Homeland Preparedness News: Funding initiative targets antibiotic resistance, rare diseases

HOMELAND PREPAREDNESS NEWS, DOUGLAS CLARK

Reps. Mike Levin (D-CA) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) recently introduced a bill targeting $10 billion investment in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) supporting antibiotic resistance and rare diseases research.

“The National Institutes of Health support critically important research that improves the quality of life for people across the country, and we must make robust investments in that work,” Levin said. “The Southern California communities I represent are home to world-renowned research institutions, and the Biomedical Innovation Act will help ensure that they have the funding they desperately need.”

Proponents said the measure invests $10 billion over 10 years to foster medical cures and scientific breakthroughs, including more than $1.6 billion towards combating antimicrobial and antibiotic resistance, which the World Health Organization warns is one of the top ten threats to global health; over $2.9 billion for the Brain Research Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative and its goals set out in BRAIN 2025: A Scientific Vision, including the broad goal of gaining insight into how the nervous system functions in health and disease; and $1.5 billion for the Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot to continue to accelerate cancer research for more patients in need.

Spanberger said the nation’s medical researchers have been recognized around the world for their cutting-edge discoveries.

“This proud legacy of innovation has solidified our reputation as a global leader in the fight against rare diseases and chronic illnesses,” she said. “The dedicated staff at the NIH deserve strong support for their world-class research and this bill reaffirms the idea that the medical challenges of tomorrow can be addressed through the lifesaving research of today.”