May 5, 2010
WASHINGTON – As the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing today to discuss the National Institutes of Health (NIH) FY2011 budget, a coalition of leading research institutions, patient and health advocates and private industry companies applauded the appropriators’ attention to the life-saving public health issue.
Dr. Francis Collins, director of the NIH, was the witness in today’s hearing, highlighting the impressive research advancements over the years through NIH funding, as well as the need to remain steadfast in “the research marathon.”
The United for Medical Research (UMR) coalition advocates for sustained, high levels of NIH biomedical funding critical to ensuring new scientific discoveries to ultimately reduce the burden of disease and death and promote economic growth across the country.
“The impact NIH investments have on our nation’s health and economic well-being are undeniable,” said Gregory T. Lucier, UMR spokesperson and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Life Technologies. “Research funding boosts job creation and industry growth and yields health care cost reductions and improved quality of life for patients and their families. At this critical moment in science, we urge Congress to continue to invest sufficient, sustained funding to find the next generation of treatments and cures.”