APLU President Highlights UNC Research in Congressional Testimony
March 19, 2013
APLU President Peter McPherson referenced NIH-funded research at UNC during his testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies last week.
McPherson spoke on Capitol Hill about the importance of continued investment in NIH research at universities as a critical driver of biomedical research, which can lead to new treatments and technologies, and help grow state economies and job markets.
McPherson referenced the work of UNC researcher Jian Liu, who is developing a synthetic version of the blood-thinner heparin in efforts to provide a more consistent and safer version of the drug.
“Unfortunately, this research project is at risk due to NIH funding cuts,” testified McPherson before Congress. “If that happens, we may lose yet another extraordinary opportunity for economic growth rooted in NIH funding.”
According to a United Medical Research report, NIH funding in 2011 generated $62 billion in new economic activity while supporting as estimated 432,000 jobs.
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How the Impending Sequestration will Impact Carolina
February 28, 2013
The impending federal budget sequestration would have a major effect on UNC-Chapel Hill and across North Carolina. Unless Congress reaches an agreement by Friday, $85 billion will be automatically cut from the federal budget in fiscal year 2013, with an impact on research-related agencies, emergency management and defense, among dozens of others. Federal research funding and student aid are the primary areas sequestration would affect at Carolina. Visit UNC Research to learn more about how sequestration will impact UNC and North Carolina’s economy.
More...Concerns About Federal Funding Cuts Voiced
February 27, 2013
Congress took a step back from the fiscal cliff with its Jan. 1 vote on the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. Now, across-the-board cuts to discretionary spending required under the Budget Control Act of 2011 are set to take effect on March 1.
This budget sequester, as it’s known, could result in profound cuts for research funding, federal student aid and other non-defense discretionary spending. The effect could be significant for research universities like Carolina that receive a significant portion of overall funding for basic and translational research from the federal government. Of Carolina’s $767 million in research funding in fiscal 2012, $545 million came from federal funds.
Cuts in federal student aid could affect some of Carolina’s neediest students, particularly those who rely on federal work-study and students whose families are not able to contribute financially to their education.
UNC Research has outlined in detail how the budget sequestration will affect UNC and North Carolina.
Read full article here.
Photo: Scott Singleton and research specialist Demet A. Guntas prepare 96 different RecA inhibitors for testing against live bacteria in his lab at the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at UNC-Chapel Hill.
More...Researchers Urge Congress to Stop Sequestration
February 5, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC – With only a month remaining before the across-the-board cuts to the nation’s discretionary spending known as the sequester take effect, researchers across the country are sending an urgent message to Congress: Stop the sequester or risk the loss of a generation of discoveries, cures, new companies and talent.
Their individual messages are part of a new initiative by ScienceWorksForU.S., a project of the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and The Science Coalition (TSC) to inform policymakers and the public of the devastating impact that the upcoming budget sequester will have on federal funding for university research. Universities conduct the majority of basic scientific and medical research in the United States and, as such, are ground zero for the discovery and innovation that fuels the economy, as well as for the education of future scientists, engineers, doctors, teachers and entrepreneurs.
More...Thorp, Smithies Elected to National Academy of Inventors
December 19, 2012
Two University of North Carolina scientists, Chancellor Holden Thorp and Nobel Laureate Oliver Smithies, were named charter fellows of the National Academy of Inventors, a nonprofit organization that recognizes investigators who translate their research findings into inventions that may benefit society.
Inductees of this prestigious group demonstrate a spirit of innovation and help bring to market inventions that make a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society. The 98 innovators represent 54 universities and nonprofit research institutes. Together, they hold more than 3,200 U.S. patents.
Thorp and Smithies will be inducted by the U.S. commissioner for patents, Margaret Focarino, during the second annual Conference of the National Academy of Inventors Feb. 22, 2013, at the University of South Florida Research Park in Tampa.
Click here for additional information.
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