Mayo Clinic and 18 other leading medical research institutions nationwide are urging congressional leaders to maintain current funding levels for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). They say medical research funding is essential for the health of the nation and the economy. NIH-funded research happens in all 50 states, and occurs in large and small communities across the nation — strengthening the economy and creating jobs. It is estimated that every $1 million in federal research funding creates at least 16 jobs in a community.
The institutions also ask that a federal salary cap for NIH-funded researchers be returned to its previous level. The letter says the pay cut to scientists will drive some away and make recruitment of “the best and the brightest” even more difficult.
Please, I urge you maintain NIH funding and return it to its previous level. I ask you on behalf of myself who has Epilepsy, my grandmother who died of Alzheimers, my mother-in-law who died of colon cancer, and of our family friend’s 10 yr. old son who is dying of brain cancer. So which one of you on this panel has somebody in your family touched by a disease and wished you could have their loved one back?
Well these scientist could do it for you one day IF you return the salary cap to its previous level. Let’s also look at the jobs it creates and the fact that the USA needs to up its game when it comes to finding more cures, preventions as well as DNA and stem cells curing more illnesses!
Thank you for your time, I truly hope you read this!