Eight researchers and faculty from Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Health Sciences attended a medical research conference in Washington last month to emphasize the importance of federal funding.
Dr. Amy Salisbury says, “If we share the ‘why’ we do the work we do, political leaders will understand the health issues facing their communities and why research is so important to health outcomes. I hope that we will be able to understand this more deeply.” D., associate dean for research, scholarship and innovation in the VCU School of Nursing.
Each September, rally participants meet with staff from their respective congressional delegations to advocate for making National Institutes of Health funding a national priority. More than 250 supporters from more than 30 states attended the 12th annual event, held on September 19th.
Carly Katz, senior director of federal relations in the VCU Office of Government Relations, organized and prepared the VCU groups that attended this year’s gathering.
“NIH is our largest source of federal funding,” she said. “One of the things that’s so important about participating with members of Congress and their staff is being able to talk directly to the people who are conducting the investigation. It really brings it to life.”
In fiscal year 2023, VCU received approximately $107 million in funding from the NIH, according to a Blue Ridge Medical Research Institute report.
In Washington, Salisbury embraced the opportunity to deepen ties with VCU and the rest of the research community.
“I met other researchers I had never met before and learned about their important work,” she said. “We identified common interests and needs and some ways to help each other. It was an enriching experience.”
Dr. Lana Sargent, associate dean for practice and community engagement in the School of Nursing, spoke at the gathering about how important it is to advocate for NIH funding to support research that “deserves funding.” He said that he emphasized that.
“There are some exceptional projects that don’t get funded because the NIH doesn’t have the money to support research,” she says. “This gives VCU researchers and academics the recognition that they need to highlight the great research that’s happening right now.”
In that sense, the annual meeting is an important way to tell the story behind VCU’s research.
“We want others to understand the impact and need of our research by highlighting the efforts and progress of our researchers and the needs of the patient communities we serve at VCU.” “I think so,” Professor Salisbury said.
Katz said VCU attendees were encouraged by the positive reception they received from Congressional staff during the meeting. “They were excited to be a part of the day.”
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