“Support for research at the federal level is an important issue for Birmingham and the state of Alabama,” explains microbiology professor Louis B. Justement, Ph.D.In 2013, the University of Alabama at Birmingham had an economic impact on the state of Alabama that exceeded $5 billion. UAB is Alabama’s largest employer, and it has generated more than 58 start-up companies, a business incubator, and at least 20 promising drug treatments for intractable diseases. How much more could UAB do if more federal funds were available for scientific research?
“Support for research at the federal level is an important issue for Birmingham and the state of Alabama,” explains microbiology professor Louis B. Justement, Ph.D. “We are now at a critical time for encouraging our legislators to support continued funding for research agencies at the federal level.”
Federal spending limits have caused a decline in biomedical research across the nation. As we are cutting back on research, many of our global economic competitors are increasing their funding for science and technology. Justement says this has real effects on the future of the United States and threatens the economic vitality of Birmingham.
Justement is active at the national level in efforts to highlight the importance of supporting funding for key research agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, among others.
For more information, read Congress must commit to science funding in budget talks