hiring of 10 additional faculty. “Research!America is invaluable to an And that’s on top of all that Texas organization like ours because it sends Biomed already has—so much so that continuous and informative messages President and CEO Kenneth P. Trevett, about the importance of basic, transla- THE JD, can’t pick a favorite aspect of the tional and clinical research to decision facility. makers,” he said. “The polling conduct- “The combination of high-quality ed by Research!America demonstrating eADVOCATEsearch R science and a unique combination of continuing and strong public support resources makes us a very impactful for the research enterprise is a powerful 1101 King Street, Suite 520 place,” Trevett said. tool that reflects national, and biparti- Alexandria, VA 22314-2960 Texas Biomed is developing new san, priorities.” www.researchamerica.org 703-739-2577 / 800-366-CURE [email protected] Research!America Adds Value Editor: Brian Hunsicker FOR OUR MEMBERS Research!America stands on a reputation of innovative advocacy that generates About Research!America results serving our mission and the interests of our members: Research!America is the nation’s largest 501(c)(3) public education • Global health R&D pays off in lives saved and economies strengthened. Our and advocacy alliance working to global health programs link the two, making the case that global health R&D make research to improve health a higher national priority. Founded in benefits communities abroad with better health and communities at home with a 1989, Research!America is supported better economic climate. by member organizations that • Research!America keeps its finger on the pulses of Congress and the public, together represent the voices of more than 125 million Americans. informing our membership of how it can effectively communicate with local Our public opinion polls, advocacy elected leadership. programs and publications reach the • Our recent media tour of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s head- public and decision makers to help advance medical, health and quarters in Atlanta gave leading journalists an insider’s view of the prevention scientific research. and disease surveillance efforts that the CDC undertakes. • Research isn’t important only for America, but for each of its 50 states. In recent programs, Research!America has highlighted the research being per- formed in Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio and Maryland. Additional state-specific pro- grams are planned. 2 research! america Media President’s MATTERS MESSAGE Spotlight on Research Partners Forums Not so many years ago, Research!America and Northeast Ohio Medical University held a forum on summertime was greatly research and Ohio’s economy that received coverage in the Akron Beacon Journal, feared as a time of twice in the Record Courier (Ravenna, OH), and the news service Akron News Now. heightened susceptibili- Research!America’s forum on science communication with the University of ty to polio; children Maryland and Pfizer Inc. was featured in Nature’s blog, From the Lab Bench. were routinely denied entry to public swimming pools and Research!America’s Leadership Interviewed kept away from summer activities at Research!America’s chair, former Congressman John Edward Porter, talked about fairs and carnivals. Medical research his work in Congress that led to the doubling of the NIH budget in the journal changed all that forever with the intro- Oncology Times. He warned against partisan politics that stall research funding duction of the polio vaccine. This sum- decisions. He was also quoted in Nature-affiliated EMBO reports: “It’s time for mer, a different but equally compelling both parties to stand up for the country and find solutions to our problems. The fear is stalking us—the very real possi- only way to do that is to invest where we lead the world and that’s in science.” bility of budget cuts to research severe Research!America’s Mary Woolley discussed cognitive biases that can influence enough to shutter labs, put researchers scientists’ research decisions with The Scientist. She said the structure of the peer out of work and set progress back by review process is designed to minimize such biases. She commented on the current years, if not decades. Patients—and political landscape for research for Bloomberg Government and warned that the their family members who care for U.S. risks losing ground in global competitiveness if it scales back its investment in them—would just have to wait. research. She also talked about the importance of sustaining National Institutes It is apparent that the voices of of Health funding in a Nature Medicine article.