UC Santa Cruz Researchers Advocate for NIH Funding on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON,D.C. – UC Santa Cruz researchers recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to directly advocate for continued federal investment in critical medical research, emphasizing teh impact of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding on advancements in cancer treatment and genomics. Associate Director of Federal Relations Loressa Usson accompanied Krizia Chambers and Karen Miga on the trip,meeting with lawmakers including Representative Jimmy Panetta and Senator Adam Schiff.
Chambers, whose research focuses on osteosarcoma, a bone cancer affecting children and teens, stressed the importance of NIH funding for identifying genetic targets that could lead to breakthrough treatments. She collaborates with the Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative and warned that funding cuts could jeopardize progress in pediatric cancer research, potentially impacting life-saving outcomes.
Miga advocated for the value of federal funding for genomics research, highlighting her work with the NIH-funded Telomere-to-Telomere Consortium and the Human Pangenome Research Consortium. These initiatives aim to improve understanding of the human genome and its connection to disease.
Federally funded research at UC Santa Cruz contributes to advancements across various fields, including cancer research, immunology, and chronic disease treatment.NIH investments drive discoveries leading to new cures, treatments, and medical advances.
According to UC data, NIH-supported research in California alone powers 55,000 jobs and generates $13.8 billion in economic activity. The University of California is urging Congress to prioritize medical research funding, citing the significant impact of UC researcher discoveries on treatments for cancer, heart disease, and other major illnesses.
