Rep. Yoder stresses importance of federal funding for biomedical research

U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder, center, spoke Tuesday about the importance of federal funding for biomedical research at the University of Kansas Edwards Campus in Overland Park- photo by Alex Smith

By Alex Smith, KCUR

OVERLAND PARK — A forum Tuesday in Overland Park drew attention to the importance of National Institutes of Health funding.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder, NIH official Christopher Austin and University of Kansas officials spoke before an audience of about 150 at KU’s Edwards Campus. Yoder, a Kansas Republican who represents the 3rd District, said that while he’s concerned with the federal deficit and overspending, he supports NIH funding.

“Spending money on federal research helps prevent disease,” Yoder said afterward. “It helps create jobs. It helps grow our economy. But maybe more than anything, it is an investment in the future.”

Last year, KU and the University of Kansas Medical Center received more than $75 million in NIH funding.

In the 2012 fiscal year, KU’s School of Pharmacy ranked secondamong pharmacy schools in the nation in NIH funding, receiving more than $25 million.

In 2011, the NIH named KU Medical Center one of 29 Alzheimer’s Disease Centers, a designation that included a $6 million, five-year grant.

Also in 2011, the NIH awarded KU Medical Center nearly $20 million over five years to expand clinical research with the goal of getting new drugs and treatments onto the market faster.