Our commitment to biomedical and health sciences research has never been stronger. The discovery and implementation of knowledge is core to our mission of improving the wellness of all people. It undergirds and sustains our innovative, interprofessional model of healthcare education.
We need to look no further than our own namesake, and our own research centers, institutes and labs, to find inspiration for the advancement and protection of human health.
Two decades ago, we dedicated our university to Dr. Rosalind Franklin, whose groundbreaking achievements in the mid-20th century continue to lead to breakthroughs in science and health. Her contribution to the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA helped set in motion the race to solve the genetic code and decipher the human genome. It opened the door to an era of unprecedented investment in biomedical research.
Our own investment in research, combined with the NIH-funded work of our excellent investigators and a wide range of other extramural funding, has helped us recruit and retain nationally recognized scientists, including those you will read about in this issue of Helix, who share Dr. Franklin’s determination and drive for excellence.
We want to strengthen and encourage our collaborative and supportive research environment, which is also highlighted in these pages, that helps draw and keep top talent. We want to continue to expand the collaboration between academic research and the life-science industry that is key to improved prevention and treatment of disease.
Continued federal support for the NIH is essential. Medical schools and affiliated hospitals, centers and other institutions conduct approximately 60% of all NIH extramural research. At RFU, innovative NIH-funded research spans academic programs that, in addition to allopathic medicine, include podiatric medicine, psychology, physical therapy and pharmacy.
NIH-funded research has yielded a 56% decrease in the rate of heart attack deaths per 100,000 people between 1999 and 2020; 356 new FDA-approved drugs from 2010 to 2019; and 488 clinical trials on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Federal investments in research continue to improve our health, advance science, bolster our economy and maintain our global competitiveness.
At RFU, investments in our research enterprise are working to improve the resilience and health of people in our armed forces, build health equity across our surrounding communities, and prepare new generations of scientists by expanding research internships and postdoctoral fellowships. It fuels our basic science research — the foundation for medical advancements and clinical applications. It pays for upgrades to our research infrastructure — our core research facilities, lab equipment, and new tools and technology.
Our commitment to scientific discovery is the surest path to improving the health of humankind. Inspired by our namesake, who would not be deterred from pursuing the most challenging questions, we are determined, with your support, to offer hope and help through the advancement of medicine and science.
Wishing you the best of health.