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How familiar do you think the average person is with the work done by NIH and NIH-funded researchers? “Not very” is probably the correct answer. This is a concern because we all know that NIH has contributed many important discoveries that lead to better health. Due in large part to advances funded by NIH, a baby born today can expect to live nearly 30 years longer than a baby born in 1900. We’ve also made great strides in the areas of childhood cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS treatment, and maternal/child health, just to name a few.
I’ve blogged before about the importance of talking about science to people who don’t do science. Now NIH has made that job just a little bit easier with their new Impact of NIH Research website. Launched last month, it describes the impact NIH-funded research in just a few short pages, with easy-to-cite statistics. Did you know that those gains in life span I mentioned before contribute more than $3.2 trillion to the economy each year?
NIH funded research itself also contributes to the health of our economy. We directly fund you to do research, but those dollars also contribute to spin off growth in your local economy. It has been estimated that every $1 invested results in $2.2 dollars in local economic growth. That is a pretty good return on your investment. NIH funds research in all 50 states, and you can always check on the research NIH supports in your state, congressional district, or organization by going to RePORT’s Awards by Location tool. So go and check out what else is being funded in your neighborhood.
Our goal is to improve human health. We’ve made great advances and will continue to make advances. Let’s go tell others what we’ve done.
I really believe the value of NIH funded research cannot be overstated, especially given the current political and economic climate. That website is a great idea. I hope scientists take the time and effort to ensure that the value of their work is appreciated by the community at large. The health and longevity of our scientific research community depends on it.
Warm congratulations on the acheivements recorded. Medical research by the NIH and others has contributed greatly to improved health and longevity. This should be widely acknowledged but it does little good to overblow such contributions.
So for example a few years ago it was noted that that 97% of research grants were designed to develop new technologies that could reduce child mortality by 22%, whereas research on how to fully utilize existing technologies could reduce child mortality by up to 66%. (J. J. Leroy, J. P Habiicht, G. Pelto, and S. M. Bertozi. Current priorities in health reseaech funding and lack of impact on the number of child deaths oer year. American Journal of Pubic Health. (2007). 97: 219-223)
It should also be recalled that improvements is living cnditions have a prfound impact on health. Such progress had a significant impact on health before major medical advances had been made. For example the mortality rate from tuberculosis in the UK fell from 500:100,000 people in the early 1700s to 50:100,000 in the early 1900s before the first drug for treating tuberculosis had been discovered.