Updated Battelle Study Shows that the Genetics and Genomics Industry in the U.S. Has a Trillion Dollar Impact

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- A new Battelle study released today by United for Medical Research illustrates the genetics and genomics industry's impact on the United States economy has reached nearly a trillion dollars. The study is based on new data collected over the previous two years, and represents an update to the highly-cited Battelle 2011 report tracking the growth of the industry and its links to the federally funded Human Genome Project (HGP).

The updated report, titled "The Impact of Genomics on the U.S. Economy," demonstrates that the HGP and related research continue to yield significant U.S. economic growth. It showed $965 billion in impact, more than 53,000 direct genomics-related jobs and $293 billion in personal income, leveraged from a total federal research and development investment of $14.5 billion from 1988 through 2012.

The original report showed the U.S. federal government's $3.8 billion funding of the HGP between 1988 and 2003 drove $796 billion in U.S. economic impact due to the growth of the genomics technology industry and the use of genomics in healthcare, energy, agriculture and other sectors.

"As the largest, single undertaking in the history of life sciences, the Human Genome Project has paid back extraordinary dividends on the U.S. government's investment," said Carrie Wolinetz, Ph.D., president of United for Medical Research. "This report illustrates the vital role that key federal research funding plays in growing the U.S. economy, creating new industries and innovative technologies and producing the diagnostics and treatments that can save lives."

"Between 1988 and 2012, the federal government's $14.5 billion investment in the field of genomics represents an expenditure of only $2 per year per U.S. resident, with an enormous economic and societal impact from that investment," said Martin Grueber, research leader, Battelle and co-author, The Impact of Genomics on the U.S. Economy.

Despite the economic downturn over the last five years, the genomics industry continued to thrive. In 2012 alone, human genome sequencing projects and related research and industry activities directly and indirectly generated:

• $65 billion in U.S. economic output
• $31 billion toward 2012 U.S. Gross Domestic Product
• $19 billion in personal income
• 152 thousand jobs (direct and indirect)

"The research that has followed this work has the potential to better identify who is at greatest risk of a cancer like mine, and how to best treat it," said Ian Lock, an osteosarcoma survivor and volunteer with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

In addition to jobs and the economy, the HGP has had a profound impact on human health. Genetics and human genome mapping have pioneered new diagnostics for epidemic level diseases impacting U.S. society, including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.

The 2013 report release comes a day before the unveiling of "Genome: Unlocking Life's Code," an Exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). The exhibit is a collaboration with the National Human Genome Research Institute, the National Institutes of Health and the NMNH, in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the first complete human genome sequence mapping.

ABOUT BATTELLE

Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org. 

ABOUT UNITED FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH

United for Medical Research represents leading research institutions, patient and health advocates and private industry, joined together to seek steady increases in federal funding for the National Institutes of Health. The coalition groups consist of the American Association for Cancer Research, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, Association of American Universities, Association of Public and Land Grant Universities, BD, Biotechnology Industry Organization, Boston University, Corning, FasterCures, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Life Technologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Melanoma Research Alliance, Northwestern University, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Partners Healthcare, PhRMA, Research!America, Stanford University, The Endocrine Society, Thermo Fisher Scientific, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University, and Washington University in St. Louis.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110216/MM49339LOGO)

For more information from Battelle, contact Katy Delaney at (614) 424-7208 or [email protected], or T.R. Massey at (614) 424-5544 or [email protected].

For more information from UMR, contact Kat Mavengere at (202) 741-5575 or [email protected].           

SOURCE United for Medical Research