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.
June 19, 2008
In This Issue:
Policy
1. House and Senate Budget Activity
News and Reports
2. New Report from Families USA–In Your Own Backyard: How NIH Funding Helps Your State’s Economy
3. Science and Technology Workforce Lacking
4. Upstream Biosciences Expects Increased Interest from Big Pharma as FDA's Proposed Priority Review Voucher Program Is Implemented
5. Scientists Report Advances in Diagnosing TB, Malaria, Sleeping Sickness
6. Spread of Tuberculosis Seen Slowing Progress on AIDS
Events
7. 2008 Annual Conference on Microbial Resistance
8. U.S.-Japan Cooperative Medical Science Program’s 43rd Annual Tuberculosis and Leprosy Conference
9. Committee on the U.S. Commitment to Global Health
Policy
1. House and Senate Budget Activity
The House Labor, Health and Human Services (L/HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee was allocated $153.1 billion for fiscal year (FY) 2009, which is 5.5 percent higher than the 2008 level. This funding level limits the amount that can be set aside for the NIH and CDC budgets for 2009.
The House L/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee will meet on June 19 to consider how much of the subcommittee's allotted funds should go to NIH and CDC for FY 2009. On June 25, the full House Appropriations Committee will decide whether to adopt the subcommittee's funding recommendations.
On June 19, the Senate Appropriations Committee will determine the budget for the Senate L/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, which will meet the following week to determine how much funding it recommends for NIH and CDC in 2009.
[Return to Top]
News and Reports
2. New Report from Families USA–In Your Own Backyard: How NIH Funding Helps Your State’s Economy
This new report from Families USA finds that the benefits of NIH-funded research go beyond their health impact, delivering thousands of high-paying jobs and billions of dollars in business activity to state economies.
To read the report, click here.
3. Science and Technology Work Force Lacking
Science and Technology Workforce Lacking (Shreveporttimes.com, June 10, 2008)
Our failure to invest in America’s future researchers is growing more apparent as students graduate in the life sciences with few employment opportunities. Read about how one region of the U.S., northwest Louisiana, is attempting to tackle this problem head-on.
4. Upstream Biosciences Expects Increased Interest from Big Pharma as FDA's Proposed Priority Review Voucher Program Is Implemented
Upstream Biosciences Expects Increased Interest from Big Pharma as FDA's Proposed Priority Review Voucher Program Is Implemented (CNNMoney.com, June 10, 2008)
“The priority review voucher program, when implemented, could make a considerable difference in enabling us to accelerate our development and commercialization efforts for these drug candidates. We look forward to learning more details as the program is launched in the coming months.” -Joel Bellenson, CEO of Upstream Biosciences Inc.
5. Scientists Report Advances in Diagnosing TB, Malaria, Sleeping Sickness
Scientists Report Advances in Diagnosing TB, Malaria, Sleeping Sickness (Voice of America News, June 10, 2008)
We know that the development of new tools is essential in the fight against infectious diseases. Read about how scientists are making progress on this front that will save lives.
6. Spread of Tuberculosis Seen Slowing Progress on AIDS
Spread of Tuberculosis Seen Slowing Progress on AIDS (International Herald Tribune, June 10, 2008)
“Inadequate attention to the spread of tuberculosis is undermining recent gains made against the virus that causes AIDS…more research [is needed] because standard tools and drugs are difficult to use in poor countries.”
[Return to Top]
7. 2008 Annual Conference on Microbial Resistance
June 23-25, 2008
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
Bethesda, Maryland
For more information, click here.
8. US-Japan Cooperative Medical Science Program's 43rd Annual Tuberculosis and Leprosy Conference
Conference: July 8-10, 2008
Diagnostics Workshop: Development and Regulatory Issues: July 11, 2008
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland
Local Host: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
For more information, click here.
9. Committee on the U.S. Commitment to Global Health
This will be the second public committee meeting of the Committee on the U.S. Commitment to Global Health at the Keck Center of the National Academies
July 21, 2008
Leading up to the July meeting, the committee working groups will hold three public meetings:
1. June 10: Working group meeting on human resources for health in low- and middle-income countries
2. June 26: Working group meeting on U.S. engagement in global health governance
3. July 7: Working group meeting on gaps and priorities in U.S. contributions to global disease challenges
For more information, click here.
[Return to Top]
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.
Subscribe to The Global Health Pipeline and receive updates on news, policy, and developments in global health research.
The Global Health Pipeline is a bimonthly update of news, policy, and events related to global health research.
We welcome your submissions.
Please e-mail ckim@familiesusa.org.
