In March, Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson testified on the proposed budget for FY 2004 before committees in both the House and the Senate.  Senator Arlen Specter (Republican-Pennsylvania), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee questioned the adequacy of the Administration’s FY 2004 budget request for the NIH, which provides only a 2% increase.  In previous remarks to the press, Secretary Thompson stated that the actual increase to research would be much more than 2%, claming as “a result of one-time projects being funded in fiscal year 2003, and not needing to be re-financed, actual NIH research investment will rise by $1.9 billion, or 7.5 percent.”  The actual proposed dollar increase for the NIH is $686 million, giving it a total budget of $27.7 billion.

To read Secretary Thompson’s remarks in their entirety, please click here: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2003pres/20030203a.html

Friends also is exploring developing a forum in collaboration with New York University intended to build awareness about the need for a relationship between academia, government, and industry.  Collaborative and translational research is critical for the future of medicine.  This forum will help educate the public and policymakers as to the steps necessary to forge successful partnerships and create new scientific centers.

New Executive Director

On March 24, 2003, Candace J. Rosen, a Georgetown and Stanford-educated lawyer-bioethicist was appointed Executive Director of Friends of Cancer Research.  “We are delighted to welcome Candace to our leadership group,” stated Dr. Sigal.  “Her experience in the fields of genetics, health care policy, law, and bioethics will enhance our work and expedite achievement of our research-supportive goals,” Dr. Sigal added.

Ms. Rosen, who previously served as Director of Policy for the Genetic Alliance, also was a consultant to the HHS Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing— working on projects related to state informed consent requirements for clinical and public health tests as well as low income and indigent access to genetic services.  Additionally, Ms. Rosen was a lawyer in Reed Smith’s corporate health care practice representing a full spectrum of health care providers and manufacturers and advocating for legislative, regulatory, and policy changes to incorporate, encourage, and fund innovative medical technology, clinical lab, therapeutics, and pharmaceutical applications.  Ms. Rosen has worked on health policy issues for the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), HRSA, and the ABA AIDS Coordinating Committee.  Ms. Rosen earned a B.A. with honors from Stanford University, a law degree from Georgetown University, and has completed coursework at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown.

“I am eagerly anticipating capacity-building opportunities at Friends of Cancer Research – opportunities that I hope will advance the war on cancer and expedite delivery of new treatments and therapies that will benefit patients across America and the world,” said Ms. Rosen.