The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) is in Washington, DC, today to stress to federal lawmakers the importance of biomedical research funding, given the significant cuts facing the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other agencies in FY 2013.
During the AADR Advocacy Day program, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Director Martha Somerman will discuss current advances in oral health research and priorities for future investments.
Participants will then hear from Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations, and Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID), co-chair of the Congressional Oral Health Caucus. After the morning briefing, participants will discuss the importance of dental and craniofacial research with their respective members of Congress.
More than 65 congressional offices will be visited, representing 17 states, the AADR noted in a press release.
"As Congress contemplates how best to address the federal budget deficit, the dental research community asks that members make only targeted reductions that don't harm the fragile economic recovery or prospects for an increasingly healthy general public," said AADR president Rena D'Souza. "At present, the NIH budget is insufficient to fund critical research that should be initiated."
The AADR supports at least $32 billion in funding for NIH; of this amount NIDCR should receive an appropriation of $450 million.
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