What’s in it for the U.S. and Our Health Care System
Research!America and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, in cooperation with the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, Chairman Donald Payne (D-10th, NJ) and Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-50th, CA) held a briefing showcasing the bipartisan nature of research for health and illustrating how the U.S. investment in global health research and development offers the opportunity to think about U.S. health care in new ways. Presenters cited specific examples from their global health research that demonstrated how the U.S. is incorporating lessons for the benefit of Americans' health as well as those outside the U.S. 
Karen A. Goraleski; Cyril Enwonwu, ScD, PhD, MDS; Jim Kazura, MD; Sten Vermund, MD, PhD; Antonina King, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health; Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD; Kadrieh Abou Shehadeh, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health
Speakers & Ambassadors, Research!America's Paul G. Rogers Society for Global Health Research:
- Cyril Enwonwu, ScD, PhD, MDS, University of Maryland School of Dentistry
- Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, President-Elect, ASTMH; Sabin Vaccine Institute; George Washington University School of Medicine
- Jim Kazura, MD, Editor-in-Chief, The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
- Sten Vermund, MD, PhD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Moderator:
- Karen Goraleski, Vice President, Public Health Partnerships, Research!America
Read more on the Research!America blog.
Key Quotes:
Kazura:
"Why does global health research and development benefit Americans? One cow alone in the UK caused a global agricultural crisis and was responsible for the loss of $4.2 billion -- a drop of 15% - in our foreign agricultural market. Our investment in global health R&D helps ensure our safety and health in the agricultural and food market, and that no cow can have such a devastating effect on an already over-burdened global economy."
Hotez:
"Looking through a global health lens, we are able to uncover disease in the U.S. In addition to the hidden burden of disease, this global health research has also allowed us to study transmission of these diseases within and among our own communities. Our current investment in scientists to make these important discoveries is very shortsighted; my students don't want to spend all their time writing grants that have less than a 1 in 10 chance of being funded - everyday we lose a generation of scientists and tragically it does not take much to reverse this trend."
Vermund:
"We can track six times the number of people in China as in middle Tennessee because of research costs and access to such large and diverse populations. This has yielded valuable trend and individual data that is informing breast cancer developments and potentially other health findings for Americans. Global health research is studying Americans' roots - we are much more diverse than anyone ever acknowledged, even as individuals. The return to the American economy from global health research is great. We have efficient and surprisingly low cost investments that save lives and help Americans - and science and technology innovation is where we want to be. We pay money to get more and that's why funding global health research is truly an investment in our future."
Enwonwu:
"Everyone has his/her concept of malnutrition. The developing world is now outpacing us in obesity and its consequences in already health compromised people in many African countries are severe, helping us understand how obese Americans are immune-compromised and have nutrition-related chronic diseases, including periodontal disease. If you want to study inflammation, study the African child. These multiple health burdens from nutritional transitions and urbanization add to poor prenatal life as well, so that when you are born you're already set up for subsequent chronic diseases. Between poverty and health is a two way street."