opinion

Increase federal funding for research

Scientific research is the most powerful tool we have against disease. Incremental discoveries made in the lab today are vital in developing new treatments for cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and other conditions affecting our community. Researchers at Indiana University are actively working to find cures for these diseases.

Federal funding fuels research in Indiana. In 2014, the state received $210 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $145 million from the National Science Foundation, $30 million from the United States Department of Agriculture, and $28 million from the Department of Energy Office of Science in research grants.

Scientists, students, and support staff rely on these funds. Their efforts yield new discoveries and train our most highly skilled workers. But limited funding could hinder scientific advances. When adjusted for inflation, the NIH budget has declined by nearly 25 percent in the past decade. This jeopardizes our country’s global leadership in science and technology.

I urge Indiana’s congressional delegation to complete its work and pass a 2016 spending bill that includes increases for federal science agencies. If Congress doesn’t act, critical research will be disrupted, and those who are waiting for cures will pay the price.

These views are my own, and are not intended to necessarily reflect the views of Indiana University.

David B. Burr

Associate Vice Chancellor for Research (IUPUI)

Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology

Indiana University School of Medicine