President Obama calls for sustained investment in research

January 26th, 2012

In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama presented the nation with a new economic blueprint which includes maintaining our commitment to funding research and development that can improve our quality of life. Noting that "innovation also demands basic research," the President urged Congress not to gut investments in the nation's research budgets. He also pointed out that students come from all over the world to train at American research institutions. "Don't let other countries win the race for the future. Support the same kind of research and innovation that led to the computer chip and the internet," he stated.

Joseph C. LaManna, PhD, President of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) responded, "We enthusiastically support the President's emphasis on innovation and join him in urging Congress to maintain the federal commitment to research. It is abundantly clear that research-based innovation has dramatically improved the quality of life for Americans and people around the world. Sustainable budgets allow scientists to pursue new ideas and address scientific challenges with increased sophistication. Our best hope for future progress remains a strong commitment to science and technology."

LaManna also praised the President for acknowledging that public research dollars have helped develop advanced technologies. "Basic research funded by the federal government is at the heart of medical progress, but it is the kind of investment that no individual or private business could afford to undertake. If we do not have public support for the investigation of fundamental scientific principles, this work would not be done," stated LaManna.

FASEB sincerely appreciates President Obama's commitment to maintaining the nation's research enterprise and will soon launch a new campaign to encourage biomedical scientists and engineers to become more involved in advocacy for science.

Provided by Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology