HomeMy WebLinkAbout$9.7 Million for Researchi Bill earmarks
I $9.7 million for ,
researc
By JOSH BAUGH
Eagle Staff Writer i
ederal defense bill likely
to be
pproved this week by continue fighting to increase
the Senate includes $9.7 mil- research funding for A&M.
lion for Texas A&M Universi- With a tightening budget,
ty System research projects defense, homeland security
,
said U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards and health care will probably
.
The House overwhelmingly be the only growth in the gov-`
approved the bill Monday. ernment in the foreseeabl ;
Edwards, D-Waco, said that future, he said.
while the Senate will debate The bill includes $1.5 mil=~-
some provisions of the bill,
the defense spending that lion for a partnership
between Department of
affects the university has Defense labs, the A&M sys-
been locked in. After the bill tem and the University of
is approved by the Senate
the Texas to develop smaller mili->
,
president must sign the legis- tary satellites; $1.2 million for
lation for it to become law a project that improves the :!
.
"I'm ve excited
rY given our military s ability to detect air-
tight budget situation that I borne chemical and biological
was able to earmark nearly contaminant; $6 million for.=
two
$10 million for A&M research
projects that will help strength- programs at the Texas'
A&M Health Science Center; ',
en our defense, protect the
homeland and b
i and $1 million for apartner-
ship with Fort Hood to digi-
r
ng jobs to the
Brazos Valley," Edwards said tize Army tanks and other
h
Monday afternoon. ve
icles.
~
Edwards said he plans to _
`I'm very excited given our tight budget situation
:hat I was able to earmark nearly $10 million for
~&M research projects that will help strengthen
cur defense, protect the homeland and bring jobs
:o the Brazos Valley:'
U.S. REP. CHET EDWARDS
D-Waco
"Trauma registry is a tom- help foster better care for
bination of public health injured soldiers in
defense and care delivery," she said, but also f
Dickey said. injured in accide
The registry will not only country.
from the Health Science Cen-
ter's College of Medicine and
four other colleges. One of the
center's research priorities is
the one-time delivery of vac-
cines, drugs and antidotes
dissolving cap--
l
Dr. Nancy Dickey, presi-
dent of the Health Science
' y
using slow
sules and nanoparticles, ;;
according to an Edwards
s proj-
Center, said her center press release. '=
'
ects will benefit A&M on sev-
eral levels. The center would s
The Health Science Center
nd Community Health;
receive $2.6 million for the Rural a
Institute is to receive $3.4 mil-_
Vaccine Delivery Program, a
project within the Center fur artment funded p o ect te°
De
Microeneapsulation and Dr g p
_
egistry an
Delivery. The center is a ou - resear h database
tidisciplinary faculty gr p
"The funding for these proj-
ects is a tremendous facilita-
tor," Dickey said. "It's like
putting yeast into the bread in
terms of growing the research
base for the Health Science
Center."
While Dickey and Edwards
applaud the funds dedicated to
research at A&M, they both
said the extended benefits can
be just as plentiful.
"The exposure is a part of
n. It also potentially
key said. "Our name
known in circles it
not have previously
helps us recruit scientists."
As the breadth of A&M's
research continues to extend,
so will the university's reputa-
tion, she said.
Edwards said that the
$9.? million in appropriations
likely .will lead to more fund-
ing for A&M in the future.
"One important thing about
these new research programs
is that they can lead to mil-
lions more in research money
down the line," he said.
^ Josh Baugh's a-mail address is
josh.baugh@theeagle.com.
the field, it," Dic
or civilians becomes
nts in this might
been i
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