Progress and Opportunity Call for Increased Investment in Medical Research
Bethesda, MD - Today, the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) released a set of recommendations for increased investment in medical research. Citing the tremendous advances in biology over the past 30 years and the extraordinary potential for the transformation of medical practice and human health, FASEB urged a substantial increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and biomedical science.
At a meeting held in San Diego, CA, a group of working scientists representing FASEB's member societies analyzed NIH budgets, funding projections, and proposals for additional investment from the scientific community. Their discussion identified promising areas of research and the mechanisms needed to reach the desired goals. The statement prepared by this group and endorsed by FASEB's Board of Directors on behalf of the 14 member societies and their 52,000 scientists, "Molecular Medicine 2020," calls for increased funding for investigator- initiated research, new career development initiatives, support for development of advanced technology, and more translational research to help move discoveries from the laboratory into patient care settings.
The meeting was chaired by Larry Goldstein, (UCSD), who developed the program for the meeting in conjunction with John W. Suttie (Univ. of Wisconsin) and Tony Hugli (Scripps Research Institute). A complete list of the FASEB Society Representatives and their organizations is attached.
The group concluded that progress in biomedical research has given us a wealth of knowledge about the structure, function, and development of cells, organs, and organisms. With the final sequencing of the human genome in sight, scientists now have the opportunity to understand what these genes do, how they do it, and how genetic aberrations result in disease. Progress in this area will bring about the era of molecular medicine in which insights from basic science will radically alter medical diagnosis and treatment.
Commenting on the recommendations, FASEB President Ralph G. Yount remarked, "Understanding the function of the major genes will provide tremendous benefits in terms of diagnosis and therapy. This goal, however, will require a substantial investment of talent and resources. We will need to expand the foundation that we have built in recent years and ensure its vitality into the early years of the next century. The key elements are the high-quality scientific personnel and the resources needed to ensure and enhance their productivity."
For more information, contact: Howard Garrison, 301/571-0657
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