AAHC Urges Continued Government Investment in Health Research

Agrees with Coalition that Federal Program Funding is Vital to Improved Population Health

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association of Academic Health Centers (AAHC) continues to strongly and actively support sustained federal funding for biomedical research. "In this era of necessary research to meet population health needs, in our local communities and globally, any cuts in federal investment would be highly detrimental to advances in health care," said Dr. Steven A. Wartman , AAHC President and CEO.

AAHC applauds the efforts of the Coalition for Health Funding to bring this issue to the forefront and is pleased to be a co-sponsor of its briefing, The Federal Role in Health Research ... What's in it for Taxpayers?, that was held in Washington, DC today.

"From engaging in NIH-sponsored research to providing access to critical health care services, academic health centers nationwide work closely with public institutions to not only meet current population health needs, but to work towards promising solutions for the betterment of health and well-being for generations to come," said Wartman. "AAHC shares the concerns of healthcare coalition partners regarding threats to federal funding for health research programs."

As noted at the Coalition briefing, Americans benefit from federally funded health research in many ways and taxpayer dollars are a crucial element of any steps towards investing in improved population health. "In our support for the Coalition's efforts, it is important to underscore that the nation's well-being and, ultimately, its economy benefit from both public and private investment strategies based on the compelling value proposition of academic health centers, Advancing and Applying Knowledge to Improve Health," said Wartman.

The AAHC, representing more than 100 academic health centers nationwide, is a national non-profit association dedicated to advancing the nation's health and well-being through the vigorous leadership of academic health centers.

SOURCE Association of Academic Health Centers