U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren took a step into the late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's shoes yesterday, calling for a "nonpartisan" effort to double the funding of the National Institute of Health that could pay huge dividends for Massachusetts.
"I'm calling to double the funding for the National Institutes of Health and to give them more assurance long-term in their funding so they don't get caught up in this crazy budget process," the Bay State's senior senator said at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.
"Research creates economic growth. It reduces health care costs. It creates a better life for our people," she said in her speech to Boston business leaders. "Refusing to invest in the NIH is the budgetary equivalent of cutting off your feet to save money on shoes. We are the world leader in this work only so long as we are willing to commit the resources."
In 2011 and 2012, NIH funding nationwide dropped two years in a row for the first time since at least 2000.
Robert K. Coughlin of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council said increased NIH funding will add jobs and other economic benefits here.
"There's a huge local economy benefit," Coughlin said. Of Kennedy, he said, "His leadership many decades ago has led to this industry that exists in Massachusetts today. The members of Congress are trying to continue to build off of that."
Harry Orf, senior vice president for research at Massachusetts General Hospital — which receives the most NIH funding in the country — said bioscience innovation is crucial.
"Whatever nation is at the forefront of that will be leading innovation and will be the leading economy," Orf said. "It's a worthwhile endeavor."
Massachusetts receives the most NIH funding per capita by a wide margin, and of the six hospitals and organizations with the more NIH funding, five are in Massachusetts. In fiscal year 2012, Massachusetts received $2.56 billion in NIH funds.
Sue Windham-Bannister of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center said "NIH funding has a tremendous impact here."
While Warren billed the NIH funding effort as something both sides of the aisle could get behind, that may not be the case.
"It has to be part of a larger discussion about the priorities of spending in our country at large," said Joshua Archembault, director of health care policy at the Pioneer Institute. "I don't think you can get bi-partisan agreement for anything unless you talk about financing."
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