Government Relations Committee”

As a follow-up to the April 2013 Rally for Medical Research, a broad coalition of individuals representing academic medicine, biomedical research and patient advocacy groups met with Federal lawmakers on September 18th. In total, nearly 300 people from 40 states attended meetings to express their concerns over cuts to medical research.

The Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMSNY) and the New York State Academic Dental Centers (NYSADC) were recognized as sponsors. AMSNY’s staff participated in the event, along with faculty from AMSNY’s member medical schools including Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York University School of Medicine, and Weill Cornell Medical College. The New York group met with the offices of Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, as well as with several other New York House of Representative members. A simple message was relayed in each meeting: there must not be any more cuts to medical research and sequestration must be eliminated from the federal budget.

The New York congressional delegation continues to be be very supportive of sufficient funding for medical research and strongly believes in the Rally for Medical Research mission. Moving forward, the medical research community will showcase research success stories and highlight the severe consequences to future health outcomes if medical research continues to decline. Effective advocacy efforts must continue in order to bring both sides of the political aisle together to invest in medical research for the health and security of the country.

Photo credit: American Association for Cancer Research