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Blunt visits Medical Campus to highlight increase in NIH funding

University leaders and U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., celebrate a $2 billion increase in NIH funding

by Judy Martin FinchJanuary 25, 2016

Tim Parker

Washington University leaders and U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., celebrated a boost in federal research funding during a news conference on the Medical Campus earlier this month.

The gathering, held Jan. 5 at the Center for Advanced Medicine, highlighted a $2 billion increase in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget. The funding — which Blunt fought for in the recently enacted omnibus spending bill — amounts to a 6 percent increase over last year’s level and comes after years of stagnant NIH budgets.

A total of $32 billion for the NIH includes $5 billion for the National Cancer Institute, which is a 5 percent increase over last year’s level; a $350 million increase for Alzheimer’s disease research; $200 million for the Precision Medicine Initiative; $85 million for the BRAIN Initiative; and $303 million to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Blunt, who has paid several visits to the Medical Campus to meet with researchers, is chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies, which has budget oversight for NIH.

“Those additional funds are incredibly valuable to those engaged in biomedical research, like Dr. Tim Eberlein and his fellow researchers and clinicians at the Siteman Cancer Center, and Dr. John Morris and his team at the Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center,” Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton said at the news conference.

David H. Perlmutter, MD, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, thanked Blunt for being a vocal and visible leader supporting biomedical research. “Sen. Blunt has spent time at this medical center to discuss research and learn how new treatments are changing lives,” Perlmutter said. “He understands that the NIH is not just important to Missouri, it’s important to the health and well-being of all Americans.”

Blunt stressed the need to invest in scientific research.

“Biomedical research is essential to saving and improving lives, reducing health-care costs, growing our economy and maintaining America’s competitive edge in innovation,” he said. “Having met with leaders in the biomedical science field and learned more about the ground-breaking research that is underway, I know that we must maintain our commitment to providing the resources necessary to reach new frontiers in biomedical research and give hope to those battling disease.”

University leaders visit with U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., Jan. 5 on the Medical Campus. From the left are Bob Cannon, xx, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton; Blunt; David H. Perlmutter, MD, executive chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine; and Tim Eberlein, MD, .. Tim Parker
University and Medical Campus leaders visit with U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., Jan. 5 on the Medical Campus. From the left are Bob Cannon, president of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and group president of BJC HealthCare; Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton; Blunt; David H. Perlmutter, MD, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine; and Timothy Eberlein, MD, head of the school’s Department of Surgery and director of Siteman Cancer Center.

Washington University School of Medicine’s 2,100 employed and volunteer faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals. The School of Medicine is one of the leading medical research, teaching and patient-care institutions in the nation, currently ranked sixth in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.

Judy retired from Washington University in 2023. While at WashU Med, Judy pitched stories about research, education and patient care to local, national and international reporters, and helped connect reporters with faculty experts for interviews. She also covered physical therapy and occupational therapy at the School of Medicine. Judy is an EMMY award winning producer (2002 - No Greater Love - an Organ Donation Story) and has a bachelor's degree in radio/TV broadcasting from William Woods University.