Global Health R&D: AN ECONOMIC DRIVER IN YOUR STATE
In cooperation with the offices of Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-9th, IL), Research!America hosted a congressional briefing with global health research and development community partners the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), the University of Illinois at Chicago Institute for Tuberculosis Research and the Washington Global Health Alliance on December 8. The briefing showcased U.S. investment in global health R&D as an economic driver for states and local communities, as well as our nation as a whole, while working to improve health for Americans and people everywhere.
Moderated by Karen Goraleski (pictured at left), executive director at ASTMH, expert panelists discussed collaborative efforts among nonprofit, industry, government and academia, highlighting new data, best practices and model success stories illustrating U.S. global health R&D investment is a smart thing to do for America and the right thing to do for the world.
The briefing was held in conjunction with Research!America's first-in-a-series, state-focused Salon Roundtable Dinners, Global Health R&D in Illinois: Generating Jobs and Hope, where key officials and public and private sector leaders engaged in an action-oriented discussion about the economic impact to Illinois from our federal investment in global health R&D - an investment in our health, our economy and our future.
The briefing's panelists, from left to right, included Andrea Wilkinson; Scott Franzblau, PhD; Lisa Cohen and George W. Korch Jr, PhD.
Highlighted quotes from Briefing Panelists:
"It's clear there is one thing that joins us together around our nation's investment in global health R&D, and that's better health for all."
—Karen Goraleski, Executive Director, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
"I am a product of U.S. innovative policies. American policies brought Takeda to the United States. Our global competitors now have more incentives than us; we used to be number one. Maintaining the global incentives for global health R&D activities and efforts is imperative for success."
—Andrea Wilkinson, Director, Federal Government Affairs, Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.
"People frequently ask me how they can protect themselves from TB when traveling internationally. I tell them to hold their breath. The irony is that we often view global health diseases as ‘over there.' TB, and all other global health diseases, are a threat for everyone, everywhere, and often lack cures not because of a lack of scientific breakthroughs but because of a lack of resources."
—Scott Franzblau, PhD, Director, University of Illinois at Chicago Institute for Tuberculosis Research
"Too often we overlook the tsunami of interest from the younger generation to solve the problems related to global health R&D with a hands-on approach; they want to be involved."
—Lisa Cohen, Executive Director, Washington Global Health Alliance
"Problems elsewhere will at some point become problems here. We need to support the research and innovation America is known for, investment that has made us a world leader in the past. Much like the innovation we've seen in the evolution of how our vehicles are built, we are moving away from the current [one-bug one-drug] model in global health R&D. We need to have the resources available to capitalize on opportunities and support R&D if we are to uphold our status as a world leader in innovation by protecting our health and stimulating economic growth."
—George W. Korch Jr, PhD, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)