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.
January 13, 2009
In This Issue:
Policy Updates
1. Congress in Early 2009
News and Reports
2. Scientists Assess the Future of Infectious Diseases
3. Global Health Key to Security Improvements, Says Defense Department Official
4. Trana Discovery Offers New Approach to Fighting Infectious Disease
5. Exploiting Nature to Cut Mosquitoes’ Life Short
6. Professor Explores Schistosomiasis Elimination in NEJM Perspective
Events
7. Keystone Symposia: Tuberculosis—Biology, Pathology, and Therapy
8. Health Action 2009
Policy Updates
1. Congress in Early 2009
In the upcoming weeks, Congress will return to consider Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations, which were halted last year. In addition, Congress is currently working with the Obama Administration on developing an economic stimulus plan. Congress will most likely consider the plan by March, possibly sooner. The plan may include provisions to boost funding for NIH. Analysis conducted by Families USA shows that funding for NIH boosts local economies. To view Families USA's analysis, click here.
Contact your legislators and tell them that funding for NIH is a vital component of U.S. economic interests. Funding for NIH must be substantially increased in fiscal year 2009 and funding for NIH must be included in the economic stimulus package.
News and Reports
2. Scientists Assess the Future of Infectious Diseases
Scientists Assess the Future of Infectious Diseases (Finding Dulcinea, January 4, 2009)
“Factors including ’climate change, along with increasing populations, overuse of antibiotics and global trade and travel, can affect both the likelihood of a new disease emerging and the opportunity for diseases to spread to new populations,’ ScienceAlert reported in December.”
To read the report, click here.
3. Global Health Key to Security Improvements, Says Defense Department Official
Global Health Key to Security Improvements, Says Defense Department Official (Kansas City InfoZine, January 8, 2009)
“The Defense Department's increasing role in global health is essential in improving security in troubled nations and minimizing conflict in others, the Pentagon's top medical official said.”
To read the article, click here.
4. Trana Discovery Offers New Approach to Fighting Infectious Disease
Trana Discovery Offers New Approach to Fighting Infectious Disease (Tech Journal South, January 5, 2009)
“Trana Discovery, a biotech startup out of North Carolina State University and the Technical University of Lodz, Poland, has developed a new patented technology that may help defeat a wide range of infectious diseases, including antibiotic resistant staph and the wily AIDS virus.”
To read the article, click here.
5. Exploiting Nature to Cut Mosquitoes’ Life Short
Exploiting Nature to Cut Mosquitoes’ Life Short (Associated Press, January 1, 2009)
“Scientists have been racing to genetically engineer mosquitoes to become resistant to diseases like malaria and dengue fever that plague millions around the world, as an alternative to mass spraying of insecticides. A new report suggested a potentially less complicated approach: Breeding mosquitoes to carry an insect parasite that causes earlier death.”
To read the article, click here.
To read the abstract, click here.
6. Professor Explores Schistosomiasis Elimination in NEJM Perspective
Professor Explores Schistosomiasis Elimination in NEJM Perspective (Medical News Today, January 9, 2009)
Is global eradication of schistosomiasis possible? Dr. Charles H. King, M.D., professor of International Health at the Center for Global Health and Diseases at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine believes it is.
To read the article, click here.
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7. Keystone Symposia: Tuberculosis—Biology, Pathology, and Therapy
Date: January 25-30, 2009
Place: Keystone, CO
For more information, click here.
8. Families USA’s Health Action 2009
Date: January 29-31, 2009
Place: Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC
For more information, click here.
Join us for a global health reception on Thursday, January 29 at 6pm.
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Tell us YOUR global health story!
Have you lived or worked in a developing country? Have you witnessed the hardships and struggles of communities living with illness and without treatment? Or perhaps you fell ill while abroad? Whatever your global health story is, we want to know it. Click here to tell us your story.
Visit Families USA's Global Health Initiative for more information.
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