Families USA's Global Health Initiative advocates for U.S. policies that advance global health research, with the goal of developing medical technologies to improve global health.
December 9, 2008
In This Issue:
Policy Updates
1. Economic Recovery and Global Health Research
News and Reports
2. Bill Gates Urges U.S. Lawmakers to Honor and Intensify Commitments—and Spend Smarter—to Improve Lives during Economic Crisis
3. Neglected Diseases Targeted by Genzyme and the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
4. Malaria Costs Africa $12 billion
5. Africa: “Africa Must Strengthen Global Health Research”
6. Model Predicts Halt to Africa’s AIDS Epidemic
7. “Airport Malaria” Holds Clues to Global Spread of Disease
8. Intelligent by Design: Fort Collins’ Population of Brainiacs is Good News in a Slumping Economy
Events
9. Health Action 2009
Policy Updates
1. Economic Recovery and Global Health Research
On November 17th, Senators Reid and Byrd introduced an economic recovery package (S. 3689) that included funds for biomedical research. The bill included $1 billion in additional funding to support scientific research at the National Institutes of Health, to be allocated among the institutes, centers, and the common fund in the same proportions that funding was distributed in fiscal year 2008.
On November 18th, the bill was placed on Senate Legislative Calendar. The Senate has not voted on the measure and there has been no additional action yet.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, has said that she wants an economic stimulus bill to be waiting for President-Elect Obama when he takes the oath of office on January 20th, but an economic stimulus bill has not yet been introduced in the House.
News and Reports
2. Bill Gates Urges U.S. Lawmakers to Honor and Intensify Commitments—and Spend Smarter—to Improve Lives during Economic Crisis
Bill Gates Urges U.S. Lawmakers to Honor and Intensify Commitments—and Spend Smarter—to Improve Lives during Economic Crisis (Business Wire, December 3, 2008)
“Long-term strategic interests do not disappear in an economic downturn,” Gates said. “Developing the talent of our young people, addressing poverty, preventing disease is always smart, no matter what the budget outlook.”
To read the article, click here.
3. Neglected Diseases Targeted by Genzyme and the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
Neglected Diseases Targeted by Genzyme and the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (MTB Europe, December 4, 2008)
“Genzyme Corporation and the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), a not-for-profit research and development (R&D) organization are collaborating to advance treatments for neglected diseases.”
To read the article, click here.
4. Malaria Costs Africa $12 Billion
Malaria Costs Africa $12 Billion (Africa News, December 3, 2008)
How much does malaria cost? The cost of malaria can be measured in deaths, lost productivity, and of course, in pure dollars. About 90 percent of malaria-related deaths occur in Africa, and most of the victims are children. This article in Africa News discusses how much malaria costs Africa.
To read this article, click here.
5. Africa: “Africa Must Strengthen Global Health Research”
Africa: “Africa Must Strengthen Global Health Research” (AllAfrica.com, November 19, 2008)
"The Bamako [Conference] lays the foundation for a better health research system in Africa, hence I implore that our efforts and imputes must be recognized and appreciated at the international level. Research [centers] in Africa have proven that we have qualified scientists who can find the solutions to the diseases on our continent," said Amadou Toumani, Malian President.
To read the article, click here.
6. Model Predicts Halt to Africa’s AIDS Epidemic
Model Predicts Halt to Africa’s AIDS Epidemic (Washington Post, November 26, 2008)
“A strategy of testing adults every year for HIV and immediately treating every person found to be infected could virtually end the AIDS epidemic in Africa in about a decade, new research suggests.”
To read the article, click here.
7. “Airport Malaria” Holds Clues to Global Spread of Disease
“Airport Malaria” Holds Clues to Global Spread of Disease (Scripps Howard News Service, December 3, 2008)
"Just how susceptible modern societies really are to a new plague or pandemic is a matter of some debate and concern, with billions being spent to detect outbreaks, whether delivered naturally or from a terrorist act.... "Airport malaria" is just one example of an intersection between global air travel and changing climate.”
To read the article, click here.
8. Intelligent by Design: Fort Collins’ Population of Brainiacs is Good News in a Slumping Economy
Intelligent by Design: Fort Collins’ Population of Brainiacs is Good News in a Slumping Economy (Fort Collins Now, December 4, 2008)
When considering the nation’s areas of the best bioscience research, one would think of places like Research Triangle Park in North Carolina, northern California, and Bethesda, MD. However, Fort Collins, CO is one city not to be overlooked. It is “home to a half-dozen federally funded research laboratories, a group of high-tech firms building everything from computer chips to engine controls, and a university aiming to lead the nation in infectious disease, ultraviolet lasers and renewable energy research. Scientists are making great strides in biotech and bioscience research, including research to help global health."
To read more about Fort Collins, click here.
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9. Families USA’s Health Action 2009
Date: January 29-31, 2009
Place: Renaissance Mayflower Hotel
For more information go here.
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