PAGE 2 INSERTS PAGE 7 Promoting Research in Details of Our 2011 National Global Health R&D Akron, Ohio Health Research Forum & Impact in Illinois Advocacy Awards JANUARY 2011 ReTHEsearch ADVOCATE BRINGING RESEARCH CLOSER TO HOME Charlie Rose to Receive 2011 Rosenfeld Award tific research, the study of the human brain, the mapping of the Emmy award-winning including the 13-part Science Series and human genome and the latest journalist Charlie Rose, the Charlie Rose Brain Series. advances in cancer research. Rose is executive editor and Rose will be honored at the 2011 also a contributing correspondent for anchor of the “Charlie Advocacy Awards event Tuesday, March the CBS News program “60 Minutes.” Rose” television show, has 15, at the Andrew W. Mellon Other 2011 Advocacy Award recipients been named the recipient Auditorium in Washington, DC. include New York City Mayor Michael of Research!America’s Charlie Rose “Charlie Rose” airs weeknights on Bloomberg; inventor and physicist Dean 2011 Isadore Rosenfeld Award PBS and Bloomberg Television. Rose’s Kamen; Nobel laureate J. Michael for Impact on Public Opinion for raising nightly, one-hour interviews have Bishop, MD; and the Defense and public awareness about science through included specials on research-related Veterans Brain Injury Center. See this his in-depth coverage of research issues, issues such as the importance of scien- month’s insert for details. Continuing Resolution Passed for Research Funding On December 14, the Senate Control and Prevention, the National FY2011 appropriations will be left to Appropriations Committee released an Science Foundation and the Agency the 112th Congress. New members omnibus spending bill for FY2011 that for Healthcare Research and Quality of the 112th Congress have voiced con- included a $750 million increase for the would remain at the enacted levels from cerns over spending in Washington, National Institutes of Health, for a FY2010. The prospect of a prolonged and many have pledged to reduce gov- total of $31.8 billion in funding. C.R. poses a major challenge for the ernment spending. However, three days later, the bill was NIH and NSF, as both agencies received withdrawn due to lack of support. In its significant increases in FY2009 from Obama Signs America place, the committee released a longer- stimulus investments and will face a COMPETES Act term continuing resolution (C.R.) that diminished capacity for supporting new On December 21, the House agreed to would provide funding through March scientists under flat budgets. reauthorize the America COMPETES 4. In this version of the bill, funding for The C.R. passed through both houses Act, which would keep several science- the NIH, the Centers for Disease a week later, and consideration for Continued on page 4 AMERICA Important for Congress to Work SPEAKS Together on Research Issues Very important How important do you think it is for Members of 58% Congress to work together on a bipartisan basis Somewhat important with civility and respect for one another to make 30% research to improve health a top national priority? Not too important 8% SOURCE: YOUR CANDIDATES–YOUR HEALTH POLL, AUGUST 2010, Not at all important CHARLTON RESEARCH COMPANY FOR RESEARCH!AMERICA 4% New ON THE Members Web TAKEAction www.researchamerica.org The Greater Akron Chamber Research!America released the results of a The Greater Akron Chamber represents more than 1,700 companies in global health poll fielded in Illinois, as well Medina, Portage and Summit counties in northeast Ohio. While the region as a fact sheet detailing the importance of built its commerce on rubber and tire production, it has transformed itself into global health R&D in that state. Find them a world-class center for research and development. both at www.researchamerica.org/ Dan Colantone release_10dec8_illinois. As the Akron Chamber’s mate, provide workforce and leadership The Campaign for Public Health released president and CEO, Dan Colantone has training, and add value to member an analysis of funding scenarios for the the opportunity to participate, in a businesses through a variety of pro- Centers for Disease Control and leadership role, as Akron continues to grams and services. Prevention. The chart can be found at change. One of the chamber’s top pri- Colantone annually visits www.fundcdc.org/uploads/End_Game orities is supporting the work of the Washington, DC, to advocate for invest- _Approps_Debate_CDC_FY2011.pdf. Austen BioInnovation Institute in ment in economic development priori- The 2010 edition of America’s Health Akron. The institute is working to pio- ties in the Akron region. Two years ago, Rankings, a report produced by the United neer the next generation of life-enhanc- the trip resulted in $1 million in fund- Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and Partnership for ing and life-saving innovation that will ing for the Austen BioInnovation Prevention, can be downloaded as a PDF transform Akron and the surrounding