President Obama has a tremendous opportunity to underscore the importance of medical research to reinvigorate competitiveness, create jobs and improve the health of every American by making increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) a top priority in his State of the Union Address. Our nation's aging population and growth in medical spending will create a health care crisis of enormous proportions over the next two decades if support for the NIH diminishes. More than 40 percent of the U.S. population will live with the often disabling and deadly affects of heart disease, stroke and other forms of cardiovascular disease by the year 2030, nearly tripling direct medical costs. Scientific discoveries in the treatment and prevention of heart disease and stroke could drastically change these projections and provide hope to the millions of Americans at-risk or suffering from these devastating diseases. NIH research has revolutionized patient care and holds the key to finding new ways to prevent, treat and even cure cardiovascular disease.

NIH invests resources in each state and in 90 percent of congressional districts. A typical NIH grant covers the salaries of about seven high-tech full-time or part-time jobs and supports local communities. NIH-supported research also increases our global competitiveness and preserves the nation's position as the world leader in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. As the Administration and Congress map out spending priorities in the coming weeks, we urge them to make a bold and robust investment in NIH particularly for heart and stroke research that will spark innovation and competitiveness, create jobs, save lives and improve the cardiovascular health of our nation.

Source:
American Heart Association