Institute in Akron. at www.americashealthrankings.org/ region into a model for biomedical dis- A membership with Research!America 2010/2010Edition.aspx. covery and enterprise. also helps further the chamber’s goals. “We are well-positioned to become “The advocacy role of well-known for innovation and commer- Research!America is very important as THE cialization at the intersection of bioma- we work toward increasing investment terials and medicine,” Colantone said. in medical research, which ultimately And as the community grows, the helps the greater Akron region,” ReADVOCATEsearch chamber will be there to attract and Colantone said. 1101 King Street, Suite 520 retain business, promote legislation and Visit www.greaterakronchamber.org Alexandria, VA 22314-2960 regulations enhancing the business cli- for more information. www.researchamerica.org 703-739-2577 / 800-366-CURE Research!America Adds Value [email protected] FOR OUR MEMBERS Editor: Brian Hunsicker 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 • We lead the way in ensuring research is positioned as part of the solution to our and advocacy alliance working to make research to improve health a nation’s economic and health challenges. higher national priority. Founded in • Our annual National Health Research Forum brings together top leaders 1989, Research!America is supported from throughout the research community to discuss the state of health and by member organizations that together represent the voices of medical research and where the field is headed. See this month’s insert for more than 125 million Americans. details. Our public opinion polls, advocacy • Research!America’s briefings on Capitol Hill help us showcase to lawmakers and programs and publications reach the public and decision makers to help their staff the importance of keeping funding for health research a top priority. advance medical, health and Our most recent congressional briefing brought together four experts who scientific research. demonstrated that global health research and development is an economic driver for local economies. • America Speaks, our annual recap of a year’s worth of polling, provides data that allows our members to supplement their advocacy with proof of public support. 2 research! america Media President’s MATTERS MESSAGE Research Funding in 2011 Twenty-two years ago, Research!America board member Alan Leshner, PhD, CEO of the when Research!America American Association for the Advancement of Science and execu- was launched, people tive publisher of Science, wrote a powerful editorial in Science (Nov. were terrified of 26) calling on the science community to advocate now to ensure HIV/AIDS. Today, that research is spared from funding cuts in 2011: “… this is not a because of the nation’s investment in Alan time for reticence, complacency or helplessness.” Of the proposed research coupled with advocates’ deter- Leshner, PhD 5% to 10% cuts, he warns, “the consequences would be severe.” mination to force policy change and During the final debate about extended tax cuts, David Leonhardt, New York boost resources, HIV/AIDS has become a Times “Economic Scene” columnist, wrote about uses for potential revenue from chronic disease. While a vaccine is elu- expiring tax cuts on incomes above $250,000. He said the taxes could have gener- sive, no one questions the progress made. ated $60 billion, enough to triple federal funding for medical research. Leonhardt Research!America is all about recently moderated Research!America’s Garfield Economic Impact Award event. progress, advancing the components of successful advocacy for research: the sci- Advocacy Award-Winner Pat Furlong Profiled ence case, the economic case, the public Pat Furlong, founding president and CEO of the advocacy organization expectation case. In 1989, public opin- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), was profiled in The New ion polling wasn’t yet used to make the Yorker. She created PPMD because there were no effective treatments case for research. Research!America and few clinical trials for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which affected started doing so, channeling Abraham her two sons. Under Furlong’s leadership, PPMD helped pass the Lincoln: “Public sentiment is everything. Muscular Dystrophy CARE Act of 2001, which provided significant Pat Furlong With public sentiment, nothing can fail; funding for research on the disease. Furlong was the recipient of the Gordon and without it, nothing can succeed.” Llura Gund Leadership Award at Research!America’s 2008 Advocacy Awards. Today, no one questions the need to An Interview with Geneticist James Watson make the economic case for research. Through an award made by James Watson, PhD, former director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, one of Research!America, Gene Garfield the nation’s leading cancer research institutes, was interviewed in The Wall Street inspired a cadre of economists to dig in Journal